The Dying of the Sun -

a meditation on Fire....

...as my last post finished with a sunset..so this one starts with a small detail of the balls of fire sparked by The Dying of the Sun - a meditation on Fire:

The public exhibition runs from Saturday 6th until Sunday 14th October 

at The Barn Gallery, The Bield at Balckruthven, Tibbermore, Perth PH1 1PY

It has been organised by the fabulous and friendly felter Tracy and Angela to celebrate the fourth annual International Day of Felt.

This week I have posted 3 items to be included in a collaborative piece...I am really excited about being part of this interesting and inspirational project alongside some very talented felt makers (including a friend of mine, Penny).

I will reveal more of the firey photos nearer the time, but in the meantime anyone nearer the venue might like to book the dates of the exhibition in their diary....

Birthday Rainbow Owl!

When I began to crochet earlier this year I made a list of projects...(written in longhand in a notebook!)...that I would like to hook...one of them was the fab Emma Varnam's Cutie Hootie Owl.
 

Thinking that it was a long term aim to be able to make something with shape, a pattern and with more than four rows I had forgotten all about it until  I re-read my little list. I printed off the pattern and with a special little lady's fifth birthday in mind a rainbow version was begun. It was completed with greater ease than anticipated due to Emma's detailed instructions and some obsessive stitch counting!

So without further ado.. here he is..made with a larger hook and therefore a little bigger..but still cute..I hope!

He's a little shy so maybe if you read a bit further he might feel more comfortable and show his true colours! He has the usual Random Wooliness needlefelted features and was photographed just as the sun was setting on an August evening...quite an appropriate time for an owl to come out!

Emma describes her Cutie Hootie Owl as 'a perfect little mascot for those back to school blues' as he can carry a little message under his wing.

Rainbow owl carried a birthday message...

 but he could equally have sent a 'Happy First day at School' as the recipient has today had the excitement of her first school day!

I'd like to wish everyone starting (back) at school or college a 

Happy and Successful New Year

(one reader especially who is bravely (re) tackling a tricky subject)! 

The message of course includes those who are teaching and/or learning....which often goes both ways...as my Granddad always said...'You learn something new every day'!

Sadly the time at which the photos of Rainbow Owl were taken is now engulfed in darkness due to the shortening of days...however the sunny September weather we are having here is creating some stunning sunsets!

That brings me seamlessly onto my next post.....

but you'll have to wait a little for that....

Clippings!

The other pattern Tracey has in Craftseller 13 is for pretty hair clips:

These three were made for a special little lady celebrating a family event last week...

there are two clips and an elastic

each made from 2 strands of rainbow sock wool.

A couple of shadow shots as it is nearly Sunday!

A peek at my TUSAL jar...

..filling up slowly!

...and finally - another of the hair clip patterns (slightly tweaked) used as a feature on a card

sent to wish our friends Eid Mubarak!

xx

Birthday Rainbows Revealed!

I have just had a lovely morning catching up with my friend and her family during which she opened her birthday present and immediately put it on.

She certainly wore it well

The Boho scarf pattern is by my very talented friend Tracey  - and can be found in Craftseller magazine issue 13.

The (Sombrero 315)  Sirdar Summer Stripes yarn made a beautiful pastel rainbow..

....I think my novice skills enabled more of a curve than there should have been.... but it straightened well after a soaking and pinning to the carpet!

Due to the self striping I could see that the end of the first ball of yarn was the same colour as the beginning so I made fewer rows than the pattern suggested and had coral borders....

....added some fringes...

..and a matching flower brooch...

The yarn was a little tricky to work with at times - I only realised when I moved on to my next project and the hook moved smoothly - but I think it was worth the extra work just for the colours!

The pattern was easy to follow and the open stitches were fun to hook.

Tracey had 2crochet  patterns in issue 13 ( I have made the other pattern too but that's for another post!) and has 2 in this months magazine (one featured on the front cover)..I gather there are more to come in future issues! Some of her knitting patterns are featured in other publications and she is currently working with one of her woolly friends on a book! I am so proud to have such a creative and talented friend and wish her all the best in her pattern producing and publishing.  

Whilst sharing the pattern love Emma has some amazing designs in the Debbie Bliss Fall magazine.

I am finding it great fun to search and try new patterns mostly with colourful variegated wools and cottons....(Becky I will write up the owl one soon...it is really simple)!
Isn't the internet fab..for finding friends and beautiful things to create?!

Yesterday I had a great afternoon playing with wet wool making pieces for this collaboration....

.hope to tell you all about it soon..

Out of this world...episode two!

I have so much to show you all..but blogging time is tricky in the hols...most of my makes have been crochet as it is more portable and can be picked up or left at random moments...

.I'll start with some more monsters...

these have all found their way to new homes as birthday presents...

each made especially for the recipient.

I like the option to have head decor or...

 

a frilly bottom...or should that be frilly foot feature?

Each new item teaches me more tricks and patterns and I much prefer playing to counting stitches!

 

The first TARDIS has been hung on a wall. During a recent clearout Mr RW spotted this paper lightshade innard gubbins as a perfect frame 

 

 

to strengthen the floppy woppy, wibbly wobbly, timey wimey machine. 

I had used spray starch but it was still a bit unstable! 

I must say I had to broggle in my TUSAL jar to find some left over ends to attach the frame.

 

Although its Monday I thought I'd share some shadow shots with you, as Anne commented  - it is an addictive occupation. 

I have lost count of the number of times I have aggravated RW Jnr by exclaiming 'I wish I had my camera!'  There are some pretty stunning shadows in our urban environment, if I (remembered my camera and) had the courage to snap them with so many people around!

(Downloading from my very old mobile has been possible - but those pics come out very small.)

 

After one such camera-less excursion, on returning home we were greeted by these:

 

Later that day this (amazingly dusty, please don't look too closely!) candle holder

created this amazing shadow.....

....I really can't imagine the angles required to re-create the revolution of the flower head!

Happy Monday everyone...I'm a bit lost without the outstanding  Olympic coverage but the footie season starts this weekend and the Paralympics are not far away....

Birthday Rainbows

A very special friend has her birthday today....

... I can't show you too much as the present has not been given yet...but at least one of you will recognise some things in the picture!

A full write up will follow...I just wanted to wish the lovely lady a Happy Birthday.

xx

Happy Birdy!

Happy Birdy to a special Harry Potter fan...

a swooping shetland Hedwig with needlefelted features!

xx