Little Cotton Rabbits

23!

At last I'm finishing off that big old batch of knitted animals that I've been working on for the last 2 months.

 

There's a lot of hours in each one (between 10 - 12 depending on what they're wearing) and I do prefer listing a bunch together rather than listing each when they're finished, so it does take me a while to get them ready. This is the biggest group that I've ever done and includes bunnies, foxes, elephants, monkeys, pigs, a panda and a mouse so hopefully there's a little character in there to appeal to all.

 

I'm not going to show all of them here but there are photos of all 23 over on Flickr including this one of poor little Pabla who ended up looking a bit yoda-esque!

 

I couldn't bring myself to change her ears because once each animal is finished they adopt a little bit of personality and I get a little bit sentimental about them, so hopefully someone out there will find her appealing!

Thanks again to everyone who's shown an interest in my work. I'll email the mailing list early next week with details of where and when these will be listed for sale and I'll pop updates on my facebook page too.

Happy weekend all, I'm off to watch Amy on stage in her drama group show this afternoon. She's not at all nervous but my heart will be pounding and I'll have my tissues ready too!

cushions

Summer colds, sports days, parent's evenings and school concerts have filled most of our time here over the last week. But in between I've squeezed in a little yarnie time and as well as putting the final touches to a batch of knitted animals, I've finished cushion n^o four.

 

Though when I looked at all four of them together, it dawned on me that I really wasn't keen on the third one and so it's been relegated to the bottom of a bag while I decide whether to unravel it.

 

I'm pleased though with the remaining three and like the way that they sit together, all different but tied together by the same colours.

 

There will be news on the batch of knitted animals shortly - I hope to get photos of them done before the end of the week.

We've also had some news on Toby's respite. It's been confirmed that we've been granted 1 day a month of respite (10am -4pm) which is pretty paltry really and left me feeling a bit despondent considering all of the meetings, paperwork and angst we've been through to get it. It also doesn't do a great deal to relieve the continuing lack of sleep, but they won't even consider taking Toby over night until he's 10. Still, looking on the positive side it's better than nothing at all.

Toby has had his first short visit which didn't go particularly well, but as everything there is new and unfamiliar to him, I'd not really expected it to. It's a wonderful purpose built place - a bit like a big family home with bedrooms, dining room, sensory room, toy room, quiet room and a wonderful garden with trampoline, climbing frame and sandpit. Hopefully once he gets used to it, he'll enjoy going there for the day and hopefully somewhere down the line we'll be able to get a little more help than just 6 hours a month!

coloured pencils

Thanks for the kind comments about the latest batch of knitted animals and about my little sitty-knitty corner on the last but one post. A couple of people asked what I use my collection of coloured pencils for. To be honest, not so much these days - they had most of their use nearly 20 years ago when I was at college and then when I worked (briefly) as an illustrator / graphic designer. I used to paint in gouache and then work over the surface in the caran d'ache watercolour pencils. Things like this...

 

 

 

(If you wanted to see more of my paintings there are a few more on flickr.)

These days the pencils mostly come out for shrinkle making with Amy, though I do sketch out ideas for clothing for the knitted animals from time to time. I did a few paintings for the children's rooms when they were little, but the last time I painted properly was when Amy first started school and I made this Little Red Riding Hood costume for a fancy dress competition.

 

These days it's mostly knitting rather than painting that fills my free time - it's easier to pick up and put down and so fits in much better with having the children around. But thanks for asking about the pencils and giving me the chance to drag out my paintings again and remember how cute Amy was at five!

in the basket

I have a host of knitted animals in my 'in progress basket' at the moment.



They're all waiting for little bits and pieces; a dress or jumper, a few french knots here, a button or a tail there.

 

 

The little bear at the back is shortly going to be a raffle prize over at Saving Rare Breeds. He's made from organic rare breed yarn (Manx Loghtan) and has an organic wool aran jumper. If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning him or if you'd like to see the lovely selection of other raffle prizes that they have please follow this link. They do so much good work for dying breeds and they'd really appreciate your support.

 

This is where I've been spending most of the last week, with my bottom parked in that wicker chair, my little radio turned to chill and my fingers working hard.

 

I like to have my collection of needles near by, ready to dip into when the need to start a new project strikes, but for now I'm trying to focus on the animals in the basket and not get distracted from finishing them off soon!

cushions revisited

Around a year ago I decided it was high time I learnt to crochet and thanks to Attic 24's lovely free patterns I dipped my toe in the hooky water so to speak. I have come to love crochet - it has a different pace to knitting and whilst my crochet standard isn't up to that of my knitting, I'm pleased with my efforts so far.

 

 

I started making this set of cushions last May and after making three my enthusiasm kind of petered out and the last one got stuffed in a bag half finished. At the end of last week I decided to unearth it again and try to get it finished. I've still got about 6 rounds to go but so far it's working out well I think - a bit of a mishmash but then I'm still learning and getting better as I go. I like the simple repetition of this project and it's nice to be using my great-grandmother's bone crochet hook.

 

 

These are completely cheaty cushions by the way, I'm only making one side which I'm stitching onto some old cream fabric cushions that I already had - a quick way of having some nice new cushions without having to make the backsides!

I'm still working on my one a day blanket too and there's lots of knitting going on - an update of that next I think!

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PS: Thanks so much for the kind words on the previous post. As a parent, going with your instincts is the best way to go. I think I lost my way because recently there have been so many people involved with our family and Toby and all of that well-meant advice (some of it conflicting) just ended up overwhelming and confusing me! Toby himself didn't help because as soon as I thought I was understanding a trigger to his behaviour or an obsession, he'd change.

Still, co-sleeping is clearly helping at this moment in time and this whole episode has helped me remember that flexibility is the answer to staying sane - hope I remember that when Toby changes tack again!