Friday, May 16, 2008
All creatures...
My studio has been hit by a mini-plague of flies. For the last three days I have been acting as door-lady to a steady trickle of blow-flies. First thing in the morning they are clustered at the window like anxious commuters at a train station. They are definitely emerging from within, and almost certainly from a crack joining the attic. No smell can be detected, so I think we can rule out any little 'presents' left by one of the cats. They seem to be lessening in number, so hopefully whatever it is - wherever it is - is almost done decomposing.
Out on night time patrol in the rainy back garden, with my old pair of snicker-snacker-scissors. Beware all slugs and snails, my veg seedlings are at your mercy - and you are at mine! With the gentle rain and darkness emerge the worms, swiftly pulling themselves underground as I make my progess through the vegetable patch. And there, behind the soaking tub, is dear Mrs Toad, doing her usual round as she seeks a juicy snail supper. This corner of the yard is littered with the remains of past feasts - as a careless person chucks their Big Mac carton on the floor, so she strews the patio with eviscerated shells. Maybe she needs a little litter basket?
Despite having to give most of my time to my lovely new illustration job, I did finally finish my NFEST challenge - Synthia. (I was going to call her Madame Syn, but thought the reference not quite nice for a needle felt toy, if anyone is old enough to remember the infamous Cynthia Payne).
She is the one snail who hasn't come to an unfortunate end, via my scissors or Mrs Toad's voracious appetite. I know she was only curious to discover what thyme smelt like. Now I have her in the shop, along with Rose - (Rose is now sold to a new home).
- I can put my mind to my two orders, not the least of which is an extravaganza of toy making for Stephanie. We went through various designs -
- but eventually I tempted her with a monkey.
We whittled it down to a skinny one, possibly with a few little extras...an embedded music box is a distinct possibility. Steph is brilliant to work with, she is as dotty about vintage toys as I am, and so enthusiastic; between us we hope to create something rather special, and I can take my toy making up to the next level.
(Oh look, another fly. Would you like your coat sir?)
Labels: Cynthia Payne, Dusty Rose, fat toad, felt dog, felt snail, plague of flies, Stephinately, toad in garden, toy designs, toy dog, toy snail
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
News from Elsewhere
Beth of Felting in Fibrespace has been kind enough to give me this Arte y Pico award (thank you Beth!). I'd like to pass it on to five textile artists who produce unique, quality work. Last time I got this I was a bit foggy about the rules, but apparently they are thus -
1) Pick 5 blogs who deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material and who also contribute to the blogging community no matter what language.
2) Each award must have the name of the author and also a link to their blog.
3) Each award winner must show the award and put the name and the link to the blog that has given her or him the award.
4) The award winner and the one who has given the prize must show the link of the “Arte y pico“ blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5) Show these rules.
So there we are. I'm choosing -
Kay Petal, of Feltnalaska whose video I used when making my first, tentative steps in needlefelting. What Kay can't do with a felting needle isn't worth doing; she makes utterly brilliant and sometimes downright scary characters with more personality then some humans I know.
Lindsay of Tart's Tales, wonderful supplier of handspun yarns, rovings and creator of many lovely crafted goodies.
Merry Moon Designs, who makes gorgeous cupcakes of the inedible-but-seriously-gorgeous-eye-candy kind.
Nicky of Green Phoenix, really special papier mache dolls and sculptures.
Oohh, who to have next, I read at least 200 blogs and I love (nearly) them all. (Some I read just because they wind me up in kind of 'scratching a scab' way). Let's see...
Ingermaaike of Daily Felt, a felt maker in the Netherlands who makes amazing organic creations, mainly with wet felt - she often shows projects step-by-step, and it is incredible what she creates.
While I'm here, a special thank you to Sooz and Miss V. Not only the lovely purchasers of Eloise, who was welcomed to her new home with much love and kissing but generous benefactors to the studio chocolate stash.
I ate the chocolates. Well...you have to really - it's a hard job, but someone's got to do it. I am just embarking on the chocolate Chukar cherries and I am making a supreme sacrifice, and using the dried cherries in Andy's next cake. As I get so many generous gifts, it seems fair to pass the love on.
