The weather has improved, yippee!

OMG SUNSHINE!!

Time to get on with pegbags; two have just been sold so will need some more in the shops. At least I can take pictures of them outside now. Here are some guys that have been waiting for their photo shoot for ages.

I made a cute little soldier but needed to decide which colour eyes.

I have tried a couple just as normal one- sided ones.

They were originally for a shop, so I was trying to cut down the time it takes to produce one. I like them, but I’m not sure if I should just abandon the double sided/opening ones which were the original concept.

It just does not seem worth selling through a retail outlet as the mark-up needed means either they become (what I think of as ) very expensive pegbags; or I work for peanuts. As it is they take about 3-4 hours to make. I am not sure why; it seemed to take less at first, but I guess they were slightly more simple. Now, with inserted beaks

and shaped padded feet

(and don’t get me started on dinosaur spines)

They just take longer. But it is hard not to make a creature when the fabric shouts so loudly at one to make him or her, LOL.I am still working from the fabric, up- as it were! I have loads of ideas of creature shapes but really can’t go buying more fabric when I can hardly move for “the Stash”…. so I am putting lots on hold ( but it is VERY hard when you have an idea, not to rush out, get fabric and make Mr Fox and Mr Badger). Sob!

Not to mention all the other toys and crochet all orbiting in a creative space holding pattern; which sometimes feels like it has slipped and is around my neck strangling me…

If only I had a house slave like the Romans…

and a dictation slave…

and a knitting slave…

HMM

Well must stop all this and get on with some sewing of the aforementioned pegbags.

I would love to see them in a real shop-
but the whole thing seems easier on-line; plus there is a personal connection to most people I have sold to, which I do enjoy ( even if it eats up more time ” it’s worth it ” ).

I would love to hear any comments on these subjects; selling and managing creative flow! Then I won’t feel like it is only me with the angst!

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Giving Birth

I wrote this a few weeks ago; and didn’t publish it, because I needed to look for the photos. I just found it scribbled on some scrap paper, and thought I really should just post it up anyway, because today is my last little baby’s birthday.

It was pretty traumatic at the time as I had eclampsia and she was 6 weeks early. Delivered by a real, full on emergency, “emergency caesarean” in the nick of time to save both our lives. A real little 3pound 6oz miracle. I didn’t get to see her for a day , so I didn’t feel like I had a baby at all until I did; anyway I guess it explains some of the feelings I have about creating. Hmm interesting…

It was some Spanish friends who gave her her first nickname “Muñequita”( Little dolly)!

My other babies arrived in a more normal fashion – also miracles of course, but just in a more normal way. LOL

So here it is:

When you make a creature – and you get to the last bit where you turn it right-side out, complete, that always feels (to me) like it’s being born then!
I know, nothing like as full on as really giving birth LOL.

However when I see the raggy object pop out of its bundle into something resembling a creature of some kind… well it feels like it has arrived – been born if you like. Of course it needs filling; or button eyes or something; but that moment when I see what I have made for the first time, right side out and all the bits attached, is when the thing becomes a creature, for me. I’m pretty sure I am not the only one who thinks like this. 🙂

Yesterday I “birthed” 4 pegbag creatures, the day before three “Owls”. Phew.

At least no actual pain involved with these babies!

Anyway; Happy Birthday Little Dolly.

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Tinkerbell went to the ball…

Well – Tinkerbell did go to the ball, or Never Never Land…

The dress was a success, and has therefore moved off the ***(insert expletive of choice) *** sewing list, to the “I made it, yeah!” list.

Just a tip, if using a (stretchy) leotard as a base for a (gathered and stiff) tutu, looks like a good idea; make sure the model is on hand to fit it on at all times! Otherwise you need a willing pair of hands to hold it into stretched mode whilst you fight with the gathers to pin them on. Not to mention while you herringbone petal points all round.
Such fun! Not really. More a labour of love.
The shoes were a labour of love too, but much more fun and we all agree looked fabulous. If only you could wear shoes like this everyday… then we would all feel like Tinkerbell.

