Quinn Knits a Twisted Yarn

Crazy weekend

We are going on holiday with Mum & Dad tomorrow, this has been booked for many many months, long before I knew we would be moving again. The kids are bouncing of the walls with excitement and I'm almost on my knees with exhaustion. Because I started a new job last week (just after deciding I was going to work every hour to get my Etsy shop up and running by march!) I have had little time for packing ( House move packing not holiday!) I also have another job to start straight after half term, so I'll be split three ways with work, but at least the move will be behind me.

I spent Saturday finishing up the painting on the paper clay heads (to be brooches) I had ten painted and ready to varnish when I was called away to view the girls holiday packing (lots of soft toys and not many clothes) I returned to just nine brooches and a dog who had decided to risk his life by eating number ten!!! I can honestly say that was the first time I have had very bad, borderline murderous thoughts towards the 'darling' dog.

still nine have survived and I'll replace the cat as soon as I can. I felt these needed to be worked on this weekend as I won't have time after the holidays. Of course this made packing even more frantic, but I have achieved a lot, the majority is packed and the bathroom & kitchen have been scrubbed. I just need to pack a bag for the holiday and I'm done, or at least I've done all I can for now. I must try to relax as at the moment I just feel very anxious that I am faced with five days where I can't do anything!! also that I'm not earning any money whilst away. It's been so long since I've had a holiday I'm not really getting into the spirit of it am I ?

Well I'm hoping to watch a French thriller now that I'm downloading from i tunes, although if it doesn't hurry up I'll be asleep with my glass of French wine instead. Have a happy week and good holidays for those that are on half term like me, (the other thing I can't do is blog next week, no computers, no tv just fresh air and lots of sleep I hope). xx

Thursday in my Studio

Today was the first day of the holidays for Tom. So after being mildly bribed with a new Astrix book he settled down in my studio whilst I worked. Above is one of the clay heads I painted, she's nearly finished, a bow in her hair and a brooch pin to be added. below are some pictures of the other heads in various stages of completion. Quite a productive day and I was absorbed enough to forget my moving house worries.

Above a mushroom head with the green girl.

As you can see a vast array of work in various stages of completion, I need to plan a big finishing off day, but I'm trying to prioritise what should be finished first for the shop and some things have been delayed because I've run out of some materials ( A shopping day is also needed)

Brooches have been sculpted, dried, sanded, filled, sanded again, painted and finally varnished before fixtures are attached to backs.

Tom spotted my box of origami paper on a shelf and spent most of the afternoon creating paper creatures, everyone was happy even the dog.

Weekend & Wednesday Work

So tired this week. trying to get into a flow with work, moving house and my studio work. So managed to deliver some boxes to the new house, the kids and I went down after school to tidy up boxes and take a peak at the house, kids very very excited. And I did manage to get some studio work done today. I scribbled some ideas for paper clay on the weekend and have been waiting to sample them up.

sculpted and partly sanded, hope to start painting tomorrow. I also spent a good part of the weekend working on the shrink plastic brooches and thinking about packaging (but I mislaid the camera amongst packing, only found this morning to take some pics in studio)

Have to go to bed now, eyes drooping. good night.

In the Studio on a rainy day

Yesterday was a mad run around day (you may have seen my earlier rant about the vets) then it was the bank, Orange (my mobile has a mind of it's own...and mostly that's cranky and uncooperative) then numerous phone calls to the tax office to make sure they have all my details, working status etc and finally the chemist for a cart load of head lice treatments (girls your long hair is beautiful but may look really cool short...what do you think?)

So today after more phone calls and then emails to try and move forward with the move (no joy) I made it to the studio. Exhausted but happy to sit down and put a little time towards my own work. As you can see above my table is becoming a bit cluttered and is crying out for a spring clean.

today dad got some shoes, the girl in a blue hat got a red skirt, lace neck ruff and legs (always useful) I also worked on a series of little birds in paper clay.

And a drawing to finish off.

Oh that boy, you can't believe a word he says!

Early night, work tomorrow, sweet dreams.

Wow! a trip to the vets

Yesterday I had Grayson booked in to the vets for his castration. So we arrived first thing having dropped the kids at school. Whilst in the waiting room I was approached by two members of staff at different times trying to sell me a pet plan where you pay monthly for various treatments such as flea and worm lotions and potions. I explained that I wasn't interested at this time, the staff launched into aggressive sales mode, on and on about the savings I would make despite the fact that my dog was already micro chipped, flea treated and wormed, apparently all these unwanted services can be swapped for dog food (a brand my dog does not eat)

When Graysons name was called I nearly ran with relief into the vets room, the vet would surely be dealing with the business in hand, not making a medical appointment into a commercial opportunity.  well that's when the wow! comes in , he did not let up for one minute. Firstly he told me Grayson only had one descended testicle, I was just about to suggest this obviously meant a half price procedure (joking of course) when he started to tell me about the invasive surgery necessary to retrieve the missing testicle, the cost of the operation was going up and up as the possibility that this missing bit could be lodged deep in Graysons body!

