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.

Lovely Lurchers

It is soo much fun replicating people's pets in yarn - or trying to anyway.  There is a moment just after embroidering the face and before sewing the legs on when the dog suddenly takes on it's own personality.

Must admit I have been known to squeal in joy when it looks lifelike - it always feel like the process has been taken out of my hands at this point and the dog is almost making itself, I'm just the conduit!

Then there is the pleasure in photographing these little pets in various positions - always makes me giggle.

These two are quite conservative though, no bottom sniffing here!

Pug-tastic!

It's been a very long time since I sewed a little felt set - I was glad someone asked me to as it reminded me how much fun it is making itty-bitty dogs out of felt.

If you fancy one of these pug sets, don't wait around for me to make one and put it in my shop - just ask me and I'll gladly take some time out from knitting to oblige!

Never Smile At A Crocodile...

 ....or four alligators!  Finally finished this lot and they are now ready to fly across the Atlantic to their home state. Next time I design college scarves, I will think twice about adding a glove puppet feature and fancy texture - these took weeks!

Little Pixie now has her coat and collar and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her three companions - now the scarves are finished, perhaps they will come sooner rather than later.

Never one for the conventional, I now have two zombies which will be on my stall at a Xmas fair this weekend - who doesn't want a knitted zombie in their stocking on Christmas Day?

Finally, here is a little bed waiting for it's occupant.

If anyone asks me if I had a nice weekend, I can honestly say 'yes', but boy, am I tired!

Coughs & Sneezes......

When you've spent the whole week feeling like this......

...it's good that it's been possible to get on with this...

This is a very small portion of a painting I've been commissioned to do for the Derwent website - you will have to wait until it's up and running to see the rest.  This has been drawn/painted using Academy watercolour pencils.

I've also been able to make this....

...a tiny replica lurcher.  Interesting to do, figuring out how to make the whiskery bits look natural!

Hopefully it looks like the real dog....

One down, three to go......

There have been other projects on the needles, but none I am at liberty to show!

What A Difference A Day Makes....

For so long it feels as if we have been living under a permanent rain cloud, so when a day like today comes along, it is surprising just how good it makes you feel. No lie-in today, it was up and out for a crisp walk with the dog in the frosty fields then back home for pancakes and strawberries, our Sunday morning treat.

After getting some chores out of the way, it was off to Fleet Pond to feed the birds.  My daughter loves to feed the geese and swans - my favourites are the gulls.

It is quite difficult to throw bread high in the air and then try to get photographs of the gulls in flight without chucking your camera into the pond.  I took about 50 pictures, but only a few are worth keeping. However, I plan a painting using them at some time in the future.

Just before we left, this magnificent fellow came swimming up and I managed to get the perfect picture without risking life and limb.  Now this one definitely goes in the 'potential painting' folder.

I have lots of projects on the go at the moment, but none ready to show.  A painting for Derwent, yet another alligator scarf, some footwear for the animation, and joy of joys, someone wants me to knit replicas of their 4 lurchers - I love knitting little dogs!

Oh yes, and there is another zombie on the way.....

Halloween Shenanigans.....

 I've been sorting through some more of the holiday snaps - these are some of the sights we saw in Salem on Halloween...

 ...we all need some 'dabachery' don't we

 This guy probably thought I was stalking him - I have quite a few photos of him in various locations in an attempt to get a proper view.  Luckily this was my final try.

 This stall took facepainting to a whole new level - I would like to have had a bit of gore too but the queue was too long.

 See what I mean?

Not everything was scary...

....ahhhhh!