And much gratitude and smiles to Miss V in particular, a creator of beautiful and too-be-kept-forever cards. I'm one of those sentimental hoarders who keeps ephemera treasures in special boxes, and I was in need of a new one, so the now-sadly-empty chocolate box has arrived just in time.
My toys are spreading to all the corners of the globe - Egg Nest travelled a little nearer home, it's owner, Puddock, of Two and a Half Acres blog kindly sent me this photo of the birds taking a short vacation and enjoying clean, Scottish air, Now where better for an egg, than in a tree?
Speaking of which, toys kind of slowed down recently, due to multiple factors - not least of which was my Epson printer dying, so that I couldn't print my toy tags out. I've had many enquiries about 'where I get them printed' and without wishing to give away the secret of how I saw the lady in half, the simply answer is that like most of my stuff, they are homemade; I couldn't afford to get them professionally done. They're just typeset in Quark and punched out. Nothing fancy. Without a printer I'm stuffed, so I forgot about my overdraft and found a cheap Canon. (Sorry Epson, your inks are just too expensive and the cartridges can't be recycled. And your printers die too quickly). Normal service is now resumed. I'll be putting two more toys up for sale on Friday, when this wretched snail is finished...
It's kind of ironic that Synthia the Snail has progressed at, well, a snail's pace. She seems to have taken forever. I'm not sure if I entirely like her; she is more decorative than characterful. I am also working on a special and lovely custom order for my old blog-chum Stephanie, and to my complete amazement and delight it looks as if I have a new illustration job, hopefully my first British book - all to myself. Not allowed to say any more; as with all publishing jobs, it's top secret. Great fun though, hugely enjoyable and it's good to be back in the saddle. Oh yes, and there's the little matter of a cupboard full of letterpress equipment I'm rescuing at the weekend...
1) Pick 5 blogs who deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material and who also contribute to the blogging community no matter what language.
2) Each award must have the name of the author and also a link to their blog.
3) Each award winner must show the award and put the name and the link to the blog that has given her or him the award.
4) The award winner and the one who has given the prize must show the link of the “Arte y pico“ blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5) Show these rules.
So there we are. I'm choosing -
Kay Petal, of Feltnalaska whose video I used when making my first, tentative steps in needlefelting. What Kay can't do with a felting needle isn't worth doing; she makes utterly brilliant and sometimes downright scary characters with more personality then some humans I know.
Lindsay of Tart's Tales, wonderful supplier of handspun yarns, rovings and creator of many lovely crafted goodies.
Merry Moon Designs, who makes gorgeous cupcakes of the inedible-but-seriously-gorgeous-eye-candy kind.
Nicky of Green Phoenix, really special papier mache dolls and sculptures.
Oohh, who to have next, I read at least 200 blogs and I love (nearly) them all. (Some I read just because they wind me up in kind of 'scratching a scab' way). Let's see...
Ingermaaike of Daily Felt, a felt maker in the Netherlands who makes amazing organic creations, mainly with wet felt - she often shows projects step-by-step, and it is incredible what she creates.
While I'm here, a special thank you to Sooz and Miss V. Not only the lovely purchasers of Eloise, who was welcomed to her new home with much love and kissing but generous benefactors to the studio chocolate stash.
I ate the chocolates. Well...you have to really - it's a hard job, but someone's got to do it. I am just embarking on the chocolate Chukar cherries and I am making a supreme sacrifice, and using the dried cherries in Andy's next cake. As I get so many generous gifts, it seems fair to pass the love on.
And much gratitude and smiles to Miss V in particular, a creator of beautiful and too-be-kept-forever cards. I'm one of those sentimental hoarders who keeps ephemera treasures in special boxes, and I was in need of a new one, so the now-sadly-empty chocolate box has arrived just in time.
My toys are spreading to all the corners of the globe - Egg Nest travelled a little nearer home, it's owner, Puddock, of Two and a Half Acres blog kindly sent me this photo of the birds taking a short vacation and enjoying clean, Scottish air, Now where better for an egg, than in a tree?