But wait if they went in using traditional methods (and he used a lot of hand gestures at this point to show a large incision being opened) then Grayson would suffer large incisions and a long recovery period probably with added medication, (cue guilt of pet owner) much kinder to opt for keyhole surgery and just add another £100.

So this missing testicle, is it likely to drop in the next few weeks?

No, not after 6 months

Is it necessary to remove it?

This is where I got the Bazooka Ball' scenario (as I've named it) this missing ball will heat up in Graysons body and send out the most insane hormonal/ mating messages to Graysons brain, this testicle will be more potent than any other hence my 'Bazooka Ball' and will result in 'all that unpleasant behaviour' but magnified ten fold...a hundred fold. My head is starting to ache, and I suggest to the vet as we are moving house I may take a couple of weeks to think this through and re schedule, oops! mistake, I am now irresponsible for not getting him castrated (I'm only delaying in view of the more invasive surgery!!) and more guilt, Grayson will get cancer if it's not removed.

So a good time for vet to mention the local (UK) outbreak of parvo virus that has struck down many darling little puppies before their twelve month booster shot, I should probably think about an extra shot, just to be sure, No! (oh you want your puppy to die) well how about some worming tablets (Urban environment very dangerous), I finally back cautiously out of the waiting room having parted with £6.80 for my chewable worm tablet and grasping an armful of paperwork that I promised to read and re consider my refusal to sign up for a pet plan. I felt like I needed a lie down before I tackled the bank, the tax office and my erratic orange mobile service!

I just needed to get this off my chest!! on with more creative stuff in next post.

Baseball stitch

Today I have a couple more pictures of the doll I am working on, the first using the printed faces from my drawings. I also thought I would add a little information on 'the Baseball Stitch' that I have used on her felt trousers. I learnt this stitch in my model making work and use it sometimes with felt on my own creations, it works well with fur and fleece. It's also known as the muppet or Henson stitch, no explanation needed. Below is a close up of the stitch.

I have drawn out some quick instructions, I hope they make sense, it's a little tricky describing how to do a stitch.

Below a view of the whole back of trousers. I like the look of the stitch and keep it visible, in puppet making you can make it almost invisible.

so my yellow bunny bonnet doll is progressing, just pinned together at this stage as I decide how to finish her.

Have a sweet Sunday.

 

An Early Best Valentine ever!

Rosie has been working on this card all morning, It's supposed to be a surprise! But I just couldn't wait!! I promised to forget I'd seen it until Valentines day. I'm now a very happy mummy.

Last bits & pieces before the weekend

Friday was a bit of a mad rush trying to complete some studio work before organising my tool kit and bicycle for work on Monday. I really wanted to sample one of my printed dolls faces (above) before the weekend, I've brought some dress fabric and this doll home to see if I'm inspired as to how she should be completed. I want to add a little colour to her face.

I also completed quite a lot of sewing on the brooches, adding vintage ribbon and lace to some of them. 

Below I embroidered a linen and felt surround for Miko & Molly.

Now it's time to do some packing. I'll leave you with my chilled out pets who are sleeping all around me whilst I type.

Grayson happily occupying the sofa (I'm sure this is probably a big Doggy No No) and below Ziggy  trying out one of my vintage fabric covered cushions. 

Have a lovely weekend.

Fabric Dolls Faces

Above are some drawings I finished today. I'm planning to make some little dolls with these as their faces. I've printed the drawings onto fabric and will sew them onto bodies, although beyond that I haven't got a final 'look' in mind, I'll work on that over the next couple of weeks. Below are some of the brooches I was working on in the studio today. 

the next picture is a more elaborate version of Emmeline with linen, felt, lace and ribbon.

Yesterdays drawings cut out and shrunk.

Putting together some brooch ideas.

Small Drawings

I had a slow start to the day. When I drop the kids at school I often call into Mum & Dads for a coffee on the way to my studio, also as I have no internet access during the day it gives me the opportunity to check on emails before I start work for the day. My parents computer was blowing out air like a small air conditioning unit! I spent a while trying to discover a way to calm the fan down but since system preferences had disappeared as well, I was unable to do anything, it only took me about an hour to admit I had no idea what to do.

I then had lots of phone calls to make, organising starting work next week, and visiting the house we are moving to in a few weeks. Oh and my son was with me after a fall at school yesterday he had a soar wrist and back. Well this is all a bit boring really, just me ruminating on how I got so little done today!

But finally made it to the studio and got some sewing done then home on the train, rushed the girls to gymnastics, cobbled together a supper of dubious nutritional value, bathed two children, fed the animals (all three got cat food tonight as I've run out of dog food!) then sat down with a cup of tea to draw. More ideas for brooches or badges. Results below ready for printing & shrinking.

And that's it for today, I'm still exhausted from too many children in my bed the night before last (nightmares) so I need sleep. Good night.