Some Bears...

Although I'm finding it hard to concentrate at the moment, there is a bit of work getting done.  This is a hand painted pebble, with a picture of a bear cub on it.  The pebble is from Brooks Camp shoreline, Alaska, and will be a gift for a lady who is currently in self isolation and could do with a bit of cheering up.

 It has taken me twice as long as usual, but this box was completed yesterday.  Another picture of Otis the bear in his office!

I've lined it with a different fabric this time, still with the fish theme,  This is currently for sale in my Etsy shop.

Apart from that, I seem to be cleaning a lot, washing a lot, feeling anxious a lot, crocheting that blanket, and trying to retain some semblance of normality with everyone home indefinitely.

Stay safe and well people.

White Lace, Roses & An Exotic Bloom

A couple of months ago, I started a scarf/shawl in white lace-weight pure merino yarn but it got put to one side as I had other more urgent projects to complete and also I was having trouble seeing what I was doing, particularly whilst I was ill.



This week it was time to finally finish this little beauty - it's not a shawl, more of a lace scarf. The yarn is so delicate that this is as light as air and soft as a cloud. It will be up for sale on Etsy shortly.


I've also been working on a small painted box - the design was based on my Valentine's Day bouquet, although I have added the tiny blue flowers as a bit of artistic licence. This has been painted in acrylics, given three coats of varnish and now awaits a pale green silk lining. Once that has been put into place, this will also be in my Etsy shop.


Once again I have managed to grow a humongous tropical flower, although this did not take nearly as much effort as my Bird of Paradise plant. I was given this Amaryllis for Christmas and it is the first time I have grown one of these - it was just a matter of keeping it watered & in sunlight and watching the magic happen. Each flower here is about the size of a soup plate, and you can just see the tip of a second bud coming up fast behind. I can't capture the richness of it's redness with the camera, but you get the idea!

The Secret's Out!

At last, I can reveal what I was working on for a few weeks off and on during August and September. Penny & Toby over at Natural Attrill recently acquired Des.....

...a rather lively kitten. This is about the best photograph of him they sent me, the rest were a blur of fur!

They asked me if I would paint his portrait on a wooden box for Laurence, Penny's husband, Toby's dad. So I did! This is how it turned out....

This is the top view - I added a long length of red yarn for him to play with.

Here is another side view...

Jasper was very interested in my photography and managed to sneak in shot when I wasn't paying attention!

Oh dear, someone came and made a hole in the box one night...........

...look, there he is, the little blighter!


Here he is in close up - painting him inside the corner of the box seemed such a good idea...until I put it into practice! Talk about having to be a contortionist! I lined the box with pure silk upholstery fabric, and cut a matching hole to make it look as if the mouse had tunnelled all the way through.

The whole thing was painted in acrylics - I did the background first with several layers of indanthrene blue and emerald green, each layer adding to the depth of colour. Then the cat and mouse were painted as if it were a proper portrait - again a bit of a struggle having the box either on my lap or jammed between my knees. I only despaired once, when I had to carry the picture on over the side and corner of the box as well as keeping the perspective of Des's back legs correct. It took ages but I got there in the end.

I was really very sad to see this go, I had become very attached to Des the painting, but I am so glad it has gone to a lovely home.

If anyone else wishes something similar done..............please can you wait until after Christmas!!