Speaking of which, toys kind of slowed down recently, due to multiple factors - not least of which was my Epson printer dying, so that I couldn't print my toy tags out. I've had many enquiries about 'where I get them printed' and without wishing to give away the secret of how I saw the lady in half, the simply answer is that like most of my stuff, they are homemade; I couldn't afford to get them professionally done. They're just typeset in Quark and punched out. Nothing fancy. Without a printer I'm stuffed, so I forgot about my overdraft and found a cheap Canon. (Sorry Epson, your inks are just too expensive and the cartridges can't be recycled. And your printers die too quickly). Normal service is now resumed. I'll be putting two more toys up for sale on Friday, when this wretched snail is finished...
It's kind of ironic that Synthia the Snail has progressed at, well, a snail's pace. She seems to have taken forever. I'm not sure if I entirely like her; she is more decorative than characterful. I am also working on a special and lovely custom order for my old blog-chum Stephanie, and to my complete amazement and delight it looks as if I have a new illustration job, hopefully my first British book - all to myself. Not allowed to say any more; as with all publishing jobs, it's top secret. Great fun though, hugely enjoyable and it's good to be back in the saddle. Oh yes, and there's the little matter of a cupboard full of letterpress equipment I'm rescuing at the weekend...
Labels: Daily Felt, Feltalive, Green Phoenix, I Piccolini, Laundry Fairy, Merry Moon Designs, Stephanitely, Two and a Half Acres
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
From Dawn till Dusk
It is hard to express my relief and sheer joy in the first real days of warmth and light. I often joke that I don't get out much - but it is true, possibly unusually so in this day and age. Winter in the country - carless and with a pitifully poor bus service - can be trying, especially long ones where I may not venture out for days on end. Most of the time I am happy working away in my studio, muffled to the eyeballs in various jumpers, socks and beanies (should that be beany? I only wear one...) but it has been a long, tedious season. Yesterday I headed out for my morning walk caressed by gentle fingers of Spring breezes, intoxicated by the gorgeous wafts of rapeseed blossom - a smell which will always signify Oxfordshire summers to me.
This is the start of my regular walk - whatever is happening in my life, my heart lifts when I see these fields spreading out before me and all around me I can look across the Cotswolds, spreading gently towards the West country.
Now, look beyond the first field, past the sliver of the next green meadow and further, to the next crop of rapeseed...
...there we are, the path gently rising and onwards to the top farm. My little 3 mile walk is usually uneventful, save for the small pleasures which enchant any nature lover.
But it was enough to be warm, and on returning home, to be able to sit in a sun-soaked garden, designing new toys with writhing cats about my feet and sprightly seedlings basking in the heat. And so it has always been.
The Cuckoo Song (c 1250. anonymous)
Sumer is icumen in,
Loude sing cuckou!
Groweth seed and bloweth med,
And springth the wude nuw.
Summer is a-coming in,
Loudly sing cuckoo!
Seed grows and meadows bloom
And the wood grows anew.
There is a full version of both the Middle English and a modern translation, complete with recording of the tune here (do turn your speakers on, it starts up as soon as you get there, and yes, it was featured in the Wicker Man).
Sumer is icumen in,
Loude sing cuckou!
Groweth seed and bloweth med,
And springth the wude nuw.
Summer is a-coming in,
Loudly sing cuckoo!
Seed grows and meadows bloom
And the wood grows anew.
There is a full version of both the Middle English and a modern translation, complete with recording of the tune here (do turn your speakers on, it starts up as soon as you get there, and yes, it was featured in the Wicker Man).
So giddy was I with the delights of the first Summer's day, I dragged Andy out to the woods that evening. I had forgotten how much I adore dusk - the halfway house between day and night, full of quiet and transference. The bluebells are still in full bloom and at this hour of the evening were nodding drowsily, drenching the air with sleepy perfumed sighs.
The woodland birds were putting the world to bed with a jubilant chorus and we startled a little trio of Muntjack deer. Although only knee-high - about the size of a small dog - they have a fearsome 'bark'. If you didn't know what it was, you would be quite alarmed. Listen to this exchange, with the birdsong warbling away in the background.
The woodland birds were putting the world to bed with a jubilant chorus and we startled a little trio of Muntjack deer. Although only knee-high - about the size of a small dog - they have a fearsome 'bark'. If you didn't know what it was, you would be quite alarmed. Listen to this exchange, with the birdsong warbling away in the background.
