Saturday, March 6, 2010

Mini Nature Spirits

I was playing around on Wikipedia the other day, and came across this entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_legendary_creatures

It is a list of names of legendary creatures, from all different cultures; Asian, American Indian, European, you get the idea. It also gave me the idea to use the Mini Free Spirit pattern as a base for a collection of Nature Spirits, or in this case, Mini Nature Spirits :-)




Some of the modifications are very simple, like changing the ears to Elf ears or using a different shape and color for the eye surround, like these two. In warm colors is the Fire Spirit, Phoenix, from the Phoenician firebird, and in green is the Tree Spirit Canotila, from the Lakota (American Indian). I also love the effect of beads, so these two have beaded faces and beading on their clothing.








Other modifications take a little longer. These are not hard, but they are a bit more involved. Meet Melusine the Mermaid (from Medieval England) and Adhene the Centaur (from the Island of Man). In both of these cases, the Mini Free Spirit body was crocheted without the legs, and the Mermaid tail or Centaur body crocheted separately and then sewn or crocheted to the body.

I have created a pattern that has these modifications to the mini Free Spirit pattern as a series of separate changes, so you might want to use the Centaur ears and make a Cat person, or use Elf ears for a Mermaid and so on. The pattern is here, and also on the left sidebar of the blog page under the Mini Free Spirit patterns:

Mini Nature Spirits Pattern: 

This PDF has more pictures in it, so it is a bit larger than most.

Enjoy the crochet!

27 comments:

  1. Those are amazing! I can't decide which one I love the most. Thanks for posting your patterns.

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  2. They look so cute! I think I'll try the mermaid when I have some time again ^^

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  3. Thank-you both for your good words :-)

    Beth

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  4. I absolutely adore Centaurs. You're one of the very few people who have the ability to turn imaginary characters into 3-D. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. You are incredible, these dolls are so wonderfull
    If I were so talent like you, I will wait fore more =o)

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  6. Thank you for your good words, hisiamone and Pia. I am quite pleased with the Centaur :-) I had designed a horse pattern many years ago, and was able to crochet this pattern starting at the chest, then attach it to the mini Free Spirit body. And it worked!

    Beth

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  7. I just love all your patterns,I have all kinds of ideas for your dolls and then you go and give me more ideas,I'll never get back to my own crocheting lol oh well it can wait,your patterns are great thanks for all your hard work ...Diane

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  8. These dolls are so awesome. i haven't made a free spirit doll since Chrristmas time, but now these dolls have inspired me to start another one. I'm thinking maybe an elf. thanks!! :) Anne

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  9. Thank-you so much for your good words, Anne and Diane. I want you to be inspired, and take off and make these dolls your own. You don't know just how much I needed your good words today.

    Beth

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  10. magnifique !!! merci pour le modèle

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  11. OMG! these dolls are fantastic. I don't know a little girl that wouldn't go crazy for one! I love all your doll patterns. Thanks for the tutorial on the link stitch, it was driving me crazy. I love the mermaid the best!!! It's so cute!!!!! Thanks for sharing soooo much!!!!!

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  12. Hi just wondering when I post a comment what does URL mean and how com to make my post go through I have to put anonymous or it doesn't go through. juat woundering...Diane

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  13. Thank-you so much for the good words :-)

    Diane, I wish I knew the answer to your questions. Maybe you have to sign in as anonymous if you don't have a Google account...this blog was create through Google. I'm only guessing here.

    As far as what URL means in the context of leaving a blog message, I haven't a clue. I still see your messages just fine, though.

    Beth

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  14. O-o great patterns. Love! Love! Love!

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  15. thank you so much for this pattern! :)

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  16. I started creating one of your doll,they are owh so cute made ,i could not resist.
    You can watch my fairy fae here:

    http://fotoshopperjackske.blogspot.com/

    I'm so very glad i found you my dear creator of pretty things

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  17. Thank-you so much for your good words, Cora, Giorgina, and Jacqueline. Jacqueline, your doll is beautiful; and you used two of my very favorite colors!

    Beth

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  18. Glad you like mine Beth,i'm now doing the mermaid.I'm really hooked on those beautiful creatures.I'm so happy that i can make these dolls and even translate them into my language.Owh by the way i do crochet only for 3 weeks now.Never knew that i could create them also.Thank you very much Beth i love your work
    :-)))

    Grtz jacqueline

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  19. Mermaid is finished Beth.I give you the link to watch me crochet mermaid.
    http://fotoshopperjackske.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-crochet-mermaid.html

    Thank you so much Beth.I'm now doing the Other creatures;-)

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  20. Jacqueline, she is beautiful!! Your work is wonderful, and I like the way you embellished the doll stand as well. Great work :-)

    Beth

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  21. Thank you very much for sharing the patterns. I am making the mermaid as a Christmas present for a little girl this year. I do have a question and couldn't find the answer (my tablet is betting a butt so I honestly could have missed it) I was wondering if you allowed people to sell dolls made from your patterns and if you do what are your rules for doing so?

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    1. Hi Melissa,

      You may sell dolls made from my patterns; all I ask is that you give me designer credit on your hangtag.

      Happy dollmaking :-)

      Warmly,

      Beth

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    2. Oh thank you so much Beth! I bow before your awesomeness! I promise to make sure you get full credit for the doll pattern.

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  22. Here is the mermaid I did, had to make a few minor changes due to lack materials.
    https://m.facebook.com/mythicalgatherings/photos/pcb.831519020233060/831518836899745/?type=1&source=49&ref=bookmark

    Here is a fairy I did using the free spirit pattern and the wing pattern on this site.
    https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=831518773566418&id=191186400932995&set=pcb.831519020233060&source=49&ref=bookmark

    Thank you again for sharing your patterns, they were a total hit. The fairy has earned and possibly even replaced the current nighttime Dragon snuggle buddy.

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    1. Melissa,

      Wow!! Both of your dolls, the mermaid and the fairy, are awesome! I just love the ringlets on your fairy, and love the colors of your mermaid. Thank you for sharing them with me, and I am delighted they were a hit!

      Wishing you a creative and happy 2015 :-)

      Warmly,

      Beth

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    2. Thank you :-) I wish you a creative and happy 2015 too! Can't wait to see what you come up with next!

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  23. I've been driving myself CRAZY trying to find these again after SIX years! I had saved the bookmark to make them but my computer died of old age! I found them again and Im so happy!!!!

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