Birdies

My sister and I made these little birds this afternoon - they're made out of "Cernit" - a cheap kind of fimo. I tried to make some late at night last night, but was too tired and had an episode of bird-making rage which could only be soothed by the dulcet tones of Ira Glass. These are today's birdies:

I made the three on the left, my sister made the two on the right.

Fresh from the oven, 'scuse the not so good flash photo...

They're being turned into brooches as we speak!

Sweet sweets

Mr Millicent Crow and I made coconut ice, Russian fudge and peppermint chocolate crackle for Xmas presents this year, and I drew this wee bird to make into a label for them.

Here they are all labelled

I had forgotten that making sweets is a bit tricky, with soft ball stages and crackly stick stages and all that...but we ended up with enough successful batches.

Now to keep myself from eating all the chocolate crumbs...

We have a winner

And the winner of my Smiling Victorians cards is...
Congratulations R.W. Scissors! I'll get them to you shortly.

Thanks for your entries, I enjoyed reading about what made you smile in 2010. Merry Xmas y'all!

Christmas Eve eve

Just a few snaps from colourful old Wellington...

You've still got a day to enter my giveaway to win some of my cards...I'll draw a winner tomorrow evening. Tonight's going to be all about the Xmas present finishing, the sea swimming...

Textures & tiles

I found most of these on Cuba St in Wellington the other weekend, so pretty.

I think this one with the pink flowers is my favourite...

Smiling Victorians giveaway

I've listed some of my Smiling Victorians cards in my Felt shop today and I thought I'd have a little giveaway so someone can win a pack of them too. The pack has one of each of the cards pictured and the cards are blank inside. I'll post anywhere in the world and to enter you just need to leave me a comment telling me one thing that made you smile in 2010. I'll draw a winner on the evening of Xmas eve. Good luck!

Craft Country

We've just got back from lovely Greytown and the inaugural Craft Country market. I had a great time despite being a bit sleep-deprived and delerious (we had driven over from Paekakariki that morning and only had about 4 hours sleep).

Here's my stall

The punters

Yours truly
My very smily assistant

It was a very well-organised fair (thanks Emma, Michele & Natalie) and it was lovely to put some faces to names, do some swaps (thanks Sue & Stephanie) and have some people say "oh...so you're the gocco lady." And Millicent Crow even got a mention in the Wairarapa Times-Age.

By the end of the day I was ready for a cup of coffee!

Leaving town

I'm leaving town bright and early tomorrow, heading to Greytown for Craft Country Wairarapa via Paekakariki where Mr Millicent Crow is playing a show with the lovely Rosy Tin Teacaddy. Don't worry, I'm not really hitching; we're catching the train, which will make for a loooong journey. Plenty of time for catching up on my mending. In fact, the only time I have hitchhiked (from Wellington to Auckland) we got picked up in Himatangi by a couple who were on their first date. I guess the date wasn't going so well...

Secret squirrel

Well I didn't find a squirrel, but I've been finding lots of sneaky critters around the place lately!

Stampede

I picked up my shiny new Millicent Crow stamp on Friday, this is what it looks like, waiting to be cut into business cards...

Now I just need to work on my stamping skills...press evenly, don't make it wonky...

The place I got it from is called P.A. Inkerman - now isn't that name too good to be true if you're a stampmaker?

Smiling Victorians

I had a lovely day yesterday, staying home and drawing for most of the day. I had a break from the solemn folk I usually draw and drew a little series I've called "Smiling Victorians." Mr Millicent Crow has worked some photoshop magic to turn them into greeting cards and on Monday I'm picking them up from the printers!




The Victorians weren't so into smiling for the camera, but wouldn't you be smiling if you had a bird on your shoulder? Happy weekend to you!

Charms

I've turned this drawing into a new gocco print...here it is hot off the press:

...and up close:

I've called it "Charms" because all the little symbols on it look like they might hang on a charm bracelet. A slightly macabre charm bracelet perhaps. I've been working on an exciting new project today, stay tuned!

A sunny Sunday

Extra Curricular

The latest issue of Extra Curricular magazine is out and I'm privileged to be in it! This issue is printmaking themed and there's an interview with me about Millicent Crow and an article I wrote about gocco printing. As well as lots of other awesome things AND a bonus holiday book full of ideas for things to make over the summer.
And if you come through my front door today...
...you'll find that the floor looks like this! I've been busy printing up huias for Craft Country Wairarapa. Now to iron them, and zigzag them, and print some more...