Friday 1 July 2016

Happy Canada Day

My adoptive country, Canada is 149 years old today and it is time to celebrate and be grateful that we live in such a magnificent, socially conscious country.

In honour of this special day, I made a special Canada Day kitty using an 100% wool sweater from the "Bay Club" (Hudson's Bay special sweater).

I loved making this wee kitty and it fits the day entirely:







Until next year, this Canadian kitty will now root for the Italian soccer team, the Azzurri in tomorrow's match versus Germany.  Forza Azzurri!  After all, Italy is my birthplace and also holds a special place in my heart!

Thursday 30 June 2016

Critter Mania

I have been busy making my "Wooly Critters".  They are just so addictive that once I start making one, another idea comes into my mind and I have to make another, and another, and another...  I plan to sell them at a winter Christmas Craft show. 

I make them with thrift store sweaters that I wash in hot water and soap to felt them.  I then design my "Critter" and start sewing.  Here are a few of the wee ones I have made to date.

First is :  "Wild thing, you make my heart sing!":




Next wee one is called:  Steampunk Joe:



This kitty says, "It's not easy being Green":


This Little Doggie found a bone:



Who says I am Goofy? Well, maybe just a little:





Grumpy cat says, "Hot pink and ruffles, really...?"


I laugh at you Grumpy cat, you are so funny "Giggles" says:



The Chesire cat reminds us that we are all mad here!



Until next time when there will be raccoons and foxes, oh my!

Monday 30 May 2016

Steampunk Mechanic

A while ago (well many months ago) a good friend asked me to make him a Ferrari Mechanic in the "Steampunk" style.  I was up for the challenge.  My friend is a car aficionado and especially loves Ferrari.  He owns one and has a room that is dedicated to his love of this Italian jewel.

When he asked me to make him a doll that would compliment his collection of Ferrari memorabilia, I started thinking of steampunk and mechanical bits that could be used in a doll!  My biggest challenge was keeping the doll to under 14".  I spent a great deal of time looking at photos of Ferrari for inspiration.  As luck would have it, while in Toronto visiting my family, I found a Ferrari car model in red that would be perfect in my piece!

Once I returned to Victoria in May, I assembled my materials and forged ahead (well I did travel for a workshop before I actually started, but this doll was in my thoughts).

I am very happy with Francesco (the new Ferrari Steampunk Mechanic) and he stands only 12" tall!  He wears a medium blue mechanic's outfit that is complimented with steampunk fabric.  Under his jacket he has a fine Italian Merino sweater and an Italian wool vest.  He sports a brown leather pouch and a black felt cap that has the "Ferrari" prancing horse symbol, of course.  He also wears a steampunk magnifier to help him catch fine details in his work.  His boots are black and brown faux leather with steampunk gears:

A close up of his face (I used doe suede for the doll as it is easy to work with and has a natural "olive" tint that would be ideal for this Italian stallion):
A side view with a good look at his funky hair and his special steampunked eye piece magnifier.  His ball cap is felt with stitching in the Italian flag colours:

 The back of this piece shows the mechanics jacket with "Ferrari" spelled out on his back:
Notice that I covered the platform with "Tim Holtz" steampunk fabric.  I used "Sobo" glue to attach the fabric to the base.  I used "Scrabble" game tiles to spell out "FERRARI" on the base:

 Francesco has a leather pouch around his waist to carry additional tools of the trade.  He is holding gears and his boots are also festooned with metal gears!
 I found great metal tools and tool buttons to decorate his jacket.
I hope my friend enjoys his piece and I hope Francesco enjoys his new home among the Ferrari books and Ferrari models!

Thursday 26 May 2016

Kate Church Part II

Last week was great as I shared a fabulous beach house with 5 other ladies and was able to take lessons all week from Kate Church with delicious lunches and snacks provided!  Who could ask for more?

This week I finished all three dolls that we started in class.  The first I call "Midnight Rider", a young lad who is finding his adventures while travelling on the back of a crow!

We used polymer clay for the figure and made a cloth crow with clay beak, tail, claws, hat and eyes.  I love this wee fellow.  Unlike last year's workshop, Kate was showing us how to create a younger figure.  I think I achieved the goal!







The second figure is based on a bunny.  I used an embroidered pillowcase for the bunny and tried to make an even smaller younger face for the rider.  I call this piece "Beach Bunnies (on Kye Beach".  Kye Beach in Comox is where our rental beach house was located.  We loved it and had fun walking on the beach at low tide looking for treasures.  I used some of my beach treasures to decorate the base of this bunny piece.  The wee bunny that the figure is holding is made in cloth from the white portion of the same pillowcase from which the bunny is made.  

The stands for the following two pieces were made by Peter, a fantastic woodworker and friend.

Once again, I was very pleased with the entire effect:






Finally, the third and final piece is based on a rider on a horse or pony.  I chose a striped upholstery fabric for the pony, as I loved the colours.  Once again the pony has clay eyes, hoofs and hat while the rider has all clay features except the body and clothing.  This piece measures about 13" in height and is the tallest of the three.  I added the most embellishments on this piece and I am happy with the result.  I call this piece, "My Painted Pony" for obvious reasons:




The saddle blanket and stand features are all in wool felt.
So, do I have a favourite of the three pieces?  I cannot decide as I like all of them for different reasons.  I love the crow because of the sweet face of the rider and the mystery that crows provide.  I love the bunny because the embroidered fabric worked so well and the rider is also sweet.  Finally I love the Pony because I was able to use the most colour and fun embellishments!

Ornaments Galore

  It is mid October and I have just finished making a gaggle of Christmas ornaments in preparation for the holidays: There are reindeers, pa...