I've been keeping a secret 🤫 But now I get to share - the cover, at least! About 18 months ago, I got a message in my Etsy inbox asking if I might be interested in designing for an *official* D&D crochet book. I honestly thought it was a scam, but I Googled the press and it looked.. legit? But also, life was hella chaotic at the time -- I had just accepted a new job! I was changing careers! I didn't know how crochet would even fit into my new life! -- so while I agreed to meet with the publishers, I went into that meeting fully intending to politely decline.
Well, I walked out saying yes. Good job, Claire and Zoey 🤣 Over the next few months, I designed three patterns for this book, which will finally (omg finally!) be published next March. It was a huge learning experience for me to see what goes into publishing a book like this. Book people, you have a level of patience that I have never had in my life! But now it's finally becoming real and I'm so excited and honored to say I was part of it. I got to contribute to the official library of a property that has been really meaningful to me for a long time! 🥰
More updates soon! 😁
#dndcrochet #dungeonsanddragons #ttrpg #owlbear #vecna #dragon #crochet #amigurumi
Annnnnd published! You can now find the Serpent Dragon on Etsy & Ravelry! Thanks so much to all of my testers, especially @fibertherapist , @knotreallysure , @thingtwo58 , @crochet_critters_canada and my wonderful editor @skysknots 🥰
I look forward to seeing your creations!
#crochetpattern #amigurumipattern #crochet #amigurumi #dragon
I'm sorry, I try not to be negative but I am done with @Etsy . I am pulling my crochet patterns off the platform tonight.
A customer messaged me after buying a pattern to say she wanted a refund because the pattern doesn't make what it says. This is my most popular pattern, it certainly does! I asked if I could help her, because the pattern is thoroughly tested and highly reviewed.
She said she hadn't downloaded the pattern. My record showed she had.
Next thing I know, she opens a case against my shop, once again claiming the pattern doesn't make the pictured item. In response to the case, I supplied:
1) a photo of me creating the pattern
2) a photo of the positive reviews
3) a photo of other people's finished projects.
@Etsy ruled against me and took money out of my account to refund the customer even though their OWN POLICY is that digital items are not eligible for refunds!
Tell me why ANY creator should put their patterns on Etsy. Not only do we have to compete with all the AI slop, we then have no protections at all from people clearly trying to take advantage of us, all for the meager cost of a pattern.
Hello from.. my office? 😅 Yes, this is what most of the interior of my house looks like right now. My family of four is sleeping on mattresses on our living room floor, and the rest of our life exists between the kitchen and the combination office/dining area/playroom/storage space. There's still a long way to go, but I am really excited to move back into the Bextraordinarium with all-new space for THINGS. We now have a closet twice the size of what was there before, so I'll have better storage for yarn & eyes. We also bumped the wall back so the whole space is larger, which means I can get a nicer work table and set up some shelves to display finished items!
Thanks so much for your patience as we get through this period of disruption. I know that once I'm back in this space with all of my supplies unpacked and organized, I'll be bursting with inspiration and ready to shower you with goodies!
Hot off the hook, a snuggly pink-toed tarantula for my bff's little prince! 🥰 This pattern by @critteriffic_crochet was so easy to follow - I used the T. seladonia pattern and just skipped the color work. I decided to use @prismaticfiberandartistry Indra's Bow yarn to achieve an iridescent beetle-shine look and held it with a very, very fine pink mohair for the legs and abdomen.
I really hate to do this, but because it impacts so many more designers than just me, I felt compelled to share. This Etsy store is entirely AI-generated stolen versions of patterns I recognize as belonging to artists like @yelena.times , @hookedbykati , @1upcrochet and others. I've filed a report for my design and it looks like it might have been removed already, but many others are still up.
@etsy HAS to do more to prevent this type of fraud and not put the entire enforcement burden on creators. The Etsy marketplace for crochet is more AI slop than legitimate patterns, and I feel I can no longer recommend that people shop there because they are so likely to be swindled. I am not sure what I will do with my patterns and accessories, but at this point I don't see a future in Etsy. It will just be another AI slop farm. Listing anything there feels like an invitation to be ripped off, and buying there is just lining Etsy 's pockets while actual artists get robbed.
A year ago I posted this photo of my WIP pile 😅 Well, in that time I finished patterns for the Kirin (lower left), horse base (upper left), and hydra. Now it's time to pick up this Grove Guardian (middle right) inspired by Ents, Leshy, dryads, and other tree-like creatures 🌲🌳 Watch this space!
Pokopia has me totally enthralled 😍 So of course I have to crochet my Bitto (Bex Ditto, OBVIOUSLY). Actually, funny story: Bito is what my mum used to call me before I was born! Bun In The Oven! 😁
