Out of the Nest and Into the World

Last March, I got hired as a part-time English teacher at a private school. So apart from my writing job from 8 am to 5:12 pm, I now have to teach English classes from 6 to 10 pm. One of my friends asked me if in between my schedule I could still eat and go to the bathroom and you know what I answered? "Jelly!" Hahaha! XD

Yeah I have barely enough time for myself now, but at least it pays well and I don't need to worry about my parent's imminent retirement or my mom's treatments. It's a little sacrifice that I'm willing to bear just so they'll have a comfortable life. T_T

Okay, enough with the sad violin... 

Anyway, I was able to teach a young Filipino boy that just graduated from college. He enrolled at our school so he could develop his English speaking skills and increase his chances of landing a decent job. On our first meeting he could barely express himself, stuttering and getting tongue-tied, and at one point he already pleaded if he could speak in Tagalog (Philippine language). That just broke my heart... I could sense how helpless he felt and how much he's struggling to break out of his shell. Yah, he was pretty dang shy. I mean, damn! O_O After that first meeting, I made it my goal and personal mission for this sweet boy to not only improve on his speaking, but help him gain the confidence and self-esteem he needs to get out into the world and make his mark.

After 40 hours of reading, listening, and public speaking exercises I noticed a great change in him. He was not anymore that shy boy who could not express himself properly and stuttering at every turn. He has become a young, confident man that could hold his head high and eloquently speak his mind. What a change! Even my co-teachers noticed how much he has progressed and I even got commended by my superiors on how I handled his radical, and yet very educational curriculum. Oh my gosh! I never expected I could have such great impact on a person's life. He even told me that out all his teachers I was his favorite as it was only from me that he learned the most. Here comes the feels train. Choo-choo! T.T

Last Wednesday (Jul. 12) was our final class and he delivered his graduation speech. Almost all my co-teachers, my Taiwanese student, and my sweet baby's mom was there. To be honest, we were all dumb-founded and shocked as he delivered the speech beautifully and wholeheartedly. There was almost zero mistakes and confidence really radiated from him. It was such a heart-felt moment and I was so touched of how much he appreciated me as his teacher. I was badly in the brink of tears and it took a lot out of me just to keep them from rushing out. Seriously! I don't want to be a freaking waterfall in my student's special moment. O_O Then suddenly his mom cried and said that she could not believe that her son could speak in public as he'd been struggling for years to communicate in English. At one point she almost lost hope finding the best and yet affordable institution that could help her boy. It was truly a blessing she found the academy and could never be happier how his son turned out. Like that moment was not tear-jerking enough, my student had to go and amplify the mood by shedding pure, innocent, tears of joy. Aaaw! Damn them ninjas cutting onions again! ToT

I had so many mixed emotions that night... Until now as I remember it, it just feels so surreal. I never thought I could be so happy. Oh my gosh! I still find it hard to believe I was able to turn someone's life around, that I had a big hand in a boy's path to maturity and success. Wow! The feeling is... I don't know, it's just so profound and overwhelming... It's so MATHEMATICAL!!!

So for someone who left quite an impression in my life, he deserves to get one of my amigurumis. As he had grown into a majestic swan from a lowly duckling, it is but fitting to give him a cutie-patootie baby duckie. Am I right? Ha? Ha? -^.^-

I used the duckling pattern by AmigurumiBB and slightly adjusted it to make it a tad smaller.

DUCKLING

(Click for Pattern)

BEBE DUCKIE

Materials:

Monaco Yarn Shade #12 - Blonde (2-3 skeins)

Monaco Yarn Shade #13 - Honey (1-2 skeins)

Monaco Yarn Shade #42 - Sapphire (1 skein)

Crochet Hook - F5 (3.75 mm)

Black beads #10

Fiberfill stuffing

Pink blush

*3sc1 = 3sc in 1st
*3sctog = dec 3sc together

HEAD

(Blonde)

6ch

Rnd 1: sc on 2nd ch,  3sc, 3sc1, 3sc, inc (12)

Rnd 2: inc, 3sc, 3inc, 3sc, 2inc (18)

Rnd 3: 1sc, inc, 4sc, [inc-1sc] 2x, inc, 4sc, inc, 1sc, inc (24)

