Danni Mae

Review of 2019

Danni Mae — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 13:40:54 +0000

2019 is almost over! This year has seen some of the biggest changes of my life, so crochet went on the back burner a little bit, but that’s not to say I didn’t crochet enough to make a finale post! So here it is, my crochet wrap-up of 2019:

I’m going to start off here as I did in my 2018 post, with my favorite creations of the year!

-Favorites of 2019-

My Eeveeloutions (particularly the technique I used to fluff their neck scruff.)

Ballerina Doll (which is my first time trying the long-arm style)

Emma’s Book (a first birthday present for my niece.)

– New Achievements –

I crocheted my largest order yet!

This guy is a five-foot alligator, which is almost as tall as me. It’s an original pattern that I made (but did not write down,) and he’s my biggest order yet! He took me a couple of months to make, but it was definitely worth the end result.

I made my smallest order yet!

Both my largest and smallest orders were done this year! This little mouse was particularly tricky because it was made with very thin yarn and a small hook.

I sent my first order to the UK!

This guy is from Final Fantasy, and is my first order to the UK. The fuzziness of his body was done by brushing out regular yarn a lot. I also expanded my number of orders to Spain and Canada!

I have now shipped to 16 different states.

Eventually I’m going to get a nice map and put a pin in every state I’ve shipped to. Obviously, the goal here is to ship to every state in America. I’ve pictured Tiamat here because it’s still one of my most-ordered items.

I made my first NICU donations!

I donated some jellyfish to the NICU that saved my niece’s life, and then posted a giveaway online for anyone who might need a jellyfish. I heard from another NICU nurse that said her NICU had been jellyfish-free for some time, and they were in need. I was happy to oblige! Altogether, I’ve donated eighteen jellyfish.

I made more replicas!

Not sure if this counts as an achievement really, but they’re fun to compare side-by-side.

-Did I accomplish my 2019 goals? –

Well, I did start working two jobs this year (at one point, I was working them both full-time!) so I have really slowed my crochet train down, but I had some good momentum at the beginning of the year, so let’s see!

I want to write at least ten patterns to add to my shop.

Big flop! I only wrote five patterns for my shop this year, half of my goal. But, of those patterns I made 40 sales, so I’m actually pretty pleased by that. My highest-selling pattern is my Spyro Pattern.

Make more items that haven’t already been ordered so that I can list them in my shop and display my craft online.

This I did do! In fact, crocheting things to list online was one of my highest source of orders, since I’d often pick things that were popular at the time. It was a hit and miss, though, so I still have a couple of things hanging around, waiting to be sold.

I want to begin making at least one new thing every week.

Hahaha….haha.. ha.

I want to form a solid customer base. To put that into more meaningful words, I want to make more customers that come back for at least two more orders after their first.

I have had a couple of repeat customers this year, so that’s nice! I wouldn’t call it a solid customer base, but it’s a start.

Overall, not as bad as I thought it would be! Although most of my goals were accomplished at the beginning of the year, back when I had free time.

– Goals of 2020 –

The business of my life temps me to go easy on myself with my crochet goals this year, but the nature of a new decade makes me want to really go big! So I’m going to go in-between with my goals:

Finish my pattern goal from 2019.
Ship to five more new states and one more new country.
Make my patterns fancier. (More pictures, with a new format.)
Make three original designs. (Most of what I do is replica and fan work; so I’d like to make three original concepts, preferably with patterns. They will most likely be holiday-themed.)

– In Conclusion –

Overall it’s been a pretty great year! Although there wasn’t as much crochet as I would have liked, the amount of crochet considering my circumstances only gives me hope for a more crochet-filled future. I would like very much to be less busy this coming year so I can focus a lot more on my business. But only time will tell. I hope everyone had a great year!

Happy 2020, Everyone!

A Book For My Niece

Danni Mae — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 23:12:43 +0000

The title says it all! This was a gift for my niece’s first birthday. I knew I wanted to make a book for her, and she was at the stage where she looooved to put things in her mouth. Thus the first page.

It goes on to say:

The entire thing was written and made by me. Now she has something else ot chew on!

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Giant Giraffe!

Danni Mae — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 22:55:22 +0000

Another order from one of my favorite customers!

Not much else to say about this one. It’s a giraffe!

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Gildr (Magic Card)

Danni Mae — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 22:52:58 +0000

This is one of my favorite types of orders: the obscure type. A little while ago, I got an order from someone that I made a sylveon for. His showed me his favorite magic card as a kid, and asked me if I could make it for him. This was the card:

Of course, me and my big ego responded “I can make anything.” (Sometimes I really dig myself into a hole doing that. Please don’t ask for examples.)

So this is what I came up with!

I was especially proud of the idea to put a tealight into his basket, so it really lights up!

I was also pleased when I gave it to him and he loved it.

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Tag with Ryan

Danni Mae — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 22:47:29 +0000

My niece loves Tag with Ryan. Her aunt crochets. What’s the result?

She shared this online and I immediately got an order from another mother. Her kid also loves Tag with Ryan and requested karate Ryan.

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Sylveon!

Danni Mae — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 22:43:36 +0000

So the store I work at is going through a remodel. One of the people doing the construction was a tough-looking strong guy that listened to a lot of death metal and had some pokemon tattoos. He came through my line a lot, so one day I asked what his favorite pokemon was. Want to know what this burly, sausagefest of a man said his favorite pokemon was?

Sylveon.

Like, the pink, cute, fairy type.

I know it isn’t very 2019 of me to get such a kick out of this obvious breach in gender types, but I did. But it’s ok, because I got such a kick out of it that I offered to make him one for free! So really, he profits. Anyway, here it is!

I’ve made a few of the other eeveeloutions, so it was really a pleasure to make this one, even though those ribbon color changes were a pain.

So now the only ones I haven’t made are Glaceon and Leafeon!

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Ballerina

Danni Mae — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 14:32:31 +0000

This one was an order placed by an expectant mom who wanted a little ballerina for her baby. It was a nice order to get, because I was just crocheting in the shop when she showed me a picture and asked “Hey, can you make this?” And I said yes!

I really liked the long-arm long-leg style of amigurumi dolls, and I think it’s definitely something I’ll be coming back to again.

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Giant Elephant!

Danni Mae — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 14:28:55 +0000

One of my favorite customers placed another order!

I was super pleased with how this one came out; I don’t often make things for myself, but I fell in love with this elephant. I might make one for my own kids someday when I have them!

Also, tea time!

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Wooloo!

Danni Mae — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 14:25:33 +0000

So the new pokemon games recently(ish) showed off some pictures of the next generation of pokemon! Among them, I think the most popular is this little sheep pokemon, Wooloo!

This was one I didn’t have any orders for, but I couldn’t resist. The super puffy stitch was difficult to pull off (and it killed my hands!) but I think it came out super cute.

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Puppy Dog Pals

Danni Mae — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 14:21:07 +0000

Another one that was impossible to make without the theme running through my head!

I got an order for just one of the puppies, but decided to make them both so I could write a pattern for them (and have them for a picture.)

But then I got another order for the other one, so it all worked out!

You can check out the pattern here.
Happy Friday, Everyone!