do you mind if i knit

Leopold's Best Day EVER!

You won't have met Leopold.

He's a rooster (or cockerel if you prefer), whom I've just finished for a commission, for the very talented Loani Prior of sculptural tea cosy fame, who's work and blog 'The Queen of the Tea Cosies' you can see here. (You have to have a look at the beautiful fair isle scarf she's showing on her blog at the moment, it's fabulous).

Here's Leopold!

He's one happy, proud chappie, and there's something very retro about his dress sense. We may all well know a human version of Leopold in real life, someone who is very endearing.

I look at Leopold, and I feel very familiar with every teeny weeny part of his body. A humongous number of hours went in to his creation, I don't know if that comes across. I've been working on him over a period of about three-and-a-half months.

It's not just the sheer labour in making him that has been exhausting, but the challenges of having him stand on one leg, holding a balloon that is stable and doesn't move all over the place, and is being held in his claw. He also went from an initial plan of being much simpler, to having wings outspread, and being fully clothed, he was just going to have a neckerchief originally, and his wings were going to be closed in on his body, so much easier to construct.

I admire Leopold's personality. He just doesn't give two hoots what other people think, he's too busy enjoying life to the fullest.

Gusto.

Gusto for life, that's what he has.

I could take a leaf out of his book, but then I'm too busy working, I'm straight in to another commission next, and I'm also working away on illustrating a book.

It's good to be busy, good to take opportunities offered don't you think?

It will be strange to put Leopold in his box and send him off, he's been part of my life for a while now. But he's off to a fabulous new home with Loani, who I know is looking forward to welcoming him.

Cheerio!

Vanessa xxx

Sweet Evangeline and Louise.

I've got a soft spot for Louise the pig, and I look at her frequently, at her hopeful little face, mixed with excitement, triumph, and expectation.

Recently I decided to give her a smaller stand, and have her positioned so that she looks like she's running, rather than her previous incarnation of standing there looking pleased.

I actually wish Louise was real, and that she was able to take a jump off her stand and onto my lap, or into my arms. She would be a very spoilt little pig, spoilt with love.

I wish all my sculptures could step down from their podiums and talk. I wish it like I was a small child waiting for magic to happen, believing it could happen.

My newest Evangeline sculpture is no different.

Evangeline has the potential, despite being a dreamer, to be a little cheeky. Fun too. She'd make you laugh with her quirky observations about life.

In this piece, my sixth sculpture of Evangeline, she is having a break from the dusting, she's dancing to the old songs.

These mosaics are as close as I can get to making Evangeline and Louise move.

I've just heard a little squeak, and it's not Evangeline, it's my real life doggy, Douglas, asking squeakily if he can possibly be taken for a walk. It's his polite squeak, but it could soon turn into an urgent squeak, so I'd better put a thick coat on and take the doggies out into the dark. It's actually only 5.20 pm, but it may as well be midnight, it's completely dark outside.

Cheerio!

Vanessa xxx

Grey.

Hello!

Even the special photographic lights I was given as a fourtieth birthday present this year, can't penetrate the dull day we are having today.

It's one of those days that makes you think of the word leaden, which is quite a beatiful word, especially when contrasted with the word pink. Or orange, or lipstick red. Leaden can be a word and a colour that makes other things sing when contrasted. Like a comedy double act, where the straight man or woman makes the funny partner shine and sparkle, setting off and showcasing their comedy.

I was given a deep bright pink Amaryllis flower yesterday, (by the florist because the flower was about to wilt and die, and I was admiring its beauty). And she wrapped it in a leaden grey coloured paper, and the flower's colour sang even more.

But my camera is not photographing well in the dim light today, so I can't show you the splendid Amaryllis unfortunately.

I did photograph a new Evangeline I have made, earlier, but the photographs are not good, hopefully we'll have sunlight tomorrow. Or even light.

So here I am, without photographs, except one I took last week of a rooster Hugo fashioned from pastry and placed on top of the steak and ale pie he made for supper. I'm working on a sculpture of a splendid cockerel at the moment, so that's why Hugo made the pastry rooster, it was rather wonderful, made me laugh.

