Watercolour paper....my new nemesis!

Hello all :-)

Ah I'm blogging again.....go me! So first things first, those of you who have seen previous posts will know I've been working on a Geisha cross stitch for a little while now! I've managed to make some real progress in the last week or so...I'm pretty pleased!

I say real progress....I guess it's not that much rurally but it feels like it to me haha! I've actually done a little bit more since this photo was taken. It will be finished one day.....one day!

I've also managed to get some time on the mermaid that I've also been working on for an age! She's just been sitting there on my desk for weeks and weeks! Well it was finally time to start the colouring....

This was the first stage.....this was the point that i realised i didn't actually have all the colours it was suggested that you use...damn :-P I had to improvise slightly which is why my Mermaid has been on holiday and now has a lovely tan (ooopppssss). The first stage was to put a thin layer of water soluble wax crayon down and then go over it in watered down acrylic.  I must admit i don't think I've ever used a water soluble crayon in my life and I think it showed! I had no idea how much water was too much or not enough, I basically just jabbed at the page with the brush and hoped for the best!

Then we had to add shading and colour.....yeah it was at this point that I wanted to cry! I didn't have the right colour for the cheeks and when I first put the pink i had on she looked like a clown! I ended up having to add more white and more water which lead to the paper starting to warp......there is such a thing as too much water then!  I was using water colour paper but the last time I used this stuff was about 12 years ago when i was doing A Level (that made me feel incredibly old).  I didn't give up though, I shaded some more and just thought screw it I'll use my own colours.  This was in no way a reflection on the class, I had just got to the point where it was so completely different than the mermaid on the screen I had to wing it haha!!

It's a little better! I still think the cheeks are a little dark and the edges not soft enough and I'm not sure of the browny red colour around her hairline but it really could have been worse! I'm quite proud of the eyes, eyes have never been my thing.  If you click on the image I think it will go bigger so you will be able to see the detail a little more.

So the things I learnt from this are.....water colour paper is not my friend, I am not very good with water soluble crayons and I really need to check what colours I'll need to use in future :-P

Just before i go here is a picture of a zebra I knitted (Zooey to be precise) for my friends little girl.  She made it safe and sound and is now taking selfie's with her new friends :-)

You can see all my knitted things in my shop Snow Bunny's Knits.  I don't have any toys on there at the moment but you can always email me or leave a comment on here as I'm happy to help wherever I can!!

Well anyway that's it for now! See you all again soon!

Knitting, cross stitching, knitting, cycling, knitting..........

Ha so my plan to even post once a week has gone right out of the window!! I received a request for my biggest commission to date.  Hats, scarves, gloves x2.  I wanted to make it super cute so i decided to add bows....little did I know those bows would become the bane of my life for the next few weeks!! I'm happy to say I'm almost done now (will post pictures once they have been received) and can move on to the next couple of commissions I have!!

I have done some nice things since you last saw me! I went to the Museum in Manchester to see some Mummies.  I love anything to do with Ancient Egypt.  I watch every documentary that comes on TV and Netflix! The exhibition there didn't have much but it was a nice trip anyway! We went to pizza express (mmmm) then did a bit of shopping.

I'm pretty sure I look demented on these photos! Especially the second one :-P My ultimate dream is to go on a Nile Cruise then I can be like Poirot which would incorporate a second of my loves! They are so expensive though that I may never make it.  I guess I'll just have to visit all the museums to see all the Mummies!!

Oh I also got a new bike.  It is my new pride and joy.  It's a mountain bike but its the most girlie mountain bike you can imagine :-p It's been fun cycling around the local parks and waterfront.  It's a good few km if you go there an back.  Hopefully we can fit some more in before the ice appears! I suppose autumn is not the best time to buy a bike!!

The bike is a little sparkly if you look closely! I had to try and find a helmet that didn't make my head look massive, this was the best one I could find although not as cute as my bike haha!

I haven't had a chance to work on my mermaid for ages :-( I've been waiting for my dylusions inks to arrive (which they finally have) then I had to get some flesh coloured paint which I finally got yesterday! Hopefully this weekend will be a weekend of painting!! I need to make more time to do arty things but I always end up knitting until 10/11 in the night!! Must knit faster!!

And finally here is a picture of my precious cross stitch that I have been working on since August.  It's taking me a looonngggg time to do but I'm looking forward to seeing what it looks like in the end.  I am determined to actually finish a cross stitch before I start a new one!

