Back to school

Well sort of but not really.

Next week I start a drawing course, which will be every wednesday for the next semester. Last year I really got back into drawing but then after a while got frustrated with my lack of skill to do the things I so wanted in my head. I'm doing at the Latrobe college of Art and Design, and last night I got the details of it and the list of materials I need to bring. I got very excited by the list of materials, I don't know there is something wonderful about art supplies and shops and to have the excuse to buy them seems like a wonderful indulgence.

I'm both excited and nervous about the course- on Monday I have my orientation, I never went to art school or uni, and the last time I learned "properly" how to do something was way back when I was 19 and I studied embroidery at the Embroiderers Guild. And I'm not really an artist, I just make bears and wonky ones at that, so I feel a little funny in a way too. Anyway I'm looking forward to it too, getting some of the skills and having an excuse to buy charcoal.

Hope you have a wonderful Friday

My creative space

Not much to show this week in my creative space. Although there has been much work going on , many heads being made and probably many more to come.It's funny the way sometimes a bear will come so quickly while others I struggle with me. I'm starting on a new mohair bear, inspired by a bear I fell in love with on the internet but couldn't afford.

Still a long way off I know, and I'm about to start all over again...

I think it's been the week of creative frustration this week.

For more productive and succesful creatives spaces click over here.

Found my wedding ring

Now I just need to find the man

Frogness by Asgard Jewellery

Pogo

It's been a while since I've attempted anything in that super fluffy yarn. Then suddenly last I felt an overwhelming need to make another fluffy panda. When I first started on him, and was crocheting his head it was going so smoothly and quickly I began to get excited and feel perhaps after 3 or so bears and a few chickies from it, I was finally conquering it and I was feeling pretty good.

Then comes the part where really struggle to like myself, where I discover in my genius I have forgotten to write down the pattern for the rest of it last time I made one. Clever chook that I am.

And of course when trying to figure out how I did the body last time, I start having major fluffy yarn issues, and alot of yesterday afternoon was spent undoing and redoing his body because I kept making mistakes, getting distracted and with this yarn it's hard to keep track of where you are due to the excessive fluffiness.

Anyway finally Pogo came together. I struggle at times thinking that perhaps he looked more like a poodle than a panda, but hope he has enough Pandaness to carry himself off.

Pogo like feeding the ducks at the local park, but not so much the swans as he is a little afraid of them. He also likes making things with his knitting nancy and loves fairy bread.

Oh and by the way he much prefers to sit down than stand, his fluffy body is a little much for his wee little legs in long periods.

Still here

Wonking away.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend. xo

George

Found at the oppy today, just when I needed another door snake but wasn't even looking.

A bear for Bumpy

One of the things I most excited about this year is in a couple of months I'm going to become an aunt.

I'm pretty excited about having a whole brand new person in our family, meeting them when they do arrive and seeing this little being grow. Im also excited by the fact that I now have someone who I can make heaps of stuff and friends for.

And first off it needed to be a bear of course.

I've been thinking which bear would be right for Bumpy ( what my sister and her partner call baby as sex is unknown), for a long time, some of my new bears in the last couple of months have been possibilities for Bumpy, but then never felt right, he had to be something my sister would like too. I knew he's first had to be a jointed, mohair style bear.

This is my latest effort, Ernest, and he is Bumpy's Bear I think, finally.

Ernest is a bit of dreamer, he lives more in his head and imagination than the real world alot of the time, is an avid reader, and is himself writing a novel at the moment. He loves Gingersnap biscuits and yes he is a dunker.

I do hope Bumpy likes him, and Ernest will be a trustworthy companion who they can share secrets with, give and get hugs and bring a sense of comfort and the love I already feeling for this person.

Tonight

I saw the lovely Darren Hanlon at an instore in Polyester. I do love an instore, there's a relaxed a bit more intimate feeling and the fact that they are free doesn't hurt.

I'm a little obsessed with this song at the mo

My creative space

there's been some goccoing, as I was running low on my bags, prints and cards ( managed to get 128 prints!)

and I've been working on a new bear in the other sort of mohair. I think he's name might be Ernest.

I know no sign of Froggy, but then i remembered how much I've been wanting to make another jointed/mohair/traditionalish bear and one of the many bears in my head I've been wanting to make so mr Frog will have to wait.

For more creative spaces pop over to Kirsty's place.

Potholder winner and a poem

BEK. Congratulations Bek!!

