Nikon D600: my thoughts

When I wrote here about D800 soon after its release, I pointed out few alternatives for myself, none of which were really satisfying - as I wanted to stay faithful to Nikon brand and didn't want to waste $3k+ on new camera body.
I've been reading rumors about D600 for months. Now it is finally announced!
D600, unlike D800, proved to be the perfect choice for me now.
I'm still happy with my D90 in all aspects, except for sensor size. But D600 is kind of an updated full-frame version of D90 - what else to wish for?

Why D600 is better than D800 (features important for me)
24MP / 36MP - 12MP is definitely not enough now, but 36? I was discouraged when I learnt about that feature of D800, and I'm glad that D600 hasn't inherited its sensor (of course it couldn't).
5.5 fps / 4.6 fps - I know that technically 4,6 fps on 36 MP is cooler, but still.
760 g / 900 g - I'm a fragile girl (D90 body weighs only 620g!). And size does matter too - look at the picture above.
$2099 / $2999 - no comment.
D600 features the same video recording quality, the same great LCD screen as D800.
So no question here. Ready to go full-frame!

How to turn yarn into elephant

Six months ago I wrote here that amigurumi is definitely not for me.
Well... you probably have already guessed... I was wrong!
What comes to mind first when you think of a present to a 4-year-old girl?
Soft toy?
CROCHET soft toy!

Pattern source

I needed a cute and instantly likeable character, and I had gray yarn...
Mouse? Rabbit? Wolf?
In fact, choosing pattern wasn't easy. Probably because most of the available for free patterns are a little...weird? Well, you can see for yourself:

All I can say is WTF???

At last, I saw this Baby's Elephant, became excited and started crocheting immediately...
This is the original version:

In my implementation it has lost the cap, but acquired the bow, and by its color we can most certainly say that it's a "she" :)

The toy was made very quickly, unlike this post. I wonder if Baby Elephant is still alive, since I gave him to his new little owner  a month ago :) And maybe my sewing was not so reliable for a child's use!
Anyway, I'm ready  to make another one. Even more cute :)

New yarn & Upcoming projects

When I finally returned home after being away for 3 weeks, I was glad to find my yarn stack waiting for me! I think it's a good idea to make a speculation post to celebrate it...

This set of skeins is one of my first deliberate color combination choices (previously most of the combinations were random, based on the yarn I already had).
I pinned these ponchos 6 months ago, in the end of winter. Now it's finally the right time to begin working on them (in my own size, of course)!

I wanted the color palette for the poncho to be muted and warm and to remind of autumn - so the colors above seem right. And it's 100% wool!

All the rest are yarns for summer garments. It's still summer, right?

With this mint-colored cotton yarn I plan to make bolero. By the way, it's Japanese pattern - I find Japanese crochet to be the most dainty, tasteful and inspiring:

(Source: http://gosyo.shop.multilingualcart.com/free1.php )

Next...

Another combination: bright turquoise colors.
I don't have specific project in mind for this yarn (yet), but it should be something stripy and fun:

Absolutely no idea what to do with this. It's cotton ribbon yarn, and they had only one skein of it. Maybe some baskets or other accessories?..

And, at last, this slightly stretchy (96% lyocell 4% nylon) yarn will probably become a bikini top.

 

These plans will definitely keep me busy in next months, let's see what comes out!