Giraffes

Wanted to show you what ive been working on last week. I adapted the pattern from one i found online as i didnt really know where to start with making soft toys but its very different from the origional cat pattern so im claiming it as my own now. The fabric is sheets found in a charity shop and i will keep my eyes peeled for more as its a cheap source of vintage fabric.
Im happest with the blue and purple ones and feel like i got the size and expressions best on them. Anyway just wanted to post them for comments or suggestions. They do look a little startled but im hoping it works - what you think?

Oh and these two think that sewing is great fun - im constantly having to retrieve my bits of felt or thread from the mouth of a kitten. Good thing they are cute.

Need some input Renee

Ive been working on these for a while to try and make them look right - im still not sure and when i asked matt he prefered the faces simpler with just the cheeks where as i am leaning towards the ones with the full face- even though they look a tad disapproving. These are two i did last night and ive doctored the second picture so that you can see what i mean by "with just the cheeks"

They are intended for cards and the one on yellow is mounted on a card but im trying to find a way to stop the glue buckleing and also get them right before i make up any more. I was also planning on putting bows under the chin to finish - like this one.

So let me know what you think - that is if you like them at all and if so which variation and any suggestions - will bring them to show you eventually but you know what thats like so thought i would make use of the blog considering i know no one else is reading it at this point.

Well as this blog is pretty much empty and everything im working on at the moment is in a state of flux - I am having fun with trial and error and hoping it will get me something in the end. Thought i would put up this picture of Fanta as she prepares to kill this poor little toy squeaking mouse. Just love the focus in her eyes and that me running around with a camera didnt distract her from the goal.

Inspiration around my life

Well as this is my first attempt and i cant take pictures of the things i have actually made yet i want to post a few things that i love and that inspire me to try my hand at being a crafty person

Firstly it has to be Tiger balm the wonderful panacea for all ills. I love the colours and designs of chinese (well think its actually singaporean) medincine packaging - nothing makes medicine more appealing than a leaping tiger. Acutally i have recently descovered that i have been using an imitation brand called Wild tiger balm (you could understand how you could mistake the two)

But wild tiger balm still goes all out on its packaging and i can get four little tubs for a pound so i have decided to let it go. I keep finding myself peering through the window of Chinese herbal medicine shops in search of new interesting packaging but as of yet im a bit to practical to buy something just for the box.

Next has to be hindu gods in all their many armed glory. I love this line drawing of Ganesh and im still trying to find away to work it into something i make. Again with pictures of Hindu Gods its something about the vibrant colours and costumes - some gods are portrayed as blue or green and why not if your god why should be constrained by human skin color.

The last thing of inspiration has to be something old (since ive already covered new and blue). I love trapseing round charity shops and finding vintage clothing or anything old and shiny really. Any new place is usually judged by the quality of its charity shops - and i have to say loughbourgh is now high on the list after i got the most beautiful seventies wedding dress there two summers ago. So to leave on a sunny note with high hopes for the weekend - and to remind me to dig out the bag of kool aid in the cupboard for my bbq heres an advert i found on Plan 59.com. I was very tempted to order this for our new living room but found something a bit more local in the end.