But seriously I feel like I really I am the winner in this. I know that sounds soppy, but you'll just have to deal with me being a little soppy for a minute.

You guys are awesome, seriously. Thank you so much to EVERYONE who entered and left such an array of amazing, loving and gorgeous comments. You blow me away. And you know what I wanted you ALL to win. And that's pretty nice. And also what's so nice is with this giveaway I knew almost everyone who entered and have emailed with them at some point. And while I loved the last giveaway I did, I loved this one even more because it was more personal or something, and amoung friends. And the funny thing is I did this giveaway as a small way to say thank you to all you guys for your awesomeness, and I've ended up thanking you all over again and wanting to do another giveaway all over again to thank you for this one. If that makes sense.

So I thought I'd share this poem/ cartoon by another person who inspires me, blows me away Michael Leunig. I'm sure many of you have already seen this. But those who haven't I hope you enjoy it.

Duckwhistle Politics

In every human being

Is something we are not seeing

Down there in the muck

It is the inner duck!

So blow the duckwhistle gently

At least you can blow it mentally

And what you thought was lacking

Will gladly rise up quacking

And with this joyful meekness

And rounded yellow beakness

So beautifully unfurled,

Go out and love the world!

By Michael Leunig

a few things from the weekend

This weekend I cut my own hair, saw Richard in Your Mind the awesome Sally Seltmann, and Otouto made Enid soft little lamb from baby alpaca, watched my boys triumpth ( just) and went to the market amoung other things. I had a lovely weekend. I hope you did too.PS I will be drawing the winner for the giveaway tonight.

Bunyip

This nuggety little bear goes by the name of Bunyip. He reminds me of a strange mixture of a potato and this Sydney player ( who I affectionately call Chunka)

Bunyip himself is a star mid fielder for the Wonka Woos- a leading team in the AMIFL ( Amigurumi Football League) His favourite post game snack is a ham and cheese croissant. As you can tell he's pretty passionate about his sport and most of the time is accompanied by his footy.

PS My giveaway ends tonight- so if you'd like to enter you better hurry.

My creative space

is brought to you by Boris.
Boris is from family of Kermit, Howie and Mr Pringles. I think he might be Kermit's older brother, either that a Kermit that swallowed a bright yellow texta. ( the photos make him look a bit more orangey than he is)

Boris loves walking on the moon, with his astronaut legs and is very partial to blueberry pikelets.

I've now started on a little tweedy bear although I also have suddenly an urge and need to make a frog.

Have you entered my giveaway? There's still heaps of time, if you would like to.

Sorry about the slight randomness of this post. It's been not the best of weeks and I think my brain is a little shot.

For more creative spaces please visit Kirsty.

Panda potholder and Giveaway.

His name is Bartholamew. He like to play recorder in his spare time and sip on strawberry milkshakes.

And to celebrate reaching 100 followers ( woohoo!) and to give something back to the community whom I get some much from- he is being offered up as a celebration giveaway. To say thank I guess for reading my blog and sticking with me, for the kindness, encouragement,support, friendship, laughs to name a few, and the wonderful comments and for allowing me to be me. I know well I'm not and it's your normal bag of chips ( did I just make up an expression there?) So it means a lot.

Anyway all you need to do is leave a comment below and tell me what you like about my blog. If you are a follower, please add that too for an extra entry.

Good luck. OH yes and by the way the giveaway ends next Sunday the 11th of July at 12am ( well that's really the 12th isn't it) Melbourne, Australia time. If that makes sense.

Because a bear gets cold too sometimes

Last night when I was finishing off Dennis I saw him eyeing off my beanie and scarf ( it's cold in my house). And I realised i had always assumed because of their fur bears didn't feel the cold. Obviously I was wrong.

I actually had wanted to make him a little beanie, but even 3 failed attemps- it seemed I was unable to escape that they all look like shower caps rather than beanies i think perhaps because of his round head and his sticky out ears. At which point Dennis kindly informed me that he would be most satisfied with a scarf instead.

Anyway Dennis is a quiet little thugwomp of bear, loves the warm, snuggles, electric blankets all that. He's made of the most beautiful baby alpaca yarn so snuggling with him is no chore, it is so soft and gorgeous the touch. ( if I ever have the yarn on me beware as I am known to insist "you must rub your face it")

Dennis loves warm apple crumble with milk and his favourite thing to do other than the above is talk to his pet ducks Lucy, Edith and Margorey.

My creative space

a bear in process
and the beginnings of a panda potholder.

For more creative spaces check out Kirsty's.