Chunk...

This has been a very poor year for commissions - I think I have only had three since Christmas, which is a first.  I don't know if it is the current cost of living crisis and people not spending money on fripperies, or whether I have become boring (!), but it sucks.

I have also not felt much like painting either, which has been a worry.  However, I got my mojo back a couple of weeks ago and painted Chunk the bear from Katmai National Park in Alaska.  It felt good to be painting something with enthusiasm again and I am very happy with how it turned out - the photo has bleached the colours a bit as always.  This is for sale in my Etsy shop.

Nothing on the easel at the moment - have spent the week assisting (or getting in the way) of Mr.B as he replaced the wooden uprights of our pergola before it falls on our heads.  Hopefully getting back to the paints in the next couple of days.

Knitting wise, I am currently working on the last few patterns for a new Nudinits book - complicated stuff this time round...watch this space!
 

Chunk...

Whilst tidying (and I use the term very loosely) my corner of the sitting room where I keep various craft materials, I found an unfinished bear.  I don't remember not finishing him - I must have got sidetracked by something else.  So I sewed his feet on, gave him his eyes and nose, stuffed him, and then had to make a slight adjustment.  This is bear 32 Chunk from the Explore.org bear cams and two years ago he suffered a horrendous wound to his nose from a fight with another bear, slashing it open almost to the bone.  It has healed into an impressive scar, so of course I had to include that in my toy!

That also shows that the unfinished bear must have sat in that corner for two years or more - sorry Chunk!  He will be available in my Etsy shop shortly, unless you'd like to snap him up beforehand and save a bob or two - just get in touch.
 

Chunky Chunk...

I got a commission to make another Chunk - he's a big bear, with a very large behind.  Took quite a bit of stuffing!  This one is off to California to surprise someone.

Chunk & Max...

 This week I experimented with making a different bear using some darker fur I ordered before lockdown & promptly forgot about!  This is bear 32 Chunk,another character living at Brooks Falls, Katma National Park, Alaska.  He has quite a distinctive body shape, a very rounded behind like a light bulb, which is what I wanted to re-create with my toy.

I did this by adding an inch to the back end of the pattern.  It took a fair bit of stuffing too!  He turned out very cute - so cute that he sold within half an hour of me posting him on Etsy!  Think I had better make some more...

This is Max, the first dog portrait I have done for a very long time.  This was a commission and it felt odd to be working in pencil again after so long.  He turned out pretty well and Max's owner is very happy - so happy she has commissioned another dog portrait!