The striped diamonds are progressing nicely. They are addictive to make, and I love seeing how the different colours knit up in to stripes.

Before I go, here's something you might like to listen to that may well make you smile, even laugh. 'In and out of the kitchen', comedy with Miles Jupp (from the superb, wonderful, fabulous series 'Rev'). If you do have thirty minutes where you can sit down and listen to the radio, perhaps curled up with your knitting or crochet and a nice beverage, please can I entice you to listen to 'in and out of the kitchen', link here. (unfortunately it's only available to listen to on i-player till 18th November). I'm sure you'll come away glad you listened, with a smile on your face.

A good way to start the weekend, with a smile, don't you think?

Cheerio!

Vanessa xxx

Striped Diamonds.

Isn't it getting dark early?

Thank goodness we have a wood burning stove to cosy up to in the evenings, it makes the dark nights an occasion. That's the positive way of looking at it.

My lace dress is coming on at a couple of rows a day at the moment, so a bit slow, but I like to think that these little bits of knitting all add up quite nicely over time.

So whilst the lace knitting is progressing at a snails pace, I decided I needed some knitting that was quick and easy, for those times I don't want to concentrate too hard, and I found JUST the thing!

It all started with seeing a blog post on Dutch Sisters blog here.

Corry was making a wonderful star ornament, (which she shows finished in this blog post here), and I thought it was just the job for a little inbetween knitting.

Then I went off my plan to make an ornament, because I latched on to the idea of making many little diamond shapes, and joining them up to make a scarf.

The tutorial for the knitted star, and the individual diamond shapes, can be found here.

They are easy peasy lemon squeezy, so have fun making them.

They are wonderful stash busters too. I'm using up all the 4-ply yarn I can find in my stash. It's especially good for using up bits of variegated yarn. I have some Koigu left over from something else I was doing, and it looks delicious knitted up in tiny amounts and scattered throughout the array of diamonds.

I wouldn't have thought to use the variegated yarn if it hadn't been for seeing an AMAZING design for The Beekeeper's Quilt, by Tiny Owl Knits here. Stephanie brings a fresh approach to the use of variegated yarn, a look I love, so I thought I'd mix some variegated diamonds in amongst the solid and striped coloured ones.

Isn't the web a wonderful place for inspiration.

If you do go to the link for the Beekeeper's Quilt, try and have a look at the short film Stephanie has made,(you just scroll down to the bottom of the page, or you can go to it by clicking here). She's very, very entertaining, and funny and enchanting. I especially love her asides about the noises she can hear her neighbour making through the walls of her flat. I've just watched her latest video about her Mr.Fox Stole (my heart), very entertaining too.

You know winter is closing in when the geese honk off. Don't they do just that, honk?

We stood watching them in amazement, as they flew in their undulating and purposeful v-shape. I almost waved them goodbye, it felt like I should shout "till next year, all the best, and you'll be missed. Take good care of yourselves".

I stood and admired a group of birds sweeping through the sky in a graceful clump the other day. It was the view from the spare room window.

So lovely, they were.

Well, I must get back to work, so I shall say cheerio, and see you on Friday!

Vanessa xxx

Brooches and cards! Cards and brooches!!

Brooches on a coat and ............

A Christmas card!

All by yours truly.

Evangeline stars on the Christmas card, and on the back of each card is written "Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring .............. except Evangeline the mouse".

It might seem early to be bringing out these festive things, but some people like to think about cards around this time of year.

And the brooches I made link to the card. The wreath on the card is made of holly leaves and berries all made by me. Some of the leaves and berries are paper mache, some are crocheted, and others are made from old blankets and fabric.

They've been time consuming to make, there are so many stages that go in to the construction of them. All the berries and holly leaves are wired so they can be moved. I've even signed and dated the back of each brooch. Like they're miniature sculptures.

There is a mix of paper mache, fabric, crochet, construction and embroidery in these brooches, like my sculptures, though on a smaller scale.

