hello again,
photo: recent pages in my larger brown paper bag sketchbook - her skirt is a fold up/down page. It’s a joy to work in this book and discover ideas that might translate into different things.
I have dragged myself away from bird-feeder-watch to write to you on this very frosty yet sunny morning. Can’t quite believe we have almost got through February. It is very much a getting through it month - and so far, I’m getting through. How are you? Hope you are enjoying birdsong and plans for the new season ahead.
photo: another look at a sketchbook page from Feb 22 - note to self: must explore these colours and ideas again.
It’s been a very busy week. Most of my days have been about getting a long list achieved. Lists are good, so long as you don’t feel overwhelmed by them. I break things down by folding the paper into smaller lists. Thank you to everyone who purchased artwork from my this week and to everyone who took the time to look at my new work. There will be more in a few weeks time. For now, I have lucky dips to paint - which reminds me to remind you: LAST FEW DAYS for winter lucky dips.
Spring is soon but not here yet. I always like to decorate my studio and home with spring inspiration - or, at least, I have plans to do so. Somehow, I don’t have many spring-themed bits and bobs. Each year comes round and I think: I must make a new rabbit doll, or a basket of chicks, or a spring themed stitched sampler, or a blossoming branch of coloured eggs - or all of the above. Creatively, I have the ideas but time somehow drifts by. I suppose you could agree I am busy making a lot of other work and that’s just as well.
But just recently I gave myself some time to make the first thing on my spring list: a rabbit doll. As I know he will be a useful companion for me. I will have him as a drawing model, for painterly inspiration. And well, just company.
photo: a very odd finger moment - with what I hope might be the beginnings of a rabbit
Many years ago I taught myself how to make jointed teddy bears. I started out with miniatures, just to make it particularly tricky. Actually, I find the smaller bears easier to make. So I have some understanding of creating a 3D creature in textiles. For my latest rabbit I decided to use simple wool felt and for him to have a primitive button joint construction. He needs to have nostalgic charm to be someone I might like to share my time with….
I started drawing shapes on thin card and soon had the basics of a pattern. The rabbit is hand stitched using many tiny stitches. As I was stitching, thought of how easy this might be for someone else to make - and think possibly if you have confident hand stitching skills you could follow such a simple pattern - but the trickiest thing is turning out the small limbs and the ears. Oh the ears have pink linen insides (I found some linen I had dyed years ago with madder) - and linen frays so! But we coped, little rabbit and I, we coped, because a rabbit has to have ears.
photo: a reel of washi tape is useful for many things
Now he is jointed and can sit unaided. I was tidying and found a tiny-tiny book for him. Perhaps he will make the smallest of daffodil sketches? Or will write a few interesting spring haiku… But I have to give him eyes and a nose just yet. And possibly a few garments. So there is more to come. When time allows. As for a name??
Photo: definitely a rabbit now. He will need a ruff, I think. Perhaps a knitted jerkin - if I can come up with such a thing.
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A few small stories from this week
Three weeks, oh three long weeks of waiting for a bird to find our new smart bird feeder. They seemed intent on ignoring it. Then, a few mornings ago, I was putting the finishing touches to a tiny painting and glanced out of the window to see a solitary sparrow having his elevenses. Where there is one sparrow, there are many - I told my son. It’s an old proverb, I said, actually unsure if I had just made that up or not. Later, I jot the phrase down thinking it might make a nice phrase in a stitched sampler.
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In search of pink wool, or was it pink paint? I am halfway toward the back of my huge pine cupboard looking through bags and boxes of stuff. Here, in the dark depths are a multitude of half-finisheds and what-ifs. Some ideas abandoned for another days. A few almost complete things that simply perplex me. By the time I climb out of the cupboard I have, yes, forgotten what I was in there for. I put the kettle on. I sit and allow my imagination to wander into a wide open space, away from the claustrophobia of any cupboard shelf or tiny room. I start a new painting, with a vast blue sky.
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Studio Notes. 78
Hi Cathy.
I just love your rabbit.
You are so clever!
Can’t wait to see him finished.
Sue x
I always want to make decorations for Easter, but always get caught out by how soon after winter it usually is. I’m still doing my winter stitching, and then suddenly realise it’s too late. I must start now.