Craft Bits — Crochet Lions, Magic Eye for Knitting, Etsy's Wedding Registry

With Cinco de Mayo today and Mother's Day next week, early May has been filled with a bevy of crafty celebrations, including the revealing of 30-foot crochet lions comissioned for the Olympics and the launch of Etsy's new Wedding Registry.

Gift of Fab

Etsy launches its Wedding Registry, which inspires couples to politely inform guests how to spend money. In collaboration with the registry, the handmade marketplace has also built a new Pinterest-inspired wedding site for trends, decor and dresses, entitled Etsy Weddings. 

Etsy has more on its new wedding registry as well as the other features they'll be building. 

Lion's Share 

After 36 miles of wool and three years of hand-crocheting, artist Shauna Richardson's three 30-foot lions were unveiled this week and are a part of a 12-piece art series comissioned by the Cultural Olympiad, all celebrating the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. 

Watch a video on Richardson's three-year endeavor of crochet lions from the BBC.

An Apt App 

Engaged? Building a website is so outdated now that the phone app Appy Couple is on the mobile scene. Once downloaded, wedding guests can get event reminders (viewable only by those invited), upload images of themselves and the wedding events or even play themed games. 

The Wall Street Journal has a review. 

Now You See Her, Now You Don't 

Illusion knitting features the silhouette of Her Royal Queen-ness. When viewed from the front, Miss Lizzie disappears. 

Interested in buying the knitting pattern? Head to Anglotopia for an interview with the artists and a link to their shop. 

Image credits (from top): Better Off Wed / Etsy, Louise O. Mahoney / Etsy, Crochet World, Appy Couple / WSJ and Anglotopia