Well that's all for now folks :-) I'm off to get my breakfast and start my knitting jobs for today!!

Mermaids, tangles and knitting OH MY!

I was supposed to be getting better at Blogging but I have in fact gotten worse! I tell myself I will Blog every other day but every other day I seem to have a million and one things to do!!

Well anyway here I am now! I've had a nice couple of weeks, met up with a few friends, watched the Tour of Britain (cycling) as it whizzed past the bottom of my street. I seem to live in a good place for events.  I live close to two parks...events always happen in parks, and off a really long straight road which is good for carnivals and the like.  I really enjoy going as its a nice community feel!

This is us waiting for the Cyclists and then being amazed by how fast (and how close) they were going!! It was pretty cool! I don't know if you can tell but I've also had my hair done! It's not reddish anymore! It's not staying like this either, this is just the colour it went after I stripped the hair dye off my hair! I like it though so that's OK!

I've been working on a few commissions and secret knitting projects lately too.  It's been fun but stressful as I really want to get it right!!

The top one is a monogrammed pair of booties for a friend! I really enjoyed making those because they didn't take too long and it's a bit different than what I usually do.  The second photo is for a secret project that i can't reveal just yet but it's for too gorgeous little girlie's :-) The third photo is a hand warmer I made yesterday.  The wool is so soft and I LOVE the colour! I'm tempted to keep it myself but I'm hoping to add it to Snow Bunny's Knits soon!

I have also managed to squeeze in some of my art classes from Willowing which I'm very happy about as I've been dying to do them! I'm currently working on a mermaid, I've literally never attempted a mermaid so this is new ground for me and I'm really liking it!

I feel like she looks better in person but I'm pretty pleased with her so far! I'm just trying to decide on the best way to cover up her boobs :-P I could do a typical seashell bra or a friend suggested star fish! I'm not entirely sure how I would manage that but I can give it a go.  The next step is to add some colour...exciting! Speaking of colour, I added some to my tangle picture I've been working on. 

I haven't quite worked out what I'm doing with it yet but it's getting there! I'm hoping to work on more complicated tangles in the future, I LOVE entangles and any doodle style drawing when there is loads going on!

Anyway that's me for now! Hopefully i will get better at Blogging one day :-P 

Tangle Time

I haven't written a post in a little too long! I wanted to try and post at least once a week but time seems to be passing by at breakneck speed these days! Anywho I've been a busy little bee preparing to reopen my Etsy shop....which never actually closed but didn't have any stock in for a while!

I opened it back in 2010 and I did manage to make a few sales through it! I also sold some things in person but then my Dad died and my partner left me then my Mum died and I just didn't have the heart to even think about it! But now it's back and I've had much more time to work on it now!

Snow Bunny's Knits

That's a little sample of one of my scarves! I'm adding a scarf a day at the moment.  I'm also going to (hopefully) be making hats and hand warmers and things too! I might be able to take a couple of commissions to so if you see a pattern you like but want a different colour just drop me an email (snowbunnysknits@gmail.com) I'm always willing to have a look and see if I can accommodate you lovely people :-)

I've also been working on some zentangles.  I was using quite small paper and a quite think nibbled pen and I've discovered this doesn't work well for me.  I've now bought bigger paper and a Sakura Micron pen (best thing EVER) and I'm pleased with the results! I've bought some online classes too but I never seem to have time to sit down and do them! I'm in the process of making a Rainbow Mermaid and I just signed up for a Book worm girl...I like her because she is wearing glasses :-P 

I think I'm getting better but i find them quite relaxing to do which is always a good thing! One last thing before i go, it would have been my Mum's Birthday today.  I don't find these days any more difficult than every other day but it is a day that i remember specific times we had together.  It's only been a year or so since she was taken from me and sometimes I still go to txt her something I know she would be interested in or find funny. Here is a picture of us from when i was about 6 :-P

Until next time take care everyone :-)

Happy Mail

I do love my computer and I do love the Internet (the funny and good bits not the mean and nasty bits) but what I really REALLY love is getting things in the post! Not bills and junk mail but parcels and letters and cards! I love it even more when I'm not expecting it......

Meet Wonky Cat!! He looks a little like my Mums cat Loki! He arrived this morning completely unexpectedly from the lovely  Carmen over at Whoopidoo...ings.  She is a fabulous artist, an inspiration to me and my friend! WE have never met and more than likely never will.....this isn't me being negative, we met online we chat online and we live fairly far apart.....but she has helped me a lot over the last couple of years! THANK YOU CARMEN YOU WONDERFUL PERSON!