When it came to the presentation, I hand painted each card, so that they would look nice when the brooch was attached. Lots more work, but so enjoyable!

I didn't make many brooches, though it felt like I'd made hundreds. And some have already sold. I do have a few listed in my etsy shop here, if you care to have a look.

I have put some packs of my Christmas card in on etsy too.

I've been able to put together a pack of ten cards for the same price as my packs of five cards, because they're smaller, and, they all have the same image on them, so it has cost me less to get them printed, and I'm passing on the saving to you.

It had to be Evangeline the mouse on the front of the Christmas card. Here she is, holding a candle holder with a candle in it, and a heart shaped flame, in one paw, and a beautifully gift wrapped present in the other paw. She's sporting her good cheer apron. The cards are all blank inside for your own message.

Phew! This has felt like a mammoth undertaking, making everything for the Christmas card, staging and photographing it, getting it printed, sourcing the envelopes and bags, putting the packs of cards together, and then whilst all this was going on spending hours and hours and hours making the brooches. Then came the photographing of the brooches and card for my etsy shop, and the listing of it all in my etsy shop, a big job. It all looks so small and simple and easy, but it's not. Even so, despite the long hours, it's all been made with lots of love and enjoyment, and that's the key thing really isn't it? Good cheer, good will, and love.

Vanessa xxx

Knitting a lace dress.

Hello! I don't know about you, but I love Autumn, and I dread Autumn, all at the same time.

It's all so pretty, and exciting, seeing and feeling the changing seasons, that has to be one of the best things about our weather, the seasons.

I would like to say a big thank you for all your well wishes, I'm feeling so much better, not 100% yet, but almost there. Isn't it a huge relief to have good health, if you do have good health?

Inbetween crocheting scarves, I've been applying myself to knitting a lace dress.

I finished knitting the Coraline cardigan a while ago, but haven't any photos yet. I have a half finished skirt I'm making, to go with the Coraline cardigan, you see I've got a particular picture in my mind for the photos, so I'm waiting till they've been taken to show you the finished piece.

I can't not be knitting something, so I got stuck in to knitting this lace dress I'm showing you today.

I found knitting this quite challenging at first, mainly because of the way the pattern is written. All the instructions are crowded together in long thin vertical paragraphs, and if you're not used to this style of pattern, it can be a little confusing at first. (This is the way Interweave Knits write their patterns, not the style of the author of the pattern).

The pattern is the 'Alpaca Tunic' by Deborah Newton, and you can buy the pattern online here, from Interweave Knit's pattern library.

I'm not using the specified Alpaca yarn, I'm using a wool that is made in Orkney, which you can buy here. It's not the softest yarn I've ever used, but I'll reserve judgement on it until I've washed the finished garment.

There are a few people who have knitted this dress on ravelry, so I got some very helpful tips about it, ravelry is fantastic for that.

Lace knitting is a funny thing. It's sort of addictive because you see magic growing before you, but at the same time it requires a steady nature. You just can't be slap-dash when it comes to knitting lace, otherwise you don't get the desired effect, as I realised when I'd knitted a whole section. I had to take back a whole load of knitting I'd done. You can't over-rule lace patterns, they rule you, and you have to give in to their strict rules (those rules being follow the pattern diligently).

The other thing about lace knitting is that you never get the full effect until you've washed and blocked it. I never normally block my knitting after washing it, I know that's frowned upon, but I don't. But I will be blocking this lace dress, definitely.

Hugo will testify that I almost gave up trying to fathom the pattern at the beginning. Then a few days later, I sheepishly picked it up and tried again. And lo-and-behold, I got it! Now I don't know why I was making any fuss, it now all seems perfectly clear. That's the way of these things isn't it? Once you understand something, it seems easy, when you don't know what is going, it seems like rocket science.

I'm so glad I persevered.

And just before I say goodbye, here's a little hint of something I've got to show you next week, when I've listed them in my etsy shop.

Have a good weekend!

Vanessa xxx

 

Scaggy me.

