I See The Light........

Yes, it is indeed a knitted standard lamp, about 10 inches tall.  No, of course it doesn't work....there isn't a bulb in it yet!  There is a switch though, and the shade comes off for easy bulb changing.

What's next?  You'll just have to wait and see........

Slow Progress.......

I'm very glad I don't work like this all the time, it would drive me crazy!  This seemed a good idea initially, a painstaking pencil study in minute detail, and I know it will be worth it when it is finished but I have to admit to feeling just a teensy bit.......bored.  Perhaps it's too soon after the three detailed animal pictures, perhaps I should have done something big and splashy instead.  Never mind little dog, you will get finished, honest......

So Much Fabric, So Little Time!

The trouble with internet shopping is you can purchase stuff at any time of day or night.  A couple of weeks ago I placed an order for some fabric early one morning (just as the sun was rising.....) and whilst I knew I was expecting a parcel from Taiwan with fabric in it, quite honestly I had forgotten exactly what I had ordered. 

So opening the envelope today was a lovely surprise - I had forgotten about ordering the pretty pink floral piece and what was in the selection pack of small remnant pieces.  Now apart from sorting through them and admiring their gorgeousness, what am I going to make......

Dog-Fish!

Yesterday I had the day off....well, anyone who knows me knows that a day off doesn't mean sitting around doing nothing!  It was a chance to play with my new book of fish patterns - I have a new great-niece/nephew on the way and want to make a mobile for him/her.  I love how these patterns look like nothing on earth until about halfway through when you get the 'oh there it is!' moment.  I'm really pleased with both of them but particularly like the cuteness of the angel fish - can't wait to make more in brighter colours.

I also got to spend an hour or so working on the Chinese Crested - I had originally planned for it to be purely pencil, but have decided to use a smattering of pink as it is an intrinsic part of this breed of dog, the bare skin.

It's back to work today though - time to plant up those seeds for the garden and to get on with some paid work rather than playing with my own projects!

Just For Fun......

I have no painting commissions on the go at the moment, and after a couple of days resting the eyes from painting that leopard, withdrawal symptoms set in.  A while back I bought National Geographic magazine as it had some fantastic photographs of dogs as well as a really interesting article about their DNA.  (Finding out my saluki is one of the closest breeds in DNA to a wolf was enlightening - wolves spend a lot of time lolling on sofas and pestering for cake do they?)

Anyway, the Chinese Crested caught my eye and I fancied drawing him in fine detail.  It's very soothing to quietly sit there using tiny pencil strokes, working at my own pace intead of breakneck speed.

I also found myself looking up rescue sites on the web to see if any of these adorable little dogs were up for adoption.....but having an almost-wolf (would-be wolf?) in the house might scupper that idea!

Here Fishy-Fishy......

This little chap is going to get mounted......he's a trophy fish for the animation, so needs a nice 'wooden' plaque.  This was fun to make yet surprisingly time consuming.  I started by using the shark pattern from my new book, but after a few rows knew it was time to strike out on my own in order to get the freshwater fish shape I was after.  I've also knitted the tail at the same time as the body rather than knit it separately and sew it on, thereby creating a much smoother line to the fish.

Together with the grey yarn I incorporated silver silk thread and green/purple irridescent thread in order to create a bit of shine.  When the fish was complete, I sewed on some re-cycled sequins (goodbye pretty Indian cushion, you were so beautiful until you started to disintegrate...) and embroidered lines on the top fin and tail.

I do like fish......when I get a spare moment (haha!) I want to make another shoal-of-fish mobile.

Hmmmm....

You know how it is when someone asks you to knit a bulldog?  No?  Well, it isn't that easy as I soon found out.  This is my second attempt at it's basic head, which turned out well...I'm not showing you the first one!