Clarke's Creature Christmas!

Today I'm celebrating Clarke...an artist I admire! Settle in for a wild and wooly ride!

Those of you who have been following along for a while may know that Clarke is my niece...and the reason this blog can even exists. 

She helped me figure out the technical parts that are not in my wheelhouse...and has continued to be my tech support even though she lives in Chicago. She's amazing!

Clarke is also a self taught accomplished knitter....and she's been busy for months on what she has called Clarke's Creature Christmas. 

On the day after the day after family gathering....the Shupes opened up all of our frog creatures...and the personalized details and accessories are amazing. 

Mine is The Crafter...complete with a fabulous sweater and a set of colored pencils. Sam's is The Cyclist...with an amazing hat complete with a tiny pom pom. Don't you just love the high top sneakers!! Paul's is The Pastor dressed in a robe and stole...holding a bible. And Nate's is The Hit Maker at the keyboard. His hoodie is amazing with an actual pouch for his tiny frog hands. These are all Clarke's photographs that she has featured on the Ravelry site where she shared details about making each one.

These are the frogs and other creatures for friends and family.

Clarke sent me these photos months ago when she was just getting started. They show a bit of the process and the pieces and parts. She used patterns from Ravelry...but did some her own customization and ordered the accessories from Etsy. She's a clever one...that Clarke!

I am blown away by her talent!

Clarke had fun with this project...and says she will probably be making personalized frogs for the rest of her life. Here they all are in downtown Chicago!  What an accomplishment! Well done Clarke!

It seemed fitting that Lynn sent me an article called Weapons of Mass Construction: the US 'craftivist' using yarn to fight back against Trump. 

It shares how knitters and stitchers all over the country are using their art to protest and share acts of kindness and show normalcy in places and spaces that feel anything but normal. 

JOY is an act of resistance.