Rnd 4: 2sc, inc, 5sc, [inc-2sc] 2x, inc, 5sc, inc, 2sc, inc (30)

Rnd 5: 3sc, inc, 6sc, [inc-3sc] 2x, inc, 6sc, inc, 3sc, inc (36)

Rnd 6: 4sc, inc, 7sc, [inc-4sc] 2x, inc, 7sc, inc, 4sc, inc (42)

Rnd 7: 5sc, inc, 8sc, [inc-5sc] 2x, inc 8sc, inc ,5sc, inc (48)

Rnd 8-16: sc around (48)

Rnd 17: dec-6sc (42)

Rnd 18: dec-19sc (40)

Rnd 19: sc around (40)

Rnd 20: dec-2sc (30)

Rnd 21: dec-1sc (20)

Rnd 22: 5sc-dec (18)

FO, weave in ends

*Attach black beads for eyes
*Put a little blush on the cheeks

TENDRIL

(Blonde)
7ch
Row 1: inc on 2nd ch, 5inc (12)
FO, leave tail for sewing
*Attach to the top of the head

  

BODY

(Blonde)

Rnd 1: 6sc in mr (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: 1sc-inc (18)
Rnd 4: inc-2sc (24)
Rnd 5: inc-3sc (30)
Rnd 6: inc-4sc (36)
Rnd 7: inc-5sc (42)
Rnd 8-12: sc around (42)
Rnd 13: dec-19sc (40)
Rnd 14: dec-2sc (30)
Rnd 15: sc around (30)
Rnd 16: dec-1sc (20)
Rnd 17: sc around (20)
Rnd 18: dec-8sc (18)
FO, leave tail for sewing
  
BEAK

(Honey)

7ch
Rnd 1: sc on 2nd ch, 5sc, 3sc1, 5sc, inc (16)
Rnd 2-3: sc around (16)
FO, leave tail for sewing
*Attach to the head

WINGS (2x)

(Blonde)

Rnd 1: 6sc in mr (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3-4: sc around (12)
Rnd 5: inc-1sc (18)
Rnd 6-7: sc around (18)
Rnd 8: 1sc-dec (12)
Rnd 9: sc around (12)
FO, leave tail for sewing 

LEGS (2x)

(Honey)

Rnd 1: 6sc in mr (6)
Rnd 2: 3sc1-1sc (12)
Rnd 3: 1sc, [3sc1-3sc] 2x, 3sc1, 2sc (18)
Rnd 4: 2sc, [3sc1-5sc] 2x, 3sc1, 3sc (24)
Rnd 5: sc around (24)
Rnd 6: 1sc, 3sctog, 3sc, 3sctog, 14sc (20)
Rnd 7: 3sctog, 1sc, 3sctog, 13sc (16)
Rnd 8: 3sctog, 13sc (14)
Rnd 9: sc around (14)
FO, leave tail for sewing

BOW

(Sapphire)
3ch
Row 1: sc on 2nd ch, inc, ch1-turn (3)
Row 2: 2sc, inc, ch1-turn (4)
Row 3: inc, 3sc, ch1-turn (5)
Row 4-5: sc across, ch1-turn (5)
Row 6: (skip 1st), 2sc, dec, ch1-turn (3)
Row 7: 1sc, dec, ch1-turn (2)
Row 8: inc, 1sc, ch1-turn (3)
Row 9: 1sc, 2inc, ch1-turn (5)
Row 10-12: sc across, ch1-turn (5)
Row 13: (skip 1st), 2sc, dec , ch1-turn (3)
Row 14: 1sc, 1dec (2)
FO, leave tail for sewing
*Fold the edges to the center and sew to form the bow

This bebe duckie carries all my good intentions, my hopes and dreams, and all the love I can muster for the dear boy. If it was up to me I'd like him to be my student forever, but then again I would not want to be that selfish. As a teacher, I have to let him spread his wings and soar high to reach his greatest potential. Sigh! I'll miss that sweet boy. 

