Charlie the Giraffe

I think this might actually be my cutest creation yet. Introducing...Charlie the Giraffe!

I have been anxious to share this new member of the BBB Zoo with you for a while now. My sister-in-law, Erin, had asked me a while back if I would knit something for her to give to her friend's son, Charlie, for his birthday. I was delighted to, and suggested this cute giraffe, as I had been wanting to try this one out.  I finished it a bit before Easter, but since Erin had yet to send it off, I was holding off on the post... I didn't want to ruin the surprise, after all! I haven't heard the feedback yet, but I hope Charlie was a hit.  

I'm learning that these stuffed animals are really very similar in design (the arms/legs and body, at least), but what gives them their unique characteristics are the little finishing touches, and colour, of course. This one is a vibrant yellow and orange, and I think it would be hard to mistake it for anything other than a giraffe... especially when you see the spots and the pom-pom mane along it's back, and the adorable horns atop his head! (Is it so wrong of me that I love this little guy?!?)  There were certainly a lot of little pieces in involved in putting this guy together, a lot of spots to knit and then stitch on, and several pom-poms for the mane and tail. But when it all comes together, and you stitch on the eyes and mouth, well, it really felt like I created something special. It was almost hard to say goodbye...

On a completely side note, I also learned the importance of good lighting when taking photos. I love playing with my camera, finding the perfect angle for the right shot, creating a lasting image to encapsulate my object, and I think I might actually be getting the hang of it. This one was taken with some indirect sunlight, and I'm amazed at how well it turned out! Other of my photos have been a bit of a flop, and I didn't feel like the photo gave you the true impression of what the stuffed toy looked like. But I felt this photo really did capture the essence of Charlie.