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!)

Mini-button

Today's inspiration comes from artist and doodle embroiderer Aimee Ray.....

I think I first discovered Aimee's work on Pinterest when I was researching embroidery having just realised that contemporary embroidery existed and it wasn't all granny style stitching!   From there I bought one of her books, Doodle Stitching: Emboidery & Beyond, and now have a couple of others that feature her creations.   She has influenced my work for some time now and it was after getting her book that I produced the piece that won the competition for Kirsty Neale's prize!

Doodling is also becoming a popular art form and Aimee takes it to another level by transforming her doodles into embroidery:

So I thought Aimee would have to inspire one of my mini-mals - and here it is:

An embroidered button with tiny birds on it.

I have to admit that this has been the mini-mal that I have enjoyed making the most so far so maybe tiny embroidery will feature more this month.   Until tomorrow.... see you then!  x

Mini-rat

.... And, today's inspiration is Lauren Child.   If you have never come across Lauren's work you really must visit her website or do a Google image search - her illustrations are just beautiful.   I have been slightly obsessed with Lauren's illustrations, books, magazines, merchandise and animations ever since my sister introduced me to Charlie & Lola.  I love the way that she layers details, uses a combination of drawn and photographed images and the patterned fabrics and prints that she uses are just gorgeous.  I have many of her books and one of my favourite characters is That Pesky Rat:

And here is my (slightly naked) version:

See you for the next installment tomorrow.... x

Mini-girl

Day Two's mini-mal hasn't turned out quite as well as I was hoping it would.  :(  But, I am trying to stay positive and, this is a learning experience after all, so nothing is a mistake, it's just work-in-progress!   I mentioned the inspiration for this mini-mal in yesterday's post - Kirsty Neale.   I have admired Kirsty's work since I discovered her through the Mollie Makes magazines and books.   And, last year, I entered a competition and was very lucky to win a copy of her book Hoop-La! and the original hoop that Kirsty embroidered for the front cover which is now hanging on the wall of our spare room/ office/ studio.

I love Kirsty's characters especially the faces and hairstyles that she gives them.

I wanted to try and take inspiration from the kinds of fabrics that she uses to create a little girl character of my own but somewhere in the translation from my original drawing to the actual sewn item something went a little awry and she is not a cute as I was wanting her be.

Anyway, on to the next mini-mal.... see you tomorrow! x

Day One....Mini-Rabbit

I was really having problems knowing where I wanted to start with this project.   Every idea i had about mini-mals seemed like i was over-thinking or would be too complicated to make in one day - I really don't want to give up halfway through as I can't finish anything in the time-frames I've set myself!   but anyway, an idea hit me as I was lying awake in the middle of night worrying about it.   I had been reading a series of blog posts on copy+paste by Kirsty Neale and Julie Kirk about illustrators that Kirsty is inspired by and so I thought that to at least start this project I would take inspiration from my favourite illustrators, designers and makers to create mini-mals influenced by their work.

And so to the first inspiration and mini-mal....

My inspiration today is the lady that sowed the seed for this whole project - Marisa from Creative Thursday. If I hadn't seen Marisa's book when we were in San Fransisco last year and become mesmerised by her illustrations I wouldn't have had this idea in the first place.

To be honest, I didn't think I was going to enjoy the text part of the book as when I read reviews it described it as a motivational book and I really didn't think that was my kind of thing.   But, the illustrations won me over and I bought it and ended up reading it cover-to-cover!  It made me realise that I was not alone in my procrastination and most other makers go through the same dips in creativity that I have been experiencing lately.   One of her ideas to get over this was a one-a-day project..... and so here we are!

Mini-mal number 1...

Please pop along tomorrow to see the next mini-mal....  xx

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.....

I'm coming back....

After dipping my toes in the waters of a different blogging site I have decided to return to Blogger as I just could not get on with the other platform and my blogging momentum has deteriorated into non-existence. Hopefully the change of direction will refresh my motivation!
Here is a snapshot of what I've been up to since my last post here...



A Halloween pumpkin (free pattern available on Ravelry)...

 

A Christmas angel and reindeer garlands (both for sale in my Etsy shop)...



Moving house - this is the view from our new garden...



A new venture into the world of embroidery!  This is an image of our new cat Buddy - I think it captures his aloofness rather well!  :)

And... I have a beautiful new nephew!   Many congratulations to my Sister and her husband.


It may be rather belated but Happy New Year, I hope 2014 will be a good one for all of us.  I have a little plan in the pipelines to try and keep me motivated and making this year but more about that another time.  

If I do happen to fall behind on my blog again this year please look me up on my other social networking pages:  instagram, pinterest, twitter, facebook or google+

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?!?!?!?!

Euro 2012 Dragon?????

Whoever said that dragon's don't like football?   This particular one likes it so much he has developed markings on his skin in the shape of footballs - a sort of chameleon dragon maybe?!

I thought I would experiment with a design that was aimed more at boys.   He was supposed to be an alligator but morphed into a dragon as he was being made - it's so funny how a character appears and changes as you're making a creature.  I'm not sure if I'm completely happy with the design at the moment but I'm sure he will develop as I make more of them.

There is also good news for the WIP cats that have been made up but faceless for quite some time - I am getting closer to getting their facial features right so hopefully some more photos soon.   In the meantime I think this little chap will go on Etsy for sale.  :o)

Congratulations!

A big congratulations to my sister and my new brother-in-law on their wedding which was on the 1st June.   And to commemorate their special day I made them a little present:

If I ever have to make a morning jacket for a toy again it will be too soon!  The groom's outfit caused me a few headaches but I think he was well worth the effort, they seemed to think so too.   We all had a wonderful day and I'd like to say thank you for letting me be part of their special day and I wish them many years of very happy marriage.   xx

A little pic of the happy couple:

Apparently you're never more than 20 feet away from....

A rat!!!  Hopefully you won't find these ones scary though:

I have been pretty over the past few weeks and these rats are the fruit of my labour.   I'm going to be putting some for sale on Etsy soon so please have a look at my shop here.  Here are some more photos:

And here is some work-in-progress.  Hopefully finished pictures will follow shortly when I can figure out how to get the faces looking right!

Easter Bunting

We'll start with the bad news first:  As yet no creatures have materialised from the eye experimentation but I promise something will eventually!

And now to the good news!   I was beavering away ALL day yesterday and this is the result:

Some Eater bunting.   I enjoyed making the Halloween bunting so much last year that I thought I would continue the theme and rustle something up for Easter.   Here are some close-ups:

And this is what it looks like hanging up (thanks to Jasmin for the photo effects!)

It is now listed in my Esty shop so pop in and it could be yours!   :o)