Raffe and Ralph Rock Out

In 2010, I crocheted this long-necked duo:

Raffe and Ralph

I recently re-created Raffe and Ralph using 3D software, so now they can rock to the rhythm:

Rock out with your neck out!

Raygun in 3D

In this 2009 post, I crocheted a raygun that I sent to myself in the future.

The future is now! The "Primary 3000" raygun has also been updated to CGI form:

I used Blender to animate the raygun in 3D, dabbling with a more cartoony style.

Future-ZAP!

Behind the Bite

The recent video of the Cute-a-killer was shot over the summer, mostly during MJ's days off work. Along with operating the camera, MJ puppeteered the Cute-a-killer using marionette sticks (aka "fishing rods")...

MJ as Puppeteer

This behind-the-scenes video shows bloopers and outakes from the Cute-a-killer shoot:

I still feel anxious when I see the Cute-a-killer from its perch above my fireplace.  MJ was also shaken by the ordeal, and she drew this animation during her art therapy session:

Created using Inchworm Animation on MJ's Nintendo 3DS

Thank you for your multiple talents, MJ! And thank you all for the shared experience of encountering the Cute-a-killer!

Cute-a-killer *UPDATED*

Do you remember the Cute-a-pillar? It was made from five faces that portrayed the Fundamentals of Cuteness. I photographed the Cute-a-pillar when it scuttled across my lawn, not to be seen again.

Cute-a-pillar

Until yesterday.

I'll post new photos next week, after my recovery. For now, here's a video of my encounter with the Cute-a-killer:

UPDATE - Oct 3, 2011:

I've recovered in time to post this photo of the elusive cute-a-killer: 

Cute-a-killer

MJ photographed my pursuit of the predator:

This encounter with the Cute-a-killer taught me a new fundamental truth about Cuteness: it can act as a disguise. Cuteness can hide horrors, even within something as harmless as a caterpillar.

UPDATE - Oct 3, 2011:

Behind-the-scenes video & photos of the Cute-a-killer can be seen here.

Last Drop

On August 3rd, 2011, I received this email:

Renato attached these photos of his mom's beautiful crochet work:

I gratefully replied, and Renato sent me another email:

I accepted his kind invitation, and suggested we meet at the garden where the Raining Cats and Dogs were installed 1.5 years ago. One raindrop remained:

Susan the Bull Terrier

Renato's girlfriend, Weiping, took photos while MJ recorded this video of our meet:

August 17, 2011

And here are the intricately-crocheted gifts that Renato's mom, Anita, made in Brazil...

An angel:

A pouch with rosary beads:

Thank you, Renato, for arranging our first meeting, which also became a fitting farewell for the last raindrop. And thank you, Anita, for reaching out and sharing your divine yarn creations!

Photos by Weiping, taken at Davie Village Community Garden 
in Vancouver on August 17, 2011

And so—on this sunny summer day—a raindrop fell and the distance between two continents (& two crocheters) was bridged by a few feet of yarn!


UPDATE - Sept 12, 2011:

Renato just sent me this email, after viewing the latest blog entry:

Here are photos of Anita with her fun family, two raindrops (Shorty & Susan), and some WooWork trinkets (including an early ice cream cone):

And here are new photos of Anita's creations, including the vinyl record she crocheted for her musical son, Nedu:

All my gratitude and good wishes to Anita's kind-hearted and creative family!

C.A.R.R.O.T. Jetpack DECLASSIFIED

After my top-secret mission with the C.A.R.R.O.T. Jetpack, I attempted more test flights. (They all ended painfully.)

But since enrolling in flight school, I'm slowly learning the ABCs of jetpack aviation.

I'm also learning how the classified jetpack was constructed, and gained security clearance to show this video of the C.A.R.R.O.T. Jetpack...DECLASSIFIED!

Thanks for flying!

Robots are Poor Tippers *UPDATED*

During the recent home renovation, I found some dusty notebooks filled with half-completed ideas. One of my entries began with: "A robot is a poor tipper..."

Here's a completed, illustrated version of that idea, now dust-free! You can click the image to enlarge:

Next week, I'll crochet a scene from this comic. Until then, please tip your server accordingly!

UPDATE - August 6, 2010:

Almost four weeks later, here is a yarn version of the robot and his server!

Was that photo worth the wait? If not, here's a bonus photo of the robot with his friends and associates:

Until next time, here's a link to a Restaurant Tipping Guide. Thanks for waiting!

