Christmas Presents...

 Here is a little commission I have just finished - a bear and a hummingbird.  Painted in watercolour with ink pen detail. 

And the other Christmas commission just completed, a small knitted pig's head trophy.

Now I just have to brave the post office...

Busy Fingers...

Sometimes it feels like I'm just hanging around the house having fun with paint and yarn all day, but while that is pretty much true most of the time, there is work being done!  Another Rudolph trophy completed today and up for sale in my Etsy shop.  I can make more, just don't leave it until too close to Christmas as these take a few days due to the stiffening process for the antlers.

I put in a good few hours on this yesterday - I worked on the head and the area around the head.  I can see this is going to be one of those paintings where it will get finished quickly which will make me feel I didn't do enough.  It doesn't always have to be a struggle, but when it's too easy it is a bit disconcerting!

There was enough stripy sock wool left over to knit myself a pair of wristwarmers - I think that kind of justifies the expense of the initial ball of wool...doesn't it?  There is a tiny bit left over but not enough to make anything in particular. 

I think the sudden surge in creativity has a lot to do with the onset of autumn and the fact that the garden no longer gives off  it's siren call. Everything is slowly dying off out there and all that needs to be done is gradual clearing up of the dead bits.  I did pick one last sweetpea yesterday and some fragrant honeysuckle flowers the day before so all is not gone yet.

Alas, Poor Rudolph...

I made this...I know, I have a warped sense of humour. It's a mini Rudolph trophy to hang on the wall, complete with his ribbon & jingle bell.  This one is spoken for, but I can make more if asked...

I bought a book last week called 'Magic Cakes' which contains recipes for cakes that separate into three distinct layers while cooking.  This idea took my fancy and I started with the coffee cake - this is how much washing up it engendered...

It was also huge and needed a larger tin than I expected:

And then I couldn't get it out properly as the bigger tin was not silicone and I didn't have any baking parchment.  However, from the bits I ate while tidying up the edges (!), it is delicious and is sitting in the fridge waiting for dinner time today.  More like a dessert than a cake though.

Thank Goodness That's Out Of The Way!

The above sentiment applies to so many things this week!  Firstly, this little giraffe's head has been giving me a headache for weeks now - wondering how to do it, whether it would work, when would I find the time to make it.  In the end, it was a lot simpler than anticipated.  I found a little pattern for a giraffe toy that gave me a jumping off point - the initial steps are always the hardest.  Once the basic neck and head were done, I could then embroider the markings, make the ears and horns and put in a stubby mane.

I chose to embroider the markings rather than knit them in as when something is this small, the yarns can sometimes pull the whole thing slightly out of shape, and I couldn't afford for that to happen with a giraffe's neck!

He is still not permanently fixed to his mount as I am waiting to check with the client that this colour is okay or whether she would prefer a different one.

I would like to think I can step back from mini animal trophies for a while, but there is a rumour someone would like a rhino.....

Also on the needles, I'm still knitting that tiny duvet cover and constructing a small double bed from card and foamboard.  I have run out of the yarn I was using and the shop where I bought it has been shut over the holidays - another thing I am glad is out of the way, disruption and chaos due to Christmas and New Year!  It's lovely when it is going on, but after a fortnight of it, I'm happy to get back to normal.
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Happy New Year  - may 2014 be peaceful, prosperous and healthy for you all.  Thank you for continuing to read my blog, it does give me the incentive to get on with work, that element of 'show and tell' with the fear of having nothing to share with the group on a regular basis!

Run Rabbit, Run Rabbit......

I just love some of the odder commissions I get because they make me go off into directions I woun't normally take.  Here is a rabbit head trophy....

...he looks a bit glum, but then, wouldn't you?

I used the cleverest pattern I have ever come across to make his head - it is so clever that I am now making the entire rabbit and will give a link to it when that is complete.  This entire head was made in one piece, even the ears, leaving just a small hole between the ears for stitching - it was genius!

I am also ploughing away at a miniature knitted duvet cover, which is proving not to be as miniature as I first thought...

It's been a long time since I fed my fabric obsession - found these little beauties on eBay just before Christms and they arrived yesterday.  What am I going to use them for?  Who knows, but aren't they just nice to look at!

They Call Him Mr. Pig...

......nah, I haven't a clue either!  This is something that was commissioned recently...

...it turned out rather well.

I have two more to make, one easy, the other very complicated.  Not sure I want to be making tiny trophies in any great number, but they sure are fun.  I have an idea for a future one that might be very cute indeed - decapitated unicorn anyone?

...And Relax....

When I took on this commission, I was sure I had a pattern for a tiny tiger head squirrelled away in one of my notebooks.  But of course, this was one time I hadn't, so it was back to the drawing board.  You wouldn't think such a small thing would cause quite so many problems!

Perhaps it was just me being over-tired and over-worked...

This could do with a few tweaks here and there next time I make it - oh yes, there will be a next time, just not before Christmas.

Just don't ask me for a pattern - the basic head shape is written down, but the rest of it was embroidery and a lot of pushing and pulling when stuffing and sewing.  By the way, this trophy is only 4 inches square.

I still have three more of this set to make - I think the next one will be one of the easier animals.  I'm going to save the giraffe until last....

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.