Planning...

I have spoken a lot about the crafts that I do but I haven't really gotten around to mentioning that I also love to do a bit of painting and drawing.  I began drawing at an early age.  I won my first art competition at the age of 5.  I remember quite clearly that I won a book about pandas.  I loved that book.  I have no idea where it is now but I still remember it fondly.  I think that book might have been the thing that sparked my fascination with Japan and Japanese culture.  But that's a whole other blog post right there ;o)

I was very into art in school.  In high school I entered an inter-school competition and won 2nd prize for my painting of a tiger.  I don't have that painting anymore but I wish I did.  After I left school I moved away from art and started studying computer stuff so that I could get a good job.  But I kept dabbling with my paints in the background.  In 2000 I did a short course run by my local (at the time) gallery called 'watercolour for beginners'.  I. LOVED.IT.  I did some more painting and drawing stuff when I went to TAFE to study design in my early 30's.  Then I went to university to do a science degree and the art once again went on the shelf.

Lately I have been thinking about my art.  I love the crafts, don't get me wrong, but nothing feels like creating something with a brush or pencil.  I REALLY miss painting.  I have so many ideas for things I'd like to paint.  Sadly, I don't have any room where I am to set up my easel (what? Of COURSE I own an easel :oP).  But it has got me thinking about where I want my life to go in the next few years. 

Yes, I'll always do the craft thing and hopefully I will keep developing my ideas there. But I have BIG plans for my soft sculptures.  Big BIG plans.  Sadly, I just don't have any training in sculpture and I'd really like to take some time to dust off my painting and drawing skills (and maybe develop some new ones along the way).  Sooooo...I've decided to go back to university.  Part time if I can.  I'm going to apply for the Bachelor of Fine Arts at University of Newcastle for the beginning of next year.  This means I'll get to learn some new painting techniques but it also means that I can take some directed courses in soft sculpture. Now that's something to get excited about :oD

Here are some photos of work I've done in the past for you to enjoy.  Please remember that these are all original artworks of mine and as such they are protected by international copyright and intellectual property laws.  Please don't reproduce them ANYWHERE.  You can link to them but please dont steal my work.  Thanks.

Above are three charcoal nudes that I did in 2001.  I had never used charcoal before this and I loved it.  I really love the charcoal nude.  There is an elegance to it that you don't find in nudes done with other mediums.

These are the watercolours I did during my beginners course.  They are in order from first to last.  I had never had a proper lesson in painting before this and I really enjoyed it.

 

Thanks for stopping by to see whats happening.  I'll be back soon. :oD

For entertainments sake

(Sung vaguely to the tune of Wild Thing by The Troggs)

Penny Fleece

You make my fingers bleed

You make everything, greasy

Penny fleece, washing you brings me peace

You're so soft and so fluffy

Penny Fleece, I think I love ewe

Ok, yes, admittedly I got the general idea (song) from another blog but I put my own spin on it (if you'll pardon the pun).

Panicky passengers and a world record attempt

Well a lot has happened in the last few weeks so I figured it was time for an update.

Not long ago I developed a toy that I called 'Panicky Passengers'.  They have, happily proven to be incredibly popular and I've managed to develop two more styles to add to my range.  Sadly I'm having trouble getting some decent felt so I cant offer them on the web store just yet but they will be available for pre-order as soon as I can solve my felt supply issues.  Here are the ones I have made (sorry, already sold) so far.

I hope to be able to offer these in assorted colour combinations at some point but this will obviously depend on what felt I can get my hands on.

I also recently started making some graphics for the new FB timeline layout which I've made available to anyone who wants to use them.  You can find them here.

I have made a couple of new Feltoonies (TM). One was a small yellow cat sculpture with a cute butterfly on its nose (sorry, already sold) and the other is a cute little Grandmotherly Kitty with a hand knitted shawl and a crocheted bag of knitting supplies.  She is still available over on my web store if you are interested and there are lots of progress pics in the WIPs folder on the FB page if you'd like to see her taking shape.  I'm  very happy with how she turned out.

Over the Easter long weekend I traveled down to Sydney to meet up with my fabulous friend Charly from IxCHeL and some other lovely ladies.  Charly organised a new world record attempt at the Royal Easter Show for our team which was so much fun.  Here is a video of what we did.

It was LOADS of fun and it was so awesome to hang out with all the girls and play with the bunnies.  I think we should get together as often as possible. Lol.  Please pop over to Charlys blog to read all about our world record attempt.  While you're there, why dont you snaffle some yummy bunny yarn ;o)

So thats it from me for now.  I'm off to work on a new knitted project which I will hopefully be able to show to you next time :oD

Thanks for stopping by 

xoxo

Time for a catch up

I've been busy busy busy lately.  I've been working on some new concepts for my store. Some of which are ready to go and some that still need a little tweaking.  I have a million and one things going on here all at once.  But I'm still managing to find a little spinning time. Priorities people ;o)

I recently designed a terrified looking little bunneh which has suction cups on his hands so he can be attached to your window.  I've called them 'Panicky Passengers' because they look so scared that they should go in the back of my your car. I need to take some better photos of them but atm I dont have a good space for that so here's what I've got.

These guys will go in the store after they've made the trip to Sydney with me in April.  If there are any left.  If there aren't, don't fret, there will be more.  Lots more.

I've been spinning up some huge 200g quantities of yarn.  Generally I just take two 100g braids, spin them and then ply them together.  Obviously this has meant that I've had to acquire a jumbo ball winder so I grabbed one from the most awesome Mandie over at Ewe Give Me The Knits.  As always, brilliant service and a great product.  Here's some of the yarn I've been making...  

My new Strauch Jumbo Ball Winder
Isnt it awesome?

And finally, I've been having a go at super coils.  I tried these once before and didnt quite get them right.  Here is my second attempt.  Followed by my third attempt.

I think I have got them right but while making these I realised I just didn't enjoy the process.  Oh well.  I think I'll use the first lot (150m in total from 512g of fibre O.O) to make a big smooshy cowl.  The second lot is enough for a hat band.  Maybe.

There are obviously lots and lots of other things I've been doing but I haven't got anything at a stage where I'm ready to take photos so I'm afraid they'll have to wait for another post.  Thanks for stopping by for a quick catch up.  See you next time :oD

Surprise!

I have been quietly tinkering away on a dedicated web store for a couple of months now.  Today it went live (twenty seconds ago actually) and to celebrate I'm having a surprise Valentines Day sale.  With a whopping 25% off all hand woven garments.  Be quick or miss out folks.  Happy Valentines Day! <3

www.soulcraftingbyshevi.com