Seagull design...

I was asked to make a seagull based on a character in a proposal for film funding. The person involved wanted to bring the character along for their interview, which must have worked, as they got the funding. Watch this space!



Shown beside the cat for scale (btw my cat is quite large!)

The original drawing

New baby illustration...

Quirky Creatures Workshop...

I am like a craft goddess now! I did a one day workshop with Textile Workshop Dublin on Saturday. I completed their embroidery course and really wanted to learn how to use my sewing machine. I've had it for two years and any time I have tried to use it, I have failed!

It was a great day all round. Learned to use the sewing machine and made three quirky creatures! As modeled by Edward.

I used fabric markers on the owl to draw his front. I also used them on the bird, which was stuffed with lavender. The bear looks more like a rhino, so I am going to rip him apart and redo him, rounded corners are hard on the aul sewing machine!!

Again, excuse the crappy phone photos, I'll get better ones up soon.

This is knit...

I have started my knitting course at This is Knit, the first piece we are doing is a scarf. So learnt to cast on, knit and purl! Apparently we get to knit a matching hat.. watch this space!!

Excuse the crappy quality of the photo - taken with my phone. My camera crapped out on me...

Jewellery Design course...

I recently completed a jewellery design course with the lovely ladies at Irish Design Shop, and I have to say I have a new found respect for these metal working geniuses. I really didn't know what I wanted to do and they were very patient! After two days of sawing, filing, soldering and relentless sanding, I came away with three pieces. Two rings and a brooch. I really enjoyed the time I spent there, and can't believe that I did so much in just two days. Well worth it!

Their blog for the courses can be found here.

Dome ring - I made the ring, the domed a piece if silver, soldered them together and spray painted the dome.



Square ring - I made the ring, soldered on a rectangle piece of silver, cut out the inside circle. Repeated for other side, soldered on the sides and filled it with resin.





Piglet Brooch - sawed the piglet out of copper, soldered on the pin and spray painted him.

Rose, The Year of the Ox...

So here is the completed picture, I hope she likes it!

Rosebud gets her picture...

Finally, it only took me a year to get the finger out and paint a picture for my niece, Rose. She is over a year old now. Better late than never!!! I have included my sketches here and some photos of the various stages in the process.

New year, new resolutions!

Well we are halfway through January and I have not broken my resolutions yet! I am off the smokes for good (and booze for a month) and feel pretty chuffed with myself. I decided that giving up stuff is well and good, but this year needs to be about learning new skills. So I am booked in with This is knit for a beginners knitting course in February. I used to love knitting when I was younger, so am looking forward to it. Another course I am booked into with the lovely ladies in Irish Design Shop, is a beginners jewellery course. I'm doing this in March. So that should keep me busy for the next few months.

I bought five bibs in Mothercare and embroidered them for my beautiful niece Rose, for her first birthday. I never took any photos though, so will have to ask my sister to get a few snaps! Santa was very kind to me this year and I got a Cath Kidston sewing box. So it's been put to good use!