I'm sitting here in my scaggy pyjamas, feeling chipper that I actually FEEL the sense of being a bit yucky and disgusting in my illness pyjamas, because that means I'm getting better.

(I hope that does mean I'm on the road to recovery. I always find that a lack of interest in my personal hygiene only strikes when I'm ill, and feel so rough, that I just don't care I'm starting to get a bit smelly and don't want to shower or even take a bath.)

At least the boiler has been fixed and we now have hot water and heating. Yipee.

I always get a tremendous sense of how good life is when I stop being ill, it's a mixture of sweet relief and pure joy to no longer feel like a zombie.

Whilst I've been "reclining" in bed, I have been doing a little crochet, making some more of my (soon to be released pattern for a scarf design) scarves. I'm almost ready to start writing the pattern down.

Someone told me the other day that a good way of preventing illness is to stuff cloves of garlic in your mouth, store them in your cheeks, and suck on them.

A bit like a hamster.

Anyway, I know from past experience that I can get ahead of myself, and at the first sign of feeling better, leap back joyfully into a busy life, than wonder why I'm having a relapse and have to go back to bed with my tail between my legs.

First things first, a shower!

I hope you're all well? I'm sorry I've been a bit out of the loop recently, I hope things will get back to normal soon.

Love Vanessa xxx

 

The doggies were ever so happy to have me home!

Hello! Aren't they sweet! The kittens above belong to my sister, they're called Tigger and Bertie, and they're the most good natured cats I've ever met. At fourteen weeks old, they're light as feathers, and just so fun. And cuddly. And adorable!

I've been away for six days, down to London to see my publishers, and visit my sister and her family, it's been tiring, especially as I've managed to catch my nephews cold, and every time I swallow it's painful. But I'm still getting on with things I have to do.

That's Tigger, above. He's got quite a different personality from his brother, Bertie. He's laid back and very cuddly, whilst Bertie is a bit nervous and skittish, though still a cuddly chap when you catch him at the right moment. It's fascinating to watch them both.

Being in a house with children is a full on thing isn't it? The noise levels can be extraordinary! I did enjoy seeing my sister and her family, though I feel a little dazed and confused still.

Whilst I was there, I cut up the Starboard Skirt I made for myself, (which was a little small), and made it again for my Niece, Millie. There was a slight hitch in the making of it. I measured Millie's waist, and then found on finishing sewing the skirt that she likes to wear everything low on her hips, so the skirt didn't fit too well. It was saved a little by putting in longer elastic at the back, but it doesn't fit quite as perfectly as it would have if I'd started with the right measurement.

The last day of my visit, we went to a small funfair.

It was a matter of trailing along behind two excited children.

We arrived quite late, and the fair was close to packing up.

Have you ever been to a funfair where there are hardly any people on the rides? It's a bit miserable, you do need to have the buzz of people around to get a party vibe going. But the children had a marvellous time on some of the rides, and that was the most important thing.

The doggies were thrilled to see me when I got home, it was a lovely thing to be missed by them. Despite having the kittens to cuddle, I did miss my little Dachshunds.

I'm going to head off now. Our boiler is broken and we have no heating or hot water, fortunately we have a wood burning stove to huddle round! Some Nurofen and a cup of tea and some blankets is what I need right now.

A-choooo!

Vanessa xxx

Scarf Journey.

I've crocheted the same scarf design three times. Well almost three times, I'm on the third version of my pattern, (my Sarah London Scarf design), and I'm hoping it's third time lucky, and this will be the final version.

And the reason I'm crocheting this scarf so many times? It's because I want to get the width just right to be snuggly, and I'm also trying to get the numbers of balls of yarn I'm using down to as few as possible, so it is as reasonably priced to make as I can get it.

I've put up patterns for crochet squares before, and the idea is that you run with that square as you please, but this time I plan to do a pattern that is for the entire garment from start to finish. Specifying yarn amounts, width, length, and how to.

Look, I'm wearing my Little Squares Scarf. The quick pattern and the step-by-step pattern is in my sidebar to the left, if you want to know how to crochet the squares and sew them together.

