Tuesday 13 May 2014

A rabbit, a penny rug and a new project


There continues to be a lot going on beside art in my life.   Nevertheless, I am still working at creating, albeit slowly.  And I have great hopes that in June things will settle down, giving me more time to have fun.
 
This is another rabbit that I have made, diverging from the original pattern.  I had originally decided to follow the pattern, but inadvertently made a longer body.  I think I just kept knitting while watching television, instead of counting rows.  This meant that the top was too small to be a dress, so I turned it into a top and I invented a pair of bloomers. Then, I noticed that the legs didn't match (no idea what I did wrong!)and had to knit a third one and choose which of the originals to match it with.  Now, I have a spare leg. I wonder if I should use it for a one-legged doll!  After finishing the rabbit, I decided that the ears weren't positioned well and decided to  move them.  I had a senior moment and managed to cut the head badly while unpicking the ears and had to knit up another head and throw out the original!   No wonder it turned out to be an original rabbit!



 
 
As a result of this experience, I have decided to take a break from rabbits, and have started knitting a fox.  I'll let you know how it turns out in a later post.  Hopefully, it will be a less emotional experience.
 
And, I have finally finished my penny rug.  It took ages, because I was basically inventing as I went along (something which I am prone to do, as you may have gathered).  I decided to back it with cotton from Bustle and Bows in Surrey Hills and am very pleased with the result.  No idea what I'll do with it.  Keep it?  Sell it?  Give it away?  I'll decide later.
 




I am also very excited because I lucky enough to win this sampler from KnotMore.com.  I am now trying to think of how best to use the waxed polyester cord in my work.  The owner of KnotMore, Dawn Standera, is a knotter but this would be great for other crafts, like book binding, basketry, mixed media and macrame.  I am thinking of using it in some of my fabric art, but am not yet sure how.  Stay tuned!
 
 

 
Lastly, we have become empty-nesters, so I am rearranging the house.  I now have a sewing room and a seperate painting room.  It is so nice to have a dedicated space for the first time.  Now I can leave my projects where they are and don't need to clean up the dining room for guests.  The mess can remain hidden behind a closed door.  Can't wait to amke a mess!