Crochet and knitting

I have recently discovered crochet and re-learnt how to knit (albeit in a very basic form at the moment!!)

Anyway, I thought that i would share with you my first attempt at actually finishing a crochet creature.... below is the cat that I made for my good friend Kirsten's lovely little boy William.... introducing 'Jess the cat' :)

Here he is in his raw form...




And here he is in all his finished glory...



Not a bad first attempt if i do say so myself!!

Etsy

I decided to take the plunge and make an Etsy Shop, after all, what is the point in making lots of lovely things if they can't be shared with anyone??

Creative Every Day Update

So, I'm sorry to say that I have already fallen off of the creative every day wagon!! Overall I have been much more creative (and generally more productive) over the past few weeks which was one of my new years resolutions, so I'm not feeling so bad about not making something every day as when I haven't been physically making something I have been searching out inspiration and finding things to aid my creativity. I have decided that as part of being creative every day, trying new recipes and looking at other artists work counts towards this as it all feeds my creativity, as it were!! I have joined the Pay it Forward campaign on Facebook to motivate me to make things, so have pledged to make something for 5 friends during 2011. Since the new year I have done the following things........ baked a banana loaf for a friend, made a vegan potato bake, invented a scrummy fat and sugar free flapjack alternative, started to draw my Christmas presents, bought a stripy trunk to hold all of my sewing things (on Keri Smith list - buy something that represents your creativity and use it everyday), bought some nice fabric, amazing ribbon and lovely buttons, learnt how to make a rosette, went on a spontaneous trip to see the Gauguin exhibition at the Tate and also visited the National Gallery and started to read 'The Yellow House' by Martin Gayford, which I plan to review on finishing it. I am also hoping to write a small piece on my thoughts about the Gauguin exhibition... watch this space...

Walkies

So after much procrastination I finally rounded up my wee bro for a walk to Ashton Court.... these are some pictures I took along the way.....

Creativity and inspiration

I have been spending the whole morning procrastinating (again!!) but I've been looking for inspiration (which is better than just doing nothing i suppose!!) and i have decided that i am going to have a go at Art Journalling in the new year

http://daisyyellow.squarespace.com/abstract/art-journaling-101.html

I'm also keen to try to create something every single day..... I have attempted this (and failed at it!!) before, but my previous attempt was to do a drawing a day, this time i am hoping to think of my creativity in a much broader sense, in terms of sewing, drawing, painting, baking, photographing, etc, etc, you get it!!

Anyway, I have been looking to this site as a starting point.

http://creativeeveryday.com/

I am going to stop procrastinating and get out of here, off for a walk... which I am planning to document in photographs which I might even bring together into a drawing or story.... here goes....... watch this space!! :)

Inspiration

Feeling a recent lack of inspiration I set myself on a mission and looked for projects to set myself and rediscovered Keri Smiths blog on route...

http://www.kerismith.com/popular-posts/100-ideas/

I'm going to make it my mission to do ALL of these things in 2011, I hope to put my progress on here along with other thing that i find inspirational and any ideas of things for me to do are welcomes :)

In 2011 I plan to use my blog as a tool for inspiration and feedback, so all coments and suggestions welcome!

Anyone in Bristol who might be interested in joining me for a group crit over tea and cakes give me a shout!!

US of A

Arrived after a long journey in Hollywood and went straight to bed!! Woke early the next day refreshed and ready to explore... wandered around the vast streets of Hollywood, saw the Chinese theatre on Hollywood Boulevard - walked the walk of fame and a little of Sunset Boulevard. Saw our first glimpse of the Hollywood sign. Decided that it was all a bit chaotic with the cars (4 lanes of relentless traffic!) and headed up to the Observatory in Griffith Park. (It took 2 buses to get there and was a bit of a mission but we were overwhelmed by everyones friendliness!) Got an amazing view of the city (smog and all) and the Hollywood Hills. The next day we got on the free hostel bus to Santa Monica and had a paddle in the North Pacific. We walked along the board walk to Venice beach which was a major contrast to the peaceful upmarket Santa Monica Beach - almost like Camden by the sea!! Loved the beaches but have decided in general that L.A. is really overrated!! Day 3 we spent 8 hours on the Greyhound bus stopping only once at Coalinga Junction... in the middle of nowhere, it smelt like shit!! The 8 hour journey was worth it though when we drove over Bay Bridge to see the stunning nightscape of San Franciso. Today we set off on foot walking past Grace Cathedral and through Nob Hill (I'm not joking, this is a real place, hehe!!) From there we wandered into China Town which was colouful and lively, around the corner we found the Italian part of town (North beach i think), so bizaar to step out of China, into Italy!! We carried on up telegraph hill and i went up Coit Tower where there were absolutely spectacular views across the city, beautiful! We walked down the hill to Fishermans wharf and watched hundreds of sealions on Pier 39 and saw Alkatraz (didn't really fancy paying $25 to go over to it although i've read a little about it). We carried on along the wharf to the Maritime Historical Park and into Fort Mason Park when we decided it was time to head back uo Russian Hill and back to the hostel for a pitstop before checking out Union Square. I think we must've walked 10 miles but it was worth it and i've fallen head over heels for San Francisco already, I absolutely love it!!