All Over The Place...

I've been busy, but work has been a little 'bitty'.  One of the small projects has been another stag's head which is going off to it's new owner today. These are fun to make, but oh so fiddly - at least I know my pattern is faultless, I've used it enough!

Despite feeling quite ill yesterday, I managed to put in some painting time on this macaw, using Inktense pencils.  As this was started in order to have something to demonstrate at the exhibition a couple of weeks ago, I'm not feeling the over-riding enthusiasm of other paintings.  It's all right, but I want to get it finished as I have a far more entertaining commission waiting in the wings....

Where Did That Week Go?

I guess it must be the run up to Christmas, but I have been incredibly busy over the past week.  I had a rush job painting commission to complete - which I am afraid I cannot show, but it was a toucan that I had to paint using only 8 watercolour pencils - grear fun!  Then there was this little stag's head to be knitted - all done and ready to go now.

I am in the middle of sewing this little felt saluki - he is based upon an actual dog that lives in Canada.  I have had to adapt an existing pattern and construct grey patches to  match his markings.  The real dog has had his ears cut off while he was living in Qatar - barbaric practice, and I am glad he was rescued!  This dog has both ears...

I have another commission to make 2 felt pugs, but also had to find the time to use the last of the apples from our tree to make some chutney. 

It's all go - I wouldn't have it any other way!

Whatever Gets The Job Done...

These days I make such weird and wonderful things that it is sometimes hard to find the right tool for the job.  As there is no such thing as a mini-antler-shaper, I just had to use the only thing in the house that was the right shape - which happened to be an orange.  This will hold the antlers in place while the fabric stiffener dries.  It's also balanced on the letter that came with my shopping delivery at the weekend - that's not a vital piece of equipment, just laziness as the old newspaper was in the other room...

Very excited today as I have finally come to the end of the knitted car.  All that is left is to attach the hood ornament - that was a tricky little thing to do, an inch long silver naked lady with wings.  Thank goodness for wire, florists tape and Tacky glue!  When I come to think of it, there are all kinds of recycled bits and pieces within the items I have made for the animation - lids from toothpaste, hairspray, pens, various assorted carboard boxes, chopped up plastic bottles, pencils, lolly sticks, clay, plasticene, pebbles, plastic cups - the list is endless. 

One of Our Reindeer is Missing....

No, I haven't really kidnapped and decapitated one of Santa's reindeer!  This is a very last minute Christmas commission which is to wing it's way to the USA today - will it get there in time for Christmas?  Who knows, but I gave it my best shot, knitting it within 24 hours.  Come on Santa, lend my parcel a bit of magic dust to speed it on it's way!

I've also knitted five pairs of owl wristwarmers, wrapped all my presents and iced the Christmas cake - can I have my medal now?

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas....

...and as usual I am trailing behind in the readiness stakes.  Once I get today over and done with, it will be all systems go for Christmas shopping and preparations.  Today sees me double-booked - that's what comes of having to submit entry forms months in advance.  One one side of town I have paintings in the Fleet Art Society exhibition and was supposed to be demonstrating a bit of painting in the afternoon; on the other side of town I have a stall at the Tavistock Christmas Fair....whoops! A bit of dashing about will be involved.....

Because of the fair, my Etsy shop will be shut for the day, but just to let you know that the above mini knitted stag head trophy has been listed as a custom order - if you feel an overwhelming need to possess a very small deer's head for your wall, you can pre-order one and I will knit it up for you.  Do be aware that it will take a few days to make and if you live out of the UK, sending it by post at this time of year may take longer than usual.

Oh Deer......

This still amuses me......

...perhaps one day I should knit the rest of him.

Oh Poor Rudolph!

I liked this pattern I invented so much, I knitted another one for sale in my shop.  This one bears more of a resemblance to a reindeer than a stag - different yarn I think.

So if you'd like a mini hunting trophy for your mini stately home (he's roughly 4 x 4 inches, that's 10 cm x 10 cm) then come and visit my shop.

After a horrendously interrupted week which did nothing for my creative juices, yesterday I finally managed to make some decent headway on this painting.  I discovered that adding 'flow enhancer' to the paint water helps to get the colours blending as they should - I find canvas a very difficult ground to work on as it's rough texture does not suit my style of painting.  Thankfully this now seems to be going in the right direction.

Hunting Trophy.....

This knitted stag's head measures a mere five inches from antler tip to antler tip.  Which means the head is just under two inches from forehead to nose - pretty darn small!

I have been wondering how I was going to make this ever since I got the commission, but when it came down to it, it just came out right first time, which was amazing. I must admit I have been thinking about it for a quite a while, so maybe subconsciously my brain was planning the whole thing - who knows, I'm just grateful it worked out!

I have to add a little wire to the inside of the antlers - fabric stiffener was not up to the job of keeping them upright for long.  Not a problem!

If you fancy having your own mini-trophy, don't be afraid to ask.  Although maybe decapitating Rudolph just before Christmas might not be in the best possible taste.........