No, it is only trees you can see, despite my best efforts they evaded my camera.
Anxious sheep called their straying lambs and the red sun sunk below the darkening trees. We missed our turning and ended up in the boggy corner. As we headed homewards, a slender sickle moon rose above the horizon, bobbing sweetly across the night sky.
Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.
Now the darkness gathers,
Stars begin to peep,
Birds, and beasts and flowers
Soon will be asleep.
Labels: 'Summer is icumen in', first summer day, Muntjac deer call, rapeseed fields, sickle moon
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Goose at the match
It is trying, oh so hard, to be spring here - we have bluebells carpeting the woods with a gentle blue haze -
There is Cuckoo Pint, leering suggestively from the verge -
Country folk have always had fun with the nick-naming of this plant and it is variously known as 'Lords and Ladies' 'Parson in the Pulpit' 'Sweethearts', ''Devils and Angels, 'Cows and Bulls' and even (more modernly) 'Willy Lily'. But it's proper name is the Arum Lily. It is now classified as poisonous, though in Elizabethan times its roots were dried and used as starch or as an arrow root substitute. Apparently - in its dried form - it loses its poisonous properties and was also used in love potions- but please don't try this at home.
The swallows are back, diving joyously around the farms, gorging on mosquitoes, though they can't be enjoying the cold wet weather we are enduring at the moment.
And, whatever the weather, it is the start of the village cricket season again and time for aching limbs and muddy whites.
Happy discovery; my needle felting basket fits perfectly into my rucksack, and thus can travel with me on the bike to cricket matches. As most matches last for at least 6 hours, this is valuable work time and with any luck I get to sit in the sun. Or else freeze my fingers off in an easterly wind. Much interest in what I was doing and a steady trickle of people coming over to enquire what I was doing. Not one had heard of needle felting, and were intrigued by the progress; more often they were amazed at how long it took - eight hours minimum or in the case of Lanky Lil, a total of fifteen. The most rewarding enquiry was from a very intelligent young girl who asked me what I was doing and got the full lecture, from how felt used to be made, to the construction of a toy and how I also paint them as artworks. Not only was she polite, genuinely interested and actually listened, she made more intelligent observations than many adults. And - oh blessed 21st century child - I didn't have to explain what a blog was!
Lil enjoyed the fresh air and the sun, and I was so absorbed in working on her that the afternoon flew by; Andy reported that I missed the courting butterflies cavorting past and the kestrel hovering overhead. She turned out larger than expected, and instead of felting her wings to her torso, I added moveable ones, so that she can march - kind of.
I have a mega-apology to make to a lot of people...a few days ago, while trying to add one friend to my Stumble page, I added my entire Yahoo address book...all 269 of them. This was a complete mistake on my part; I pressed the send button before unchecking everyone. Doh! And so they will all have received e-mails on my behalf, pointing them to the site. It's a good little tool for spot-finding sites and blogs you might be interested in, but I really did not intend to bother everyone, especially not the various clients and art directors...though it is nice that some people have linked up to me and found it useful. Others probably did not; I'm sorry. It was a genuine accident, I hate being bothered by that kind of thing myself, which makes it worse. I would fall on my needle felting needle in remorse, but it would almost certainly break.
Labels: arum lily, bluebell woods, bluebells, Cuckoo Pint, Stumble
Friday, April 25, 2008
Eloise and Heinz
The days seem to be passing in a blur of needle stabbing; taking old designs (the simple Siamese cat card, did I really paint that...oh dear...) and tweaking them -
- taking them one step further and creating a pink-pointed Siamese.
Finding that it is one thing to design a sausage dog on paper...
...and another to make it in 3D. The legs went horribly wrong and some major surgery was called for - not a sight for the squeamish!
But with some careful study of what the structure of a Dachshund really looks like, I rescued him. He was named Heinz in honour of the only tinned soup I allow in the house. Because there really isn't anything quite like it. Run for the ball, Heinz!
Sit up and beg!
Dig for that bone boy!
Eloise and Heinz are off to their new homes; Eloise is going far across the Atlantic to America, and Heinz is just popping over the county border. Now I have to think about my first custom order...and finish another goose.