A few weeks a go I also received some happy mail from Yvonne at Do more with less! It was a little card just to say hello but it warmed my heart so much! And its such a cute little card!

I love Yvonne's Blog too, its so inspirational, she has some serious skills with a scrapbook layout! I tried scrap booking a while back but i couldn't find my flow :-P So thank you Yvonne for cheering me up and making me smile!!

Not much news to report on the art front! I've been super busy and never seem to have time to sit down and put much effort in...this makes me sad! I did buy a book on zen-tangles (I have to write it like that because auto correct insists its not a word grrrr) which I am planning to use when I only have a few mins to sit and breathe!

Anywho, take care and have a lovely week!

Cross stitch crazy

Last weekend I went to Wales for a little break, typically it rained for 1.5 of the days, it wasn't just showers either it was massive downpours! My original plan had been to draw but i discovered that I don't like drawing in front of people and in a caravan you can't really get away from them!! On the first day we did manage a trip to a Garden Centre which had a craft section! That's when I saw the lovely Geisha cross stitch and i thought "Yes i want to do this".

I love cross stitch, I always have done but I never seem to manage to finish one.  Not a proper detailed one like this! My first cross stitch was in junior school and was a Christmas pudding place mat.  I've also completed a couple of children's ones including a dog like Lady from lady and the Tramp and various other animals.  This time I am determined i will finish this cross stitch!!

This is what I have so far! Not a lot to show for about 8 hours work but I'm very pleased with it! The day i finish this will be a good day! I haven't made many mistakes either, just the occasional stitch out of place when my eyes were going funny from looking at the chart all day! But I don't think you can tell!

I've almost finished Zooey the Zebra too! I have embroider a face on, which I'm honestly not sure about but I'm hoping it will look better when i put the mane on today! I'm very critical of my stuff though so maybe it actually does look OK :-P

She has a pink felt patch on each of her hooves and in her ears! I really like how this looks.  You'll be able to pick whatever colour you like if you buy one and I'm even hoping to start using pretty fabrics too!  If you are interested in anything I have knit then please don't hesitate to email (snowbunnysknits@gmail.com) or comment and we can try and work something out! Eventually these will all go in to my Etsy shop :-)

I've also started an online art class with Willowing at ning (I can't actually ring the address at the moment which is terrible but when i do i will add it!).  It is to draw a rainbow mermaid which is as delightful as it sounds.  I'm pretty rusty at sketching and stuff so i decided to just practise with the face for now!

This is what I have so far.  It's only in a little sketchbook at the moment because I'm just practising.  Whimsies are really cute with big head and exaggerated features which is why her eyes are so far apart and low down.  I will keep you up to date on my progress!!

That's it for today, I'm off to meet my auntie for a nice catch up, see you all soon!

Progress report....

Before I went away from Wales I had a literal blank canvas and a big idea! I always have big ideas but they never usually amount to much or they don't come out quite right! Well I no longer have a blank canvas........

This is a terrible picture but I just needed you to all see that I actually did draw on my canvas! The trouble is its awful quality! It's bumpy, not textured like textured paper but there are actual bumps in places! I have no idea if my posca pens will work or if I should just bite the bullet and go for paints! My actual plan is to buy a better canvas or paper or soothing and use this design on it and prime over this and use it for another idea I had! It's based on the idea behind my little shop....Snow Bunny's Knits (the link is at the side of this post), there isn't anything in there yet but there will be one day! I'm hoping to get some visitors who will let me know what they think :-P

Other works in progress are actual things for my little shop! First up is Zooey Zebra, she will be a present for my best friends little girls birthday (bit of a mouthful) so I'm working very hard to make her perfect!

I probably should have moved my tesco vouchers out of the shot first but originally this was just to show my friend my progress!! All I have to work on now is the mane and then she will be getting pink felt inside her ears and on her hooves so you know she's a girl!

For those interested you can order this in any colour combo you like and with any colour felt in the ears and on the hooves! You can also name he/she whatever you like! If anyone is interested you can contact me at snowbunnysknits@gmail.com or though Etsy since I haven't officially listed her yet!

I have made a promise to myself to make my days more structured and to do a bit of something relaxing in the evenings unless I have a special deadline I need to meet! I have some online art classes i will be starting shortly and I'm quite excited to get the old (and I mean very old) creative juices flowing!!