Blackberries and Butterflies

We went to look at butterflies in the meadow and discovered the blackberry bushes had started to ripen.



So we munched on tasty berries while we looked at the pretty meadow.



Some of the berries were a bit tart.



This fella posed so nice for us.



You can even see its tongue!

Crochet ~ Unicorn Horns

Meet the two newest members of my super cute amigurumi gang. I'm really enjoying coming up with some new amigurumi. I haven't been putting much planning into them, just picking some colours and seeing what happens.



Now I need to figure out what their names are. And probably add a few new members too, it's kind of addictive.

The Anti-Social Club ~ Little

This giant cutie is looking through a little window for this weeks Anti-Social Club. The window frame is an old Easter biscuit box from Marks and Spencer, I've had it on my desk for ages (since Easter...) waiting to use it as a frame. I actually didn't stick these together because I thought it was a shame to have so much of the painting covered by it for it to be permanent. I might use it again for something else.



Here's the full painting. He's pleased to see you.

Illustration ~ Birthday Sunflowers

The card I made for my Grandad this year. He's turning 89 today. That's kind of impossible to imagine.

Sketchbook ~ 100 Days

I've seen a lot of people doing various 100 days projects lately and fancied doing my own. I thought I'd do 100 days of self portraits. Gets me drawing everyday, practise at drawing people (even if it is me every time) and it'll work like a bit of a diary to look back at. These are a few from the first 7 days. There's been a theme, humid and hot.

 

Crochet ~ Mystery Cutie

pics from my instagram

I've spent this weekend with one long headache because of the humidity and then there was a storm this afternoon with so much rain it started to come in our house (nothing at all dramatic as far as rain in house, just a little troublesome) and then the toilet started bubbling which was weird and any possible problems with a toilet will cause only stress.
Anyway, it's all actually fine now just the added stress on top of a sore head at the time. All it means is that I simply didn't get all the things done that I wanted to but I did add a zip to a pop tart pouch I made a while ago so it's all ready for a test run and I also made this little blue fella.



I'm not sure what he is yet (except super cute) he just appeared out of my hook without any proper thought. He seems to have enjoyed the rain at least. I'll have to find out what his name is. I think he might be a bear...

Fingers crossed for the humidity to just stop it and then back to more productive days.

Patricia

We've made a friend. This is Patricia, she visits a couple of times a day, quite often at meal times when we're in the kitchen. We've taken quite a liking to having her about, the bird table is right next to the living room and kitchen windows so you can get a really good look at her while she eats which is great for my pigeony fascination. There are lots of pigeons out the back but she's the only one that visits the table. She's so pretty. Ah, Patricia.

Sketchbook ~ Tampons and Toast

Self portrait with tan line feet.

With all the nail fuss these days why have I never seen nails painted a different colour on the underside? I hate having long nails so steal the idea, I wanna see it.

I clearly managed the best comic ever there, I may as well stop trying.

Conker Noir

Will came home from his run the other day with a gift, a black conker. I was amazed. He found it in the river. It's so black, it's really odd.



It has joined the little group of treasures on my desk.

Crochet ~ My Neighbour Totoro

It's been about 2 years I think since I first designed a crochet amigurumi Totoro and I decided it was time for an improved version. It's quite satisfying to see the difference between the two, it's nice to know I'm getting better at something that I put so much time and effort into.

 


These guys are listed in my etsy and folksy.

Illustration ~ Tucked In

I was on my way somewhere a couple of weeks ago and this guy crossed the road in front of me. I was wandering along with a red, sweaty face dying from heat exhaustion and he was sauntering along with a jumper tucked into his shorts. I have no idea how he wasn't overheating. I think stylish types must have some sort of inner temperature control so they can look however they want no matter the weather. Anyway, my lack of any ability to stand the heat envy made me remember him and I doodled him in my sketchbook later that day and today I did this painting of him and all his heat resistant glory.

Sketchbook ~ Dumplings

wednesday the ninth

I watered the plants.



And found out the oak tree was actually growing.



We went into the city for free iced coffee and found this cool shutter.



I really want to know where these stairs used to go.



Good colour combinations make me happy.

Post Birds Castle Visit Part 2

I really like the displays in the museum that show how the taxidermists may have had their work areas. Makes me wish bits of my house looked more like this.



Will hanging out with a skeletal matey.



There is a piece called FINE by Kate MccGwire in the natural history area of the museum as part of the Birds exhibition. It's quite incredible, made all of feathers lying so perfectly. I, with my limited actual photography knowledge, found the glass case far too reflective for a photo but you can see it here on Kate's website. Even though I didn't get a good image of FINE itself I really like the images I got once I realised I should just concentrate on the reflections and the piece as a whole for the photos.




To end, here's an overheard conversation from this castle visit:
"Are you into collecting anything?"
"No, you?"
"No. I'm into getting good at stuff."
"Exactly."


My posts about the Birds exhibit and the first set of photos from after are here and here.