Delighted this week - as always - to receive greetings from Adanaland. The King of Adanaland had seen my link to goblin-artist extraordinaire, Jean-Baptiste Monge, and along with a choice selection of letter-press goodies -
- was this decorative goblin type, are they not delicious?
I have found a company which actually makes tiny wooden wheels and axles. Despite my aspirations, I am not an all-encompassing craft goddess, and I am particularly lousy at any form of woodwork, so making my own was out of the question. But wheels I must have, for ducks, birds, horses and - oh, anything really. Needle felt wheely toys, I cannot wait!
Delighted this week - as always - to receive greetings from Adanaland. The King of Adanaland had seen my link to goblin-artist extraordinaire, Jean-Baptiste Monge, and along with a choice selection of letter-press goodies -
- was this decorative goblin type, are they not delicious?
I have found a company which actually makes tiny wooden wheels and axles. Despite my aspirations, I am not an all-encompassing craft goddess, and I am particularly lousy at any form of woodwork, so making my own was out of the question. But wheels I must have, for ducks, birds, horses and - oh, anything really. Needle felt wheely toys, I cannot wait!
Labels: Alan Brignull, needle felt cat, needle felt dachshund, needle felt dog, needle felt Siamese
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Weekend Dispatches
Delivered - one plumpy-lumpy sack.
I have got to the point where I need serious amounts of wool and as many colours as I find in my normal paint palette. My toy designs are cramming my head, (I even go to sleep visualising them as I drift off) and it is so frustrating to know exactly what colours I want them to be, but not to have them at my fingertips. And worse, to run out of a colour when a toy is half done. Thanks to a much needed royalty check I was able to splurge a little at Wingham Wools - hence the mysterious lump. I hadn't quite realised how big nearly 6KG (13.2 lbs) would be...like a child at Christmas I upended the sack. Out spilled dozens of wool bundles, like so many tubby, multi-coloured kittens tumbling over the floor.
Being the original anal retentive I had to line them up in a vague colour chart...
Sighs of deep satisfaction from one contented artist. My trousers have holes, my boots are falling apart, but I have enough wool to felt a menagerie of creatures. Priorities.
Found - a lovely set of 1960's toy making books -
Some retaining the original patterns -
I have got to the point where I need serious amounts of wool and as many colours as I find in my normal paint palette. My toy designs are cramming my head, (I even go to sleep visualising them as I drift off) and it is so frustrating to know exactly what colours I want them to be, but not to have them at my fingertips. And worse, to run out of a colour when a toy is half done. Thanks to a much needed royalty check I was able to splurge a little at Wingham Wools - hence the mysterious lump. I hadn't quite realised how big nearly 6KG (13.2 lbs) would be...like a child at Christmas I upended the sack. Out spilled dozens of wool bundles, like so many tubby, multi-coloured kittens tumbling over the floor.
Being the original anal retentive I had to line them up in a vague colour chart...
Sighs of deep satisfaction from one contented artist. My trousers have holes, my boots are falling apart, but I have enough wool to felt a menagerie of creatures. Priorities.
Found - a lovely set of 1960's toy making books -
Some retaining the original patterns -
Also found - an early 1962 Oxford University Press edition of the Pied Piper by Robert Browning, illustrated by Howard Jones...
Arrived - Lily Laguna, my second bird-mobile, has found the perfect home with Gifling where she is living in another artist's studio, so will feel very much at home. Thank you Gillian!
Discovered - my new site of the week, illustrations to die for, a new name to me - Jean-Baptiste Monge. If you like Brian Froud you will love, love, love this artist's work. And he keeps a blog too. It is all on French, so if, like me, your language skills are a little rusty, then the Google translation tool does a very good job - simply put the url of the page in, choose which language to change from and away you go!
(What have I been needle felting? Ahhh...this and that...)
Arrived - Lily Laguna, my second bird-mobile, has found the perfect home with Gifling where she is living in another artist's studio, so will feel very much at home. Thank you Gillian!
