Christmas in September...?

I hate seeing Christmas things early, but I'm hoping this Robin isn't too Christmassy really, however, if you know my parents, it is highly likely that you will receive this little guy on a Christmas card this year, by order from my Mum.
I did him a few weeks ago not long after the Blue Tit as I wanted to try out the colour technique on another bird.

I have just got home from a week in Cornwall, looking at lots of art, and beautiful things and places so am feeling very inspired, lots of things to come in the next few weeks....

Commission mark 2.

This is something a little different that I have done for a woodland themed nursery. Was really pleased with it, especially after painting the frame, was hard to say goodbye this time....!

10.

Here is the final one of what I said would be a set of 10 final birds. I said this, but I have already found several more birds that I want to do! Not just yet though...

Almost finished..

5 more on the new fabric, not updated for a while, only have one more left to do now.
I changed my mind about both the ducks I did previously, so I found a new duck and did it straight onto the new fabric and I love it. She may be my new favourite.

 

Dad's Birthday.

I am trying out all my card design ideas on my Dad it seems!

Progress.

Here are some birds, re-done in "best" on nicer fabric. I did do a couple like this before, but these will need to be redone as I have started doing them all slightly bigger (this is why the owl scan is slightly wonky, because it wouldn't fit in the scanner otherwise!).

I think you can see the difference between these and the ones on calico, especially with the Wheatear as that was one of the first ones I did, I'd like to think I have improved!

 

Framed.

Here is the Swallow, finished and framed (by me), just before he went off to his new home at Ashbrook Farm.

For Dad.

Bit of Photoshop colouring in for Father's Day.

Commission.

This is to be a birthday present for my beautiful best friend's equally beautiful mum.
I hope she likes it. It is yet to be framed.
Bit different to all my others, full colour, not something I want to continue with I don't think, but it was a commission.

Quack Quack.

Haven't decided which duck will make the final cut, but I do like both at the moment! I did the Shelduck with a blunt needle...I didn't realise until I had finished, just thought the machine was being a bit noisy, so it isn't the best quality but as they are all roughs it doesn't matter too much.

Shelduck

Mallard

Seagull.

Seagulls don't tend to be anyones favourite bird, particularly when they are tag-teaming up against a lady carrying three ice creams, one knocking the sunglasses off her head to distract her, the other swooping in to knock the ice creams out of her hand (St Ives is beautiful, but its seagulls are mean) but I thought I might want to try out a more seaside market at some point.
Quite pleased with him, although he does look naughty..

Kingfisher.

He caused me a few problems today, probably more due to me being tired (lucky I didn't sew my finger) but he is now one of my favourites!

Puffin.

Today's bird, Mr Puffin. Actually put it on the blog the same day that I did it, must be a first.

Non-Zombie Robin.

I had a zombie-Robin in my garden a few weeks ago. His head was completely bald. I haven't seen him for a while, so either he is no longer with us..or he found a girlfriend who liked the bird world's answer to Phil Mitchell and has eloped. This is the story I'd like to go with.
This is my tribute to Zombie-Robin. But I went with a full head of feathers because I thought it would please the masses more.

Hoot.

I had a little break from sewing for the last couple of weeks as my loaned sewing machine had to go back to its owner, but this meant I got a brand-spanking-new machine.

Before the other machine went back I did these two chaps, the Little Owl and the Lapwing. I used a slightly different thread and they aren't quite up to my standards.

Little Owl

Lapwing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So in my first attempt on the new machine, I went back to my original thread for Barney the Barn Owl.

Barney

Where it all began...

If anyone was wondering about "Pink Couch" this is where it came from...

 ...a birthday card collage that I made from old NME mags when I was at art foundation.

Deer, oh deer.

My birds on my new fabric, think they look much more finished.

I also attempted a deer. I'm not as convinced as the birds...

Sunshine, on my window...

I went walking a couple of weeks ago when it was sunny and took this snap on my phone camera because it was all I had with me at the time...

I went back today with my polaroid, but as it is old and the film has been in it a while, it jammed, but it ended up being quite a nice mistake.

Home Sweet Home.

My best friend and her husband-to-be just moved into their new pad in London and so I made them a little house-warming present, especially as the V-day card I made for her never arrived!
It was framed, but this is just a scan of the artwork.

Redshank.

Here is my new feathered friend, the Redshank.
Style-wise he is similar to the Plover, who is my favourite so far. Think they work better than the smaller birds because with the plover I used more "continuous line" stitching and have gone back to that for the redshank. Going to stick to this style.