Baby Monkey (Going Backwards on a Pig) in Crochet

Beth Williams and I like to annoy Emily Williams by singing Baby Monkey (Going backwards on a Pig) at her...on repeat..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_sfnQDr1-o


So I got challenged by one of the crazy Williams sisters to create a crochet version and here it is:

Drawing with Friends

As regular readers may know, I went along to a few Bristol Sketchers meet ups when I lived out there. A really simple concept of meeting up with a bunch of people and drawing for an hour or two.
I was pleased to discover when I started my new job in London that a couple of people in my office did a similar thing on Friday lunches, of which I have blogged about and enjoy going along to as often as possible.

It's really got me into drawing more than I have been before I'm really starting to enjoy it.
I have loosened up my attitude and aim to create and explore not to produce a photo perfect copy of what I see but just to express what I am seeing and incorporate some of the detail I see.

I am very lucky to have a lot of creative and artistic friends. Drawing with them gives me a chance to catch up with them and enjoy their company as well as getting creative together.
So this sat afternoon I had the lovely Claire and Sophie for company and we wandered along near Towerbridge, before settling in a Samuel Smiths ye olde pub.

SMart Walks Magnetic Art

Interesting marriage between art, walking and twitter
SMart Walks took my tweet and made it art

I tweeted about my fabulous niece, then out of the blue a creative group SMart Walks, took my tweet made it into lovely magnetic art, then planted it outside Sew Over it on Landor Way, on their art walk of tweets. Very interesting and unusual project. They let me have one of their lovely magnets, which currently lives on my fridge. Here is a pic of my niece and her first hook.

Caricaturing at Costa

Attendees today were Sam and Dickie at Costa.

For some reason sometimes I can't draw, it's like my brain hand co-ordination can't be bothered. Then sometimes I can crack out finely detailed illustrations, usually buildings because I can stare at them without blushing. Today something completely new happened, I caricatured. I remeber thinking, how does David do it. David is another drawer who often accompanies us and he does fantastic caricatures and cartoons of fellow customers. So I remember that flashing through my head in thought, then I just started having fun with my lines, I think it helped that I had my decent pens/pencils but I am  quite pleased with the results.

Canary Wharf Drawing Group

Usually at work on a Friday lunch a handful of us from the office go to Costa to draw. This week has been production week off so I thought it be nice to continue with a Friday drawing session and put the word out on facebook.
I'd been planning to go to Canary Wharf to see the Docklands Museum and the new sculpture Aeolus by Luke Jerram.
Joining me on the drawing visit came Sam, Soph and Chan, later joined by Claire at The Grapes in Narrow Street, a pub owned by Sir Ian McKellan, which got us super geeks clucking giddily.
It was a fantastic day with great company and some good work created.
I'll defo see if some more can be arranged more drawing outings for the Summer.

Accidental Handbag

I've working on my skills in reading crochet patterns. The snood in my previous post was my first attempt.

I am relieved I finally understand what DC and HDC and SS mean after years of being baffled and flinging the pattern across the room and running away screaming.

It has literally taken me years to take my basic knowledge and teach myself all the different stitches, yes I am all grown up *gfaw*

I am quite pleased with this cute little bag...except it looks nothing like the picture on the pattern. 

I was trying to make a string bag for my shopping, but I ended up with a cute holey purse. 

It could be that I completely ignored the yarn advice and used the wrong thread? maybe. I am not too fussed.

In honesty I do like a creative surprise. SURPRISE you've made something completely different, lol.

The bear head was an addition I created a while back and now has a new home on the bag (also crochet or amigurumi to be exact)

Room with a View

Morning all, tis my week off work on day 4 I have finally wound down.
Before Grizzle awakes I had a little creative burst in my new office corner.
This is my first free hand proper sketch using my wacom and photoshop.
I am quite liking the result, I think I shall do more.
This is the view from my bedroom window.