Discovered - my new site of the week, illustrations to die for, a new name to me - Jean-Baptiste Monge. If you like Brian Froud you will love, love, love this artist's work. And he keeps a blog too. It is all on French, so if, like me, your language skills are a little rusty, then the Google translation tool does a very good job - simply put the url of the page in, choose which language to change from and away you go!
(What have I been needle felting? Ahhh...this and that...)
Labels: Dryad Press toy books, Harold Jones, Jean-Baptiste Monge, merino wool tops, Second Annual Softies Awards, Wingham Wool Works
Monday, April 14, 2008
Petit Jaune and beret.
When I was seven or eight, I bought a vivid magenta pink beret from a jumble sale. In retrospect it was probably quite alarming in colour, but it was made from soft angora wool and I considered it beautiful. I wore it constantly for a while; my mum was great about things like that. In fact, as our mutual wardrobes consisted of jumble sale finds and hand-me-downs, I have few (if any) memories of going into high street clothes shops for the latest fashions. (Which is probably why I am somewhat lacks-a-daisical in my dress sense now). The pink beret disappeared with the majority of my belongings when my parents died and near-relatives took matters into their own hands. When I left my foster home, four years later, I started wearing a beret again. I think it must have been a kind of security blanket, although I didn't realise it at the time - I just liked berets. I had a red one, which I practically lived in, and a black one, as I thought I was an anarchist. I'm about sixteen/seventeen here, living in my first bedsit. Looking at these old photos with fresh eyes, I am a bit shocked at how skinny my arms are, though I remember I was hungry a lot of the time. The dole money didn't stretch very far and I had a tendency to fritter away the little I had in charity shops, finding second-hand treasures to fill my life with.
Plus ca change. The middle picture was taken seconds after I had found an old cookery book in a bin (you can just see it in my hands). Naturally I rescued it. Not only was it a book, but it was very similar to my mother's cookbook, from where she did most of her baking, including the Christmas cake. Another way of trying to reconstruct my lost past. From then on I clung on to my possessions fiercely, determined never to have them ripped from me again. In fact, it is full of very good recipes, despite its plain appearance and I still use it now, over and above all my others.
I haven't worn a beret for years, not since I met Andy. But I still have a fondness for them, so I gave my newest creation , Petit Jaune, his very own.
He is off to his lovely new home in Italy, having done his duty on Etsy for a few hours. I am not a natural dog-person; I find it hard to see graphic shapes in their form, (which is easy to do with naturally graceful cats) but I will persevere. Doggedly, you might say.
Sally arrived at her new home, looking a little stunned from the tender mercies of Royal Mail, but is recovered now and enjoying her new 'job'. As Eric noticed, the toys I am making now are essentially the same as the toys I've been painting for years - and I am loving creating them in Real Life. But they still start off as sketches - like this one for Petit Jaune -
Quite how they transmogrify into 3D from there, I really don't know. I just start one and it gradually forms under my needle. Although it is technically a textile art, needle felting is nearer to sculpting than any kind of sewing. Sculpting with rainbows and air.
As I write, and doing my usual dipping into blogs, I read with complete horror that my friend Rima has lost ALL of her art records, digitally stored, from which she makes her prints, her amazing animations and in short, from which she earns her living. Anyone who knows Rima's work and her life will know that that this is not only a devastating loss to her business, but that she simply cannot afford to get her data recovered from a specialist company. There is a general whip-round going on, so that she can pay to get her hard drive seen to and her artwork recovered - read more about it here.
As I write, and doing my usual dipping into blogs, I read with complete horror that my friend Rima has lost ALL of her art records, digitally stored, from which she makes her prints, her amazing animations and in short, from which she earns her living. Anyone who knows Rima's work and her life will know that that this is not only a devastating loss to her business, but that she simply cannot afford to get her data recovered from a specialist company. There is a general whip-round going on, so that she can pay to get her hard drive seen to and her artwork recovered - read more about it here.
Labels: beret, Etsy, needle felt dog, petit jaune, yellow dog
Monday, April 07, 2008
It was going to be a Deer...