Woo's Hues *UPDATED*

The house is being re-painted here, so I've been moving furniture and storing stuff in cardboard boxes. Hectic!

Even Woomi participated in the home renovation process, though for the last time:

Woomi!!

UPDATE - August 6, 2010:

The home renovations are almost complete, so I've been crocheting again! I made these two yarn paint cans. Unlike Woomi, I'm sure you can tell the difference between "Apricot Dawn" and "Tangerine Dusk", right?

Siamese Sightings *UPDATED*

A fun side-effect of the 2010 Olympic games has been an increase of public art in the Vancouver streets.

Before raining cats and dogs, I made a bonus raindrop to add to the Olympics-inspired sights:


This cat and dog duo are non-identical Siamese twins. Behind them, some rings from the Games:

Would you like to play a game?

I placed the Siamese Raindrop in an undisclosed location, within walking distance of some public art. Here's a clue to its secret spot:

"These twins are lit by the flicker of regal planetary rocks circa 1050, and share a bird's eye view of Vancouver-before-Vancouver."

If you're near Vancouver, you're invited to find the Siamese Raindrop! Bonus: the first photographer of the Siamese Raindrop will receive a mini prize I crocheted. Your photos can be emailed or shared on the WooWork.com Facebook page.

If you're far from Vancouver, feel free to guess! I'll feature the first best guesser in the next blog update, along with the first best photo.

See? We crafty people can compete in games too!


UPDATE - Feb 24, 2010:

Before game's end, I received this email from Annette in Ontario:


I was awestruck by such an accurate guess, especially from out-of-town!

Here are Catalina and Alfredog at their previously-undisclosed location, enjoying their bird's eye view from a tree near Regal Hotel:


The clue's mention of "flicker" suggests my Flickr photo account, which includes a map to the Siamese Raindrop. "Planetary rocks" refers to the Planet Rock store across the street from the Regal Hotel. Along with those details, Annette's description was spot-on!

Congratulations, Annette! You win Gold in Guessing, so I'm sending you this mini raindrop I made:


And thank you for the great guesses from karen, Kate from England, and *birdee* from Singapore!

Here's a video of more public art on "Vancouver-before-Vancouver" street during the 2010 Olympic games:

By the way, when I was up in the tree, I noticed a familiar face:


Woomi returned safely from space!


Small world, eh?

Thanks for playing the Siamese Sightings game!


UPDATE - March 19, 2010:

Annette gave a tour of Wawa, Ontario to the Mini Raindrop! Here are her fun photos and descriptions:

Raindrop reads the plaque below the Wawa Goose (who is wearing a knitted scarf!)

Raindrop hangs with the Goomees

Raindrop over the Trans-Canada Highway

Doesn't the Mini Raindrop look happy in its new neighbourhood? Thanks, Annette!

Raining Cats and Dogs

In Vancouver, we're sensitive about our reputation as a rainy city. In 1998, many Vancouverites became enraged when actor David Duchovny joked, "Vancouver is a very nice place, if you like 400 inches of rainfall a day."


With the Olympic-sized attention arriving here soon, our rainy self-consciousness has resurfaced.

I thought it might be therapeutic to crochet some raindrops. So I made 14 of them, stitched cat and dog heads on each, gave them names, and felt well-adjusted again.

Raining Cats:


Raining Dogs:


To share this rain therapy, I searched for a public space to hang these raindrops. I chose the Davie Village Community Garden because it's the downtown site of a yarnstorming from sunny last summer:

Photo by ChromaticRat on Flickr

Photo by danielabsilva on Flickr

After some rainstorms, Jessica Glesby's knitted wall has seen sunnier days:


The wooden trellis above the garden, however, remained clear and that was where the Raining Cats and Dogs found their new home last week.




My girlfriend MJ was videotaping while her mom guided my installation of the raindrops. Here's a video of the stringin' up process!

The cat and dog faces are enjoying the sight of human faces looking up at them for a change.

(There are more photos on my Flickr. I'll update this blog post as the Raining Cats and Dogs installation inevitably evaporates.)

As all eyes focus on Vancouver for the 2010 Olympics, I hope these raindrops show that we Vancouverites can be proud of the rain that makes our streets shiny and our lush trees grow.




If we remain a little insecure about our rain, our citizens can try repeating MJ's defiant catchphrase: "Yeah, it rains in Vancouver. So what?"

We're just dancin' and singin' in the rain!



UPDATE - September  9, 2011:

Find out what happened to the last raindrop here!