Mini-owl

Anna Hrachovec is today's inspiration.   Anna is an extremely talented designer and knitter.   Her website and blog Mochimochi Land (follow the link on her name above) is guaranteed to make you smile, even on the most miserable of days (even now as I just picked up the URL link the images on her banner instantly made me smile!).   Her knitted characters and worlds are bright, colourful, very imaginative and EXTREMELY CUTE.   A few years ago she also did a one-a-day project of teeny tiny mochimochi and the concept took off and became a regular feature on her blog, she wrote a book based on many of the patterns she created over that month, and they gave her inspiration for several art installations.

Here are some examples of her work:

Mochimochi Land Installation

Gnomes v Snowmen

And so to today's mini-mal - a mini owl:

(Ps. I have updated the rubbish photos on the previous posts, please pop back and have a look - they are SO much better!)

First of 2014 and news of a new project

It's been a little while in the making but here is my first completed project of the new year:

It still has quite a wintry, almost christmassy, feel - a little owl in his bobble hat - but it seems quite apt to post it this morning after the first snow has fallen on the hills around where we live. 

I am thinking of making this available as a pattern or kit on Etsy so watch this space for more news.

But in the meantime, my time may be taken up with something else very soon....

I mentioned a little plan in my last post.  I have fine-tuned my idea and am now ready to reveal all!  I am going to be challenging myself through February with a one-a-day project - MINI-MALS.   I plan to make one miniature character every weekday through February.   Hopefully this will reignite my imagination and creative juices and who knows what will emerge from this challenge? I hope you will follow me through this challenge - I may need all the encouragement I can get!!

See you next time for the first installment of mini-mals.....

A quick make this morning

Yesterday, whilst browsing the internet, I stumbled across a really good idea:

A pin cushion for your sewing machine!

Never again will you have to reach across the room for your pin box whilst sewing as it attaches to your machine so that you always have somewhere close at hand to collect pins as you pull them out of your work.   This may be a very practical item but why does it have to be a dull and boring shape?   I was looking at my most colourful fabrics but just couldn't bring myself to make just an oblong to stick on my sewing machine - so here is my take on the pin cushion:

This is far more fun to look at and really brightens up my machine but will I actually be able to stick pins in it?!?!?!?!

Inspiration and motivation

Well..... you ask for some inspiration on Twitter and this is what you get:

 "please knit me some welly boot cuffs!"

And, as it was my sister that was asking I thought I had better see what I could do - this is what I came up with:

I really enjoyed making these so there will probably be more incarnations of them.   What other animals can be created using cabling?  - off to find out......