So go my son and show them what you're made of. The world is lucky to have you. Make mama proud. TvT 

Copyright: Bebe Duckie is a pattern adapted from AmigurumiBB's original Duckling pattern. You may do whatever you want with the finished product but please do not sell or claim the pattern as your own. Also, do not post the pattern directly to your website. Just link it to this blog. ^^

Disclaimer: Some of the images/gif are not mine and can be searched online

You Quack Me Up

So the couple who owns the apartment I've been living in for more than 3 years just came back from New York to stay for a few months. It's a good thing the apartment has two rooms or else my roomie and I would've been kicked out. Yikes! O_O But seriously, the couple are really nice and chill. Although I have to admit it gets a bit uncomfortable at times since they're basically strangers, but I've got no complaints. They're good people. ^^

Last Christmas I decided to make them one of my ami softees and initially I thought to invent a pattern for cute penguins. I had the sketch down and the design was perfect, but there was just one problem... I ran out of time.

Ugh! Time management: the unattainable dream. T_T So bye-bye cute penguin idea and hello crocheting pattern found in the internet. 

So I was browsing for an emergency pattern when I came to LuiLuh's website and saw one of the cutest amigurumis I've ever seen. Then that was it. I fell in love and with penguins forgotten, I went on to crocheting adorable grey duckies instead. Squeeeee!!! XD

GREY DUCK

(Click Here) 

Materials:
Monaco Yarn Shade #247 - Cloud (1 skein)
Monaco Yarn Shade #12 - Blonde (1 skein)
Monaco Yarn Shade #1 - Snow (1 skein)
Monaco Yarn Shade #35 - Bubblegum (1 skein)
Crochet Hook - 7 (4.5 mm)
Black beads #08
Pink blush 
Fiberfill stuffing

I added a bow to make it extra kawaii. Hehehe! ^^

BOW
(Bubblegum)
16ch
Rnd 1: dc on 4th ch, dc across (12)
FO, leave tail for sewing
*Stitch two ends together
*Use the excess yarn to go around and shape the bow
*Attach to the head

After my binge-eating slash movie/anime watching marathon holidays at my hometown, I went back to the city to get ready for another year of hard labor and broken dreams. Yah... Adulting is hard. Hahaha!

Anyway, the moment I got to the apartment I immediately gave my gift and being such a bashful I kept apologizing about it. It's a bad habit but it's the only thing I could do, I was ridiculously awkward. O_O Thankfully they were impressed that I made them a gift and found the duckies adorable. I was really touched when they named them after their grandchildren. It made all the effort worthwhile. ^^     



Disclaimer: Some of the images/gifs are not mine and can be searched online

Macha Love

It was two Mondays ago (Jun. 15) when my roommate told me that our friend's father died... Of course I was shocked and although I've already known her dad to be sick for a while, I never thought it'd be that soon. But our friend did mention that he has been really suffering, being bed-ridden for months.

My roommate and I are doing our best to cheer her up and perk her back to her old self. It's a big job we have to do but we're up for the task. We will not rest until we see her smile again... Of course for me, I did what I do best... I made her an ami buddy. It took me a while to decide what I'd make her since both my roommate and I have no idea what animal or character she squees over, but eventually I went with a cute duckie plushie. I mean, who doesn't think ducks are cute?

I used the duckling pattern by AmigurumiBB.

    DUCKLING

(Click for Pattern)

By the way, I named this cutie Macha, Japanese for green tea. I thought it'd be appropriate since our friend loves green tea and her favorite color is green. ^^

MACHA

Materials:

Monaco Yarn Shade #249 - Parrot (3-4 skeins)

Monaco Yarn Shade #13 - Honey (1-2 skeins)

Monaco Yarn Shade #31 - Flamingo (1 skein)

Crochet Hook - 7 (4.5 mm)

Black beads #10

Fiberfill stuffing

Pink blush 

The pattern actually includes a tail, but I decided to not do that anymore since I thought it was already plenty A-dorable without it. 

So I gave Macha to our friend after gym training and let me tell ya, she was thrilled! Told me it was soooooooo cute and adorable. Aww schucks! Now I'm embarrassed. Hehehe! She even took it out for pictures while we were hanging in Starbucks. Ahem! Had organic brambleberry tea. Nada Caffeine. Just saying. XD It was a really nice setting; we were chatting while Macha sat quietly, guarding his mommy's green tea frap. -^.^-



Disclaimer: Some of the images are not mine and can be searched online