Reluctant to bore with yet another needle felted animal, I had intended to share a cracking little film I shot this weekend. We were quietly padding through the woods, (Andy several feet ahead of me as per usual) when he stopped and motioned. There, almost invisible, with his coat blending perfectly into the sun dappled tree tunks, was a roe stag, looking right at us. We didn't move. Nor did he. Softly we knelt down, to get out of his view, and watched him through the binoculars for a good five minutes. When we had our fill, we wondered if we could get closer. So, stealthily and silently we crept along the side path, nearer to where he stood, still rock solid. Deer stalking. Really, it amazes me that big as we are, at 6ft 8" and 6ft, we can move through the woods without making a sound - yet somehow we do. And we got so close to him we could see the velvet on his new antlers, and his big eyes, cautiously watching us. He knew we were there, but this young prince was not that bothered. Slowly I raised my camera, with the movie setting on and zooming in, got a cracking little movie of him, with a soundtrack of woodland birds singing their hearts out and our awestruck whispers in the background, as my accent lapsed into a rural Oxfordshire lilt. ''There you are boy, my little darling, hush quietly now..."
My new camera has been playing up and when we got back I was going to upload the film and post it here, for your delectation. But Andy was trying to work out the settings and get it working properly...and in a moment of madness, managed to delete it. So we have no deer. To his credit he was truly remorseful and offered me a pillow with which to smother him. However, that would have been a waste of credit; he owes me big time now, so I have let him live. Although I did scream a bit. (A lot).
So, onto less alive creatures. This chap was found in the wilderness of ebay - I managed to get him for 99p (just under $2). For some reason the seller neglected to show a photo of him - there was just a short description, of a plush toy dog, with music box inside, 1950's or 60's. So when I bought him I had no idea whether he would be in decent condition or falling apart...luckily he was just as I hoped. Despite a piratical and somewhat crazed look in his eye, he is rather sweet and not bad for 99p. He plays 'Hush a Bye Baby' when you wind his box up. He is very homemade and quite knobbly, being made round a stout wire armature with wood straw stuffing - don't think the Health and Safety brigade would approve of him as a baby toy...
And after a total of twenty five hours (yes, I do keep track) of work, I finally turned this wad of pink merino fluff...
...into this jazzy little lady, the kind of girl who gets up to dance to Boney M at wedding discos and shakes her booty, not giving a hoot. I ran out of pink wool and had to order more, she was sucking it in like a black (or pink) hole.
I put the now customary heart on her foot pad - I am going to try to incorporate one into every design from now on. The heart patch first appeared in my self-portrait-as-a-toy 'Celia', a couple of years ago...
...and here it is on Sally's big foot. And another little patch on her leg when she fell over dancing.
Sally looks really pleased to be finished at last, and we both have a big smile on our faces - because no sooner was she making her debut on Etsy, than she was snapped up and will be dancing to her new home tomorrow.
I have entered Sally and Jenny (see below) in separate categories in the 2nd Annual Softies Award, so no doubt I will be begging for your votes when the time comes. There are some stunning entries - they can be seen in the Flickr group, here. Toy Heaven.
I have been a complete numpty and forgotten to boast about two awards kindly given me - the first being from Rose Haven Cottage, a lovely sanctuary which I like to visit regularly, thank you so much...
...and this from my friend Ali over at Wool Gathering, the artypico award. Thank you so much!
I always get a bit confused by guidelines, but if I had to pick 5 blogs which I find to be gorgeous and interesting, then I would pick Talitka, who creates extraordinary needlefelt creatures, Bone Head Studios, who makes lovely primitive dolls, Illustrations & co, more needle felt loveliness, Gifling, another marvellous creative, and Erica's Attic, which is a pink haven of delight. I love them all.
Labels: 2nd Annual Softies Award, Etsy, Long Tall Sally, needle felt bird, needle felt elephant, needlefelting, pink elephant, vintage plush dog
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Jenny Big-Foot
Good bye Jenny Big-Foot. You were only two days old when you left home and you were my favourite toy I have made so far; we both have big broad feet, and a rather shy attitude to people we don't know.
You looked so proud as I tied your official name tag round your neck and my heart twinged as I listed you on Etsy. Less than two hours later you were no longer mine...but I was so pleased to find it was a fellow illustrator, Michele who had taken you. It made it easier.