Hugo took these pictures on a windy beach last Sunday. There was a real nip in the air.

The day before, the sea was a wild mass of waves. People were standing on the promenade gazing at the sea. Crashing waves are mesmerising don't you think? I like watching them reach their highest point, and then topple over and break up. Fascinating.

If it's not raining, after walking the dogs on the beach, we like to have a coffee on the prom, and read the weekend paper. (I have to regularly remind myself just how fortunate I am to be able to write those words about coffee on the prom, overlooking the sea).

The dogs inevitable end up on our laps, looking like they are in the lap of luxury.

Ellie has perfected this look.

Tomorrow I'm off on a four hour train journey to London, for work, and also to stay with my sister and her family for about five days, so unfortunately I won't be able to do my blog post on Friday, I'm sorry about that. But I hope to be back here next Tuesday. Think of all that lovely knitting and crocheting time! Lovely!

Cheerio! And have a good week.

Vanessa xxx

MY NEW BIG CARDS!

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They're here, they're here, my new cards are here! It's been a while in the conjuring up, but now the rabbit has finally been pulled out of the hat. Joy!

These new A5 cards I've had printed are SO much bigger than the last ones I had made, look in the photo above, see how much bigger they are than the little card in the foreground!

They feel sumptuous and big and juicy and............... big cards are really nice aren't they?

Lets have a look at them in more detail shall we?

I'm selling them in packs of five, a pack containing one of each image.

Considering their size, A5( 21 x 29.7 cm/ 8.5 x 11.75 inches)  they're excellent value at £10 plus post and packing for each pack of five cards, with their white envelopes.

And each card comes in its own polypropylene bag, just like you would buy them in a shop.

When I was making and choosing sculptures, that could be used in the images on these cards, I wanted there to be pictures you could send to a variety of people. From a lady, to a gentleman, a boy or a girl.

If you would like to buy a pack of cards, they're for sale in my etsy shop, the direct link to the cards is here.

And now I want to tell you all about the generosity of Stephanie, who has a lovely blog called Millefeuilles, and whose giveaway I won recently.

One of Stephanie's blog posts inspired me to buy Katherine Mansfield's book of short stories 'The Garden Party and Other stories'.

I'm so glad I did buy it, it's the most exquisite read. I've had a real sense of absorbing something beyond price. Her stories are like Rubies, Diamonds, Pearls, Moonstones. Some of the paragraphs are like the facets on a cut Diamond, they glint in the light and dazzle.

I'd recommend this book, highly recommend it.

I hold Stephanie in high regard when it comes to recommending books, so when I saw her giveaway, I signed up, hoping that I would win the book, but not expecting to be the fortunate one.

But I did win the giveaway! I've started reading the book I won, 'In the Garden with Jane Austin' written by Kim Wilson, at bedtime, and it's hard to put it down and turn off the bedside light. I want to carry on wandering through the book, amongst all the gardens and lovely written words.

The giveaway winnings weren't the book alone, there was also a choice of pattern from Never Not Knitting's pattern shop. Lovely patterns there, you might find something that takes your fancy.

I chose the pattern for the 'Autumn Vines Beret', found here.

When I'd downloaded the pdf pattern Stephanie sent me, I immediately bought some Madeline Tosh yarn, (very luxurious and expensive yarn), from Loop's on-line shop. (Lovely yarn, to be talked about more when I knit the beret).

I don't know if you've noticed a beautiful embroidered card lurking in some of the images showing this giveaway?

Stephanie's card! It arrived tucked up with the book, and the postcards of Violets and blossoms, all together in precious wrapping paper. The embroidery of the green shoots, isn't it exquisite? Ever since I opened the parcel on Monday, I've had Stephanie's embroidery propped up against the lamp on my bedside table, and I admire it every time I look at it. I treasure this beautiful piece. Stephanie says she uses 28 count linen thread, like embroidering with gossamer, isn't that magical!

I shall leave you with the thought of embroidering with a thread that is akin to something a spider might spin its web with.

Vanessa xxx