Thursday, April 26, 2012

Crictor



Have you heard of Crictor?   The children's librarian where I work has long (and I mean LONG) been thinking it would make a great book for one of her story hours. But she needed a prop.

It's the story of an older lady whose nephew sends her a boa for a pet. She gets over her shock pretty quick, and brings him everywhere, doting on him (I guess the nephew knew just what she needed!). 


She feeds him from a bottle.  Later, he graduates to drinking from a straw at an outdoor cafe.


It's very cute, but I don't want to give the whole story away.

But, back to Trisha, who was hoping for a stuffed Crictor.   Years ago, and I mean years, I was knitting something at break time, and she mentioned she wouldn't mind a knitted snake.  Well, I never did anything about that.

And, over the years, once in a great while, she'd mention Crictor wistfully, and my guilty feelings increased.

Finally last year I told myself to get to it, and we went through the donated fabrics at the library.  She wanted him in many different colors and fabrics, and long - seven feet or so; I didn't want him too garish looking, so I stuck with a basic color scheme of reds, blues and greens. 

I did pretty well with him, until I got hung up with his head, and then I stopped. And the guilty feelings accumulated.  But during Lent, I told myself that the time had come to finish this project. 


I just completed Crictor on Monday - not really Lent anymore, but.....

He's fifteen feet long!  I have no embroidery experience, so I just did my best with the eyes - they're all right, I guess. Trisha is very happy - she finally has her Crictor.  It took me way too long to do this, but she is like the woman in the Bible, who forgets the pains of childbirth because of the joy at bringing a new life into the world.  So, all is forgotten, my conscience is clear, and she can plan her new story hour.  Whew!

joining with Elizabeth today for needle and thREAD.

16 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness your little boa is adorable!! I came by way of needle and thREAD and here is my week's offering:
    http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2012/04/crafting-along-with-needle-and-thread.html

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  2. Fabulous! What a clever project! Those little kids will remember the "snake from the library" forever...

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  3. He's lovely and the children will have such fun during story time. :)

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  4. Wow, he sure is a fine looking specimen, I am sure you will get some requests to make more, so you could print off an instruction sheet, (shorter version) and maybe make some precut fabrics, from thrift shop finds,a nice little fund raiser kit for the library, or maybe a holiday workshop for kids on Summer break.

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    1. Gosh sakes, Margaret - you've got my whole life planned out for me through this summer! :D

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  5. He is wonderful! I love how he curls up. What a great addition to the children's section :)

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    1. She definitely made it clear to me that she didn't want him stuffed too tight - he had to be flexible!

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  6. I love it!! I'll have to find this book for the kids. I'm already in love with Crictor.:) That snake is adorable and I love your story about how it took so long for his creation. Wonderful post!

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  7. What a great boa....I need to check out that book for my boys!!

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  8. Oh my gosh! I remember reading this story as a kid! What a cool project! I just might consider one for my brother for his birthday next month!

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  9. Good things are worth waiting for! I've never seen a cuter snake :)

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  10. I've already seen a dad and daughter playing with him. He's so cute! Great job, Lisa.

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  11. I love this entire post. I love the snake--And all the fabrics, ooh! :) And the illustrations in the book remind me of those in the Amelia Bedelia stories. Awesome all-around, Lisa. :)

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  12. What an adorable sounding story and your snake is so darn cute! He looks like the star of a book and I have to make a trip to the library just to see him in person!

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  13. Oh dear, I have not commented on him yet - I think last time I tried, my browser was acting up... I wanted to say he's wonderful, the perfect thing to go into a children's library! I love the colourful small scale prints on him - he has the right sort of look!

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