I hand crocheted the pompoms with eyelash yarn. They were made as little spheres and then I stuffed them; I think they worked better then normal pompoms but eyelash yarn is weird to work with, in the end I was going on blind faith because I could hardly see the stitches for fronds…

And then…

There were some lovely left overs – lots of bits of bright green sparkly net (tulle) and beads. Some of the bits of net (those not trodden ALL around the house) were put to good use in the last event – “Trees”.

We had tree sprites, leaf bowls and lollypop trees.

The latter two were made with leaf rubbings from real leaves collected onsite. All pleasantly eco minded – the leaves were placed under old envelopes and rubbed with crayons to get the imprint of their veins; the beautiful patterns looked great against the blue print inside the envelopes.

The “bowls” were lots of bits of packing card from Ikea, helpfully cut into cross shaped disks!
They use them to protect stacked china bowls, so it was quite nice to give them a new life as bowls themselves.

We also made miniature trees with the imprints and wooden twigs and sticks;

but my favourite was the tree sprites. I have always loved making little dolls from found natural “found objects” and also from wooden clothes pegs. This time they were both combined and the children made some gorgeous little creatures.

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Beetles and Matchboxes.

Met a nice lady on Folksy – we swapped lantern ideas, her illustrated calico ones are one of those “simple-but-oh-so-effective-why-didn’t-I-think-of-that-before” ideas.

http://folksy.com/items/519253-tealight-jar-cover

It made me think of making my paper lace lantern with stiffened fabric – hmmm watch this space.
And
I’ve sold another fabric beetle.

And a Beetle Matchbox too.

I have always loved A. A. Milne’s poem “Forgiven” about a little boy who has a pet beetle which his nursemaid accidentally liberates from its matchbox. I did a workshop with this poem and bug in a box idea and I enjoyed it so much I went on to make my own version (slightly more refined LOL). This is what the children made:-

And this is what I made:-

I was pleased with the nice quiver on the beetle when the box is opened.

Making the Beetle Matchbox was a bit of a side trip from the matchbox accordion I am working on now, a Dark-Dark-Story.

Yes I know Mary-Mary etc still unfinished but I was inspired by Halloween…

Yes I know that has past… but I was on a roll, and it is nearly finished. Anyhow it is a story book “not just for Halloween but for life”.

My Nan told it to me; and everyone goes “oh – yes…” when I mention it. So I think it’s fairly well known. I will try to get it listed today Here it is. . Then maybe I will have time to get on and finish the other two.

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Buster isn’t hungry right now…

Every picture tells a story!
couldn’t resist this one
look away now if you are arachnophobic…
luckily I’m not or I would be as traumatised as Buster ( my first little character pegbag).
We were all watching TV, and Buster had just remarked on how a snackette would be nice…
when SUDDENLY…
The worlds fastest spider dashed across the TV and wall, and around the corner, and straight into… poor doggies MOUTH!
Where it proceeded to sit VERY STILL.
Which was rather obliging of it- although a bit mean of me because Buster was transfixed in horror-
as you can see by my first photo (sorry about quality- took quick point and click shot first in case “S“ moved).

However I took advantage of the fact that both of them seemed to be in a state of shock, to take a couple more snaps- otherwise no one would believe me when I said it was a BIG spider!

One picture is quite clear- you can even see his leg hairs!

Anyway Mr WG was delegated to remove “S”- and to carry out this brave action; he helpfully returned with a yoghurt pot!
[Hmm- I absolutely am not going to comment on boys and their well known great ability to judge size!]
I went and got a MIXING BOWL.
Oh all right, a small one, ( Family Christmas pudding size to be exact).
Mr WG would not pause (or pose “S”) for any pictures- but I did get this blurry one, so you can see “S” went off in style, and quite unharmed….

and legged it PDQ by all accounts.
Mr WG was rather impressed by the turn of speed as he had not seen the original dash across our “feature wall”.