I gave your beak a little (dry) kiss as I packed you in tissue and sent you on your way. Now you are travelling hundreds of miles away, across the Atlantic ocean - farther than I have ever been or probably ever will be. The toy shelf is emptier without you.
I might have to make you again.
You looked so proud as I tied your official name tag round your neck and my heart twinged as I listed you on Etsy. Less than two hours later you were no longer mine...but I was so pleased to find it was a fellow illustrator, Michele who had taken you. It made it easier.
I gave your beak a little (dry) kiss as I packed you in tissue and sent you on your way. Now you are travelling hundreds of miles away, across the Atlantic ocean - farther than I have ever been or probably ever will be. The toy shelf is emptier without you.
I might have to make you again.
Labels: Etsy, Jenny Big-Foot, Michele Melcher, needle felt goose, toy goose
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Hen-ry Moore-ish
Andy came home the other day and asked what I had been doing...I picked my camera up and played back a little video or seven I had made. His eyes glazed over in that special 'I really wish I hadn't asked' way. For it has to be said, that needle felting is, to all intents and purposes, hours and hours of stabbing bits of wool into the required shape. But until you have actually done it, it can seem a mystery how a soft piece of fluffy colour can metamorphasise into - well, anything you like really. So for everyone who has been curious to know how easy it is, and what it entails, here is the evolution of a hen, taken from some ancient old sketches which I found kicking about in a sketchbook. I am afraid this is a bit of a lengthy waffle in which not-much happens, especially if you are not bitten by the felting bug...
So, here we start with a mass of wool top, all fluffy and amorphous. This is a lovely hank of blue merino from the Etsy seller Fibre Space Supplies. I am basing my piece on the pen and ink sketch in the background with the spots on. Anyone who knows their sculptors will recognise the Henry Moore pun...
So, here we start with a mass of wool top, all fluffy and amorphous. This is a lovely hank of blue merino from the Etsy seller Fibre Space Supplies. I am basing my piece on the pen and ink sketch in the background with the spots on. Anyone who knows their sculptors will recognise the Henry Moore pun...
You just start rolling and stabbing...I love the scrunchy noise the wool and needle makes! (Click to play)
And it starts to look a little like a kind of henny shape.
But...the tail is too fat...so it is simply cut off...(felt is SO forgiving).
And the excess can be moulded onto the front to get more of that bountiful chest!
Next it needs rounding...(Click to play)
...and more 'enhancement' at the front...
...a little fine tuning...I like my felt quite firm and well defined, although many people like to leave their work softer and wispier. (Click to play)
Adding a inquisitive, pokey beak and flobbley red bits...
...and after roughly 8 hours (which is my average time) We have Ms Mavis Hen...where did that egg come from?
I exactly know what Rachel Rabbit meant when she said that sometimes you need to keep the 'odd treasured creation'...but at the moment every dear little felted creature represents food, bills and maybe a new pair of boots. Unromantic but pragmatic.
Ms Mavis Hen, Performing in Etsy now until further notice.
Labels: blue hen, Etsy, felt hen, needle felt demo, needle felting, needlefelting, toy hen
Friday, March 28, 2008
How to catch a hare
We were on one of our favourite walks in the Windrush valley - stood still to watch some deer in the bottom of a field...then all of a sudden...(Click on the arrow for action movie of racing hares!)
Labels: boxing hares, filming hares, hare video
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Make it Fishy!
Sometimes you do something and it rings a bell...the colours...the ambience...where have I seen these beachy-Boden colours before?
'Little Fishy' on Etsy (SOLD...thank you!)Ah yes, my last sketchbook from college - fifteen long years ago...struggling to find 'my' colours. Faded paint, ice cream shades, the same colours I home in on now...you can keep your bright primaries, give me muted any day.
I had a fish phase...
pages from college sketchbook...and it struck me that while there are birds and bunnies aplenty - on Etsy, blogs, crafting sites - fish are largely unloved. Are they cold and un-cute? Surely not.
Felt fish aquarium from 'the Big Book of Soft Toys' by Mabs TylerDo they lack vintage atmosphere? Hardly.
Andy's Grandad's brass fish lureDo they lack panache? I don't think so.
Illustration from the Esquire cookbook 1956 Once, fish were loved, and found in every home.
