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Hello! Lovely to see you! Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on the paper mache tea cups on Monday's post, you know just how to make me feel grrrreeaaat! Thought I might pop by today and do a bit of chirruping. Sometimes I feel that's what I'm doing, when I'm chatting away to you, cheep cheep chirruping.
I am off to my knitting group meeting tonight, after a long time of being away due to cancellations, because of the weather, and the christmas break. It will be lovely to see the knitting gang again. They'd love that, if they knew they've been called the knitting gang!
Last night I went to sleep writing a blog post in my head. I was actually talking to you all in my head, it made me jump slightly, when I realised what I was doing. (Goodness me, maybe I'll be trying to climb into the computer next). I was doing a virtual tour in my head, as I tried to get to sleep, of all the places I have books in this house, and the different types of books I own. But today I couldn't get round to photographing them for various reasons. So that will have to wait till another day.
So I've had to resort to showing you "Birdy on a Boat". I like to try and change my subject matter, vary it from day to day, and I showed you my tea cups in Monday's post, so that will be two posts in a row of paper mache, but needs must.
"Birdy on a Boat" now has a stand (he was stand-less when I first showed him to you a few posts back). Hugo made the oval shape, and I then set about covering it. When I was doing this piece, I kept on thinking, a little boy might like this birdy. I just imagined a young boy, from the 1940's perhaps, throwing his head back, cupping his hands to his mouth, and shouting "Land Ahoy!"
Actually, I quite like the idea of shouting "land ahoy", and I'm not a boy!
I've put this little chap perched on his boat, in my etsy shop.
Just before I go to my knitting group, I've got a few links to share with you.
A rather wonderful train set owned by Peter Snow, see it here. This link somehow goes with the 1940's boy thoughts.
A new species of Lemur found in Madagascar, follow the link here.
Veronika of blog lalomino sent me this link to a divine knitted coat, it's absolutely beautiful. There are a few beautiful things on this site I've linked to, but the prices are all quite "rarefied", so Veronika and myself were thinking we might just try and knit our own versions of these fabulous garments. As you do.
And lastly I received an email the other day to let me know my blog was on this list of knitting blogs!
Well, I'm off to knit my dress, it's still around, and still making it's slow progress towards being finished. Cheerio! Love Vanessa xxx
Vanessa your creations are so neat and clever. I just love them. xo Robinā¤ And I am partial to birds!!
Posted by: Robin | January 12, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Well - I am thoroughly enjoying your blog - whether it's about knitting, doggies, little paper mousies, or sprouting teacups. I can't wait to see the finished dress - but on the other hand - I'm not so sure that the little paper mache seedlings don't need a little paper mache person with a little paper mache water can sprinkling paper mache water on them. Just to keep them refreshed, don't you know, so they won't wilt.
Posted by: Liz W in Missouri, USA | January 12, 2011 at 08:50 PM
I have been watching the birds in my garden recently so this felt very apt to me - I love the maps used on the hat and base, that looks just right. A lovely piece. I also appreciated all of the links you added - lemur = cute! Peter Snow = brilliant! Coat = pricey but beautiful :)
Posted by: Gem | January 12, 2011 at 09:45 PM
I love the 1940's and I think your vision of land ahoy is just perfect, together with your birdie xox Hope you have fun with the knitting gang x
Posted by: Penelope | January 12, 2011 at 10:10 PM
Ooh Vanessa! I've been away, so was treated to TWO posts at once!
I love your seedlings, they are the sweetest! I'm so glad they're selling so well! And the land ahoy bord is awesome, he looks great on his stand and is so fabulously boyish...
I hope you had a good time knitting!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Posted by: Alice and Raymond!!! | January 13, 2011 at 07:45 AM
your blog is so pretty. I just found it via dots and spots and am sitting here going oooooh ahhhhh ooooooh. I'm off to make a coffee now and come back and see what I've been missing. M x
Posted by: michelle | January 13, 2011 at 11:32 AM
Vanessa you are so really and truly wonderful! your papier-mache projects never cease to delight. they are all so very unique, charming and beautiful. i just love your blog i really do.
wishing you a lovely, happy, creative weekend xxx
millie
Posted by: amelie | January 13, 2011 at 03:23 PM
That coat is dreamy...as is the price...your boat is smashing.
Good luck finishing the dress- sometimes garments take longer the nearer one gets to the finish, not sure quite why that happens.
Posted by: Kate | January 13, 2011 at 05:24 PM
Love the bird. You remind me that I need to dig out my dress and give it some attention or maybe the elves will have finished knitting it?
Posted by: alison | January 13, 2011 at 08:50 PM
Another beautiful creation love the use of the old maps!!!
Posted by: Jo harratt | January 13, 2011 at 11:36 PM
Hey Vanessa, what a sweet little birdy.
I love your latest 'makes' particularly your teacups and little seedlings.
The colours and detail are so yummy.
It's always inspiring to visit your blog.
Claire :)
Posted by: Sweet Birdy Love | January 14, 2011 at 09:31 AM
Well done on being on the best knitting blog list, you must be feeling really proud! The little boating bird is lovely, Penny x
Posted by: Planet Penny | January 14, 2011 at 09:58 AM
Hi Vanessa,
The birdie is soo cute. Do you know the birdie would make a nice decoration on it`s own. It would be nice on a cord of some sort and then several hung on a tree made from one large branch or a few smaller ones, if you get my drift?!?!Just a thought lol!
Love Carole from Rossendale xxxx
Posted by: Carole | January 14, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Have you seen the Margaret coat? It can even have poetry on it if you like... Lene of Dances in Wool made one, it's a Mason Dixon pattern, I'm sure you'll find it on ravelry ;))
It would be cheaper, anyway!
And what about Sylvie, the coat I mean? That is also a beauty of a different kind...
Posted by: MelD | January 14, 2011 at 12:40 PM
Vanessa - I opened my copy of the British edition of Country Living and spied an advertisement for Loop. It looked delightfully familiar with a paper mache little lady in the center - is that your handiwork? It is delightful! It was so serendipitous to open the mag and find such a cheery face!
Posted by: christina wall | January 14, 2011 at 02:04 PM
OH, i looove birdy!!!
I just adore your style Vanessa. The colours, the cute figures. Love it love it love it. Please say you'll make me something that I can buy from you once we have our new house and I find the right place for a 'Vanessa piece'!
Thank you also for the mention! (and my coat is going to be blue!!)
xx
Posted by: Veronika | January 14, 2011 at 09:36 PM
Be like the promontory against which the waves continually break, but it stands firm and tames the fury of the water around it. Do you agree?
Posted by: Air Jordan 8 | January 28, 2011 at 04:05 AM