( Incidentally, the latter absolutely not OUR taste; we inherited it. It is fast approaching an age where it counts as “an original period feature” and working in the heritage world I feel guilty about GETTING RID OF IT! sigh. )

By the way- if anyone is interested in what a pegbag called Buster is doing hanging on the wall…- Buster is was my first toy dog as a baby; he is the exact faded teal colour of the old blanket I used to make the first character pegbag. He ended up as the inspiration for the shape and name too. So how could I sell Buster Pegbag now?

He was just hanging there as I’m revisiting that initial look; I feel the latter pegbags have gone in a different direction and I want to see which I prefer. Hmm

Any comments anyone? The others are on the website, http://www.wonkygiraffe.com or in the shops http://wonkygiraffe.etsy.com and http://wonkygiraffe.folksy.com

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Some Sales …

The shops have been busier lately – which is good…

Some pegbags and earbud cosies have sold. Bizarrely two things, almost at the same time on the same day to different ‘Suzanne’s – how weird! Especially as I was just off to visit a Suzanne too…

Curiouser and curiouser as Alice said.
Maybe there is a Suzanne asteroid whizzing over in transit to my second house… or something.

I also sold the Baa Baa Black Sheep matchbox accordion. I was very pleased, but a bit sad about that too.

It is all such a nice feeling when a bit of my ‘art’ stuff sells. However I have only made that one, sometimes I make two or three variations of an idea, and I now realise I didn’t actually show it to anyone here; oh well at least I have some pictures…

And the lady who bought it liked it…

Maybe I will get some time this week to finish some more matchboxes. Alice, Mary and the Ladybirds are all languishing together in one of my work boxes. Note, that was ‘one of my work boxes’. I am not telling you how many more than one I have; but the house is a veritable hub of UFOs and WIPs (unfinished-objects and work-in-progress, to those unfamiliar with these modern knitting abbreviations).

I almost forgot; I sold another Punch and Judy matchbox…

…and one of my Art Activity PDFs to a great fan of mine.

One of the really nice things about selling online is that you get to make contact with so many nice people.

So I am having a little celebration of my own…
But first I am off to help make a Tinkerbell outfit! As you do…

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Last Minute Creations

Hijacked into making a ”1970’s” dress with a only a few days notice.

Luckily I remembered this pattern from my vintage stash…

…so sometimes the inability to throw away “useful stuff” is…well, useful!
Lovely Mum helped with the shopping, choosing and sewing up; I had (scary) cutting & fitting.

I had to use another pattern for the sleeves, which seemed to fit OK, but (according to exasperated, sewing, Mum) did not fit when seamed! She worked some magic and they looked great to me. They were in, and there was a seam – albeit a tiny one. She shoots, she (lucky rebound) scores!

Cross country delivery to me for hemming and headband making etc. Yes it did look like a bit like a blouse after this, but that was the specified length!

Followed by a cross country dash for the “Cinderella shall go to the disco party” bit.

And she looked F.A.B ..

And will possibly (if she notices) kill me for blogging this!
Not really.
The texted “thank-you” as we arrived home was an aawww moment.
Quite fun really… maybe I should start making clothes again?

Oh and also a bit of last minute fun, a “card box” for birthday Alice. Starting from my “Alice in Wonderland” story box, but using some blooming lucky, spot on, photos from facebook – I could not have staged a much better fit.

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BeetleJuice

I’ve been thinking about what the blog is really for, hence the long gap.
I’ve decided what I really want to do is talk about making things art and projects, not witter on about the weather (although the snow was an exception and inspiration). Which reminds me, my Narnia Paper Boxes are languishing in a half developed state… mmm.
So here is what I have been doing recently.

I made a couple of little stuffed fabric beetles for the shop and sold one to a very nice lady in Texas, who then ordered 4 more ! We obviously share a similarly wacky sense of humour, and to cut a long story short, she christened the first one “Agatha” and since then the name has stuck, we are all calling them ‘the Agatha’s’ now (a new collective noun).

I’ve just sent them off, although not packed like this!

I’d put them in this matrioshka box my friend gave me and couldn’t resist this picture. When I looked up they looked for all the world like they were enjoying an afternoon on the river in a little rowing boat.
I quite like bugs for inspiration; although not so much close up and personal! When I found this old (50’s ? 40’s ?) curtain, it immediately said “beetle” to me (I know, I am weird like that) and wait ‘ ‘til you see the red curtain! Ladybird anyone?

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Sew a Softie – Owl Cat Thing

Well that’s the snow gone- back to the normal January sog now. Grim. This is also NOT helping with the light for taking photos; anytime after 12ish there is really noticeable blue cast, and by 2pm you can forget it- unless you want everything in “shades of cyan”. This is annoying ‘cause I need to take step by step ones for the owl/cat thing kit. 

Which,  by the way, is driving me mad. It’s my own fault, instead of just popping it in a box with one info sheet and a pattern I’ve done my usual OTT thing. Almost on it’s own it’s kind of morphed into a proper lesson with loads of creative variables! I ‘m realising the main element of my workshops is probably me; and I can’t replace that, even with loads of instructions. Hopefully the photos (even in blue tones) will help. Meanwhile I’m still typing… 

I want to make a kit that is not just a “do it this way” boxful, but something fun which gives creative choice and AND basic skill support. (Now I sound like a helpdesk!) 

Anyway here is a sneak preview of some “we prepared earlier”… 

Owl Cat Thing

 

The gallery has been started with an animated gif of some of the variations:- 

SewASoftie Flickr Gallery.

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Through the wardrobe and out of the kitchen

 

Happy New Year 2010-    

Twenty Ten – how sci-fi that sounds!    

  This year Wonky is going to try to get to grips with typing-     

not easy when you’re a dyslexic giraffe!    

If only I typed as fast as I speak…    

Still in holiday mode here; well actually just achieving holiday mode, after a rather exhausting Christmas! (Nice though). I don’t think I’ve ever spent so much time preparing food in the kitchen. This may be the norm in some households but the kitchen is a room I’d happily dispense with 90% of the time. I dislike cooking so much that my daughter bought me this fridge magnet for my birthday a couple of days ago!      

I was going to make a delicious dinner - then I remembered I don't cook

 

  I love it; it made me laugh so much. Actually I do, of course, cook. Reasonably well too I’m told (usually by desperate hungry people). I just moan about it so much everyone is beginning to think I don’t/can’t. Well, I did excel myself with daily spreads of home made goodies this year, or rather last year, which is why it only now feels like holiday time. I actually cleaned and tidied (OK removed tons of chaotic clutter) as well before Christmas; only so we could actually eat at the table and sit somewhere! So now I can enjoy some crochet or knitting- I daren’t get the sewing out quite yet as I’ve promised to start this year with starting to de stash….   

cue horror music… “THE LOFT”.    

  I’m also going to add these photos of the beautiful Narnia like, snow laden woods behind our house just before Christmas. I know lots of places get this all the time but for me it is a rare treat so I took masses of photos. I hope to use some in an art project soon- Narnia theatre boxes for the shop maybe.    

Through the gate and up into the wood

       

This beauty was the reward for sitting in the car in heavy (well, heavy for here) snowfall for the 4 hours it took to drive home, the evening before. Out of a car park and a mile along down the road! [High Wycombe was on the countrywide news as it was completely gridlocked; no one could get up, or down our steep hills!] It was miserable at the time- but the next day we met lots of people out enjoying the unexpected “proper” snow- all with stories of their experiences!! So it was worth it; especially this sweet vintage sledge,      

vintage wooden sledge with metal runners and red motif

 

  and this one my son and Mr WG “wizzarded” up, on our kitchen floor, the instant it snowed – now that is a good use of the kitchen.     

homemade sledge

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