Ned and my studio update

Ned would like to thank everyone for wishing him a speedy recovery! He's doing really well...just look at that expression..hmm.not sure what he's telling me there!
His bucket is off and he seems to be leaving his stitches alone, I'd say he has worked it out that if he does pull at his stitches the bucket goes back on! Ned is booked into the vet for Friday morning to have his stitches out...something that is a bit worrying is that Ned seems to have lost he's meow...do cats have tonsils, could he have tonsillitis?  We'll find out on Friday.
In my poor sad over crowded studio I've been reduced to painting on the floor..

I've officially run out of room...no matter how many times I go to re-organize it, it's just no use. To make maters worse apart from wanting to paint bigger paintings I've also started a soldering course with Margo Beatty, she is teaching at Suzi Blu's Les Petit Academy and I can already tell that it's going to be something I'm going to love doing..a bit of an outlay at first but I'm hoping it will be a good investment!
New tools and equipment is being shipped as I type...where am I going to put it all?
Another interesting event happened last week, I thought I was signing up for a bit of volunteer work with disabled artists...as it turned I was offered a job to teach doll making in September. The course is only one day a week for 6 weeks but still I'm excited about it...now I just have to come up with a course structure and make a few demonstration dolls to take with me!

So busy, busy time's ahead...I'm looking forward to getting back into some doll making!

Look what the horrible neighbors cat did to poor Ned!

Ohhhhh poor Neddy! Just look at the mess he's in! A few nights back I heard the screech of cats fighting just outside my door, knowing one of those voices was Ned's I ran quickly to defend my little boy...It was so dark outside you could just make out Ned and the blackest of black cats both poised to strike at one another...I yelled at the intruder he took off into the night...like a phantom. Ned wouldn't come in, he hid under the car in our drive for a while. I didn't notice anything wrong with him till the next day...a little wound just below his front shoulder...honestly it didn't look that bad..I washed it and put a bit of antiseptic on it. The next day however the wound was much clearer and I could see that it was quite a deep skin cut and knew he was destined to see the vet.
And indeed Ned did go to the vet yesterday. He was unbelievably well behaved, this wasn't his first time there he had a much worse injury when my partner first found him, he had been shot with a bow and arrow, so maybe Ned knew he was in good hands.  He had his operation last night and his teeth cleaned at the same time, when we picked him up I couldn't believe how much fur they had to shave off...and all those stitches...and the bucket! He is such a sad site, but is handling things not too badly, we have the log fire going just for him, pillows and his favorite Townes Van Zandt album playing:) He'll be ok I'm sure.

hand and machine stitched brooches

Hi, phew what a day...just listed a few of these hot off the sewing machine brooches in my etsy shop..go have a look lots more detailed photo's there.

Thank you to my partners gorgeous niece for doing a spot of modeling for me this morning

And......

Meet Little Bones...the final doll in ADO's Traveling Doll Project...Little Bones was made by Kailee of SophiaLaLa..LB then traveled to Susie Mcmahon in North West Tasmania..Susie painted her face, hands and feet plus gave her an awesome hair do! LB then traveled to me where I made her snazzy outfit!...LB is now heading back to Kailee's place in Western Australia...what a journey...and remember you can read more about the Traveling Doll Project here!

Oh and I've been making bears and dolls too...

Not finished yet some still need their coffee! Made from a friend old camel hair coat!
The pattern is by Sweet Meadow Farm I adjusted the legs and arms to curve a bit more and made the legs button jointed...I'm working at my own bear patterns too!

 Plasticine models waiting for their paper mache layer...which I just might do right now...cheerio !

Winter brooches and little black crow in red stitches

I'm so excited about this up coming exhibition at Rebecca Roth's gallery in July..not only because I'm launching two new items, my hand and machine stitched brooches but because I can't wait to see what the other artisans are contributing...I hear too that Arkmetal Brad has submitted 2 metal brooches!!
If your visiting Hobart in June and July make sure you drop into Rebbecca's shop at Salamanca's art center

A collaboration between metal and paint

SOLD

Miniature Mirrors

A unique collaboration between Arkmetal Pig and Little Black Crow!
We knew it would happen one day it was only a matter of time..you can read more about them on Arkmetal..or see them up close and personal at Rebecca Roth's gallery in Salamanca!

I'm back!

My Mum and I

 I'm back...but I guess nobody knew I'd left. Why couldn't I tell anyone?? Because my trusty laptop decided to breakdown on me, leaving me unable to communicate with anyone for 3 weeks! I went to Sydney to visit my mum and her husband, they are going through some tough times together. I had a great time with my mum and sister, wished I could have stayed longer but was very happy to be able to lend a hand during the time I was there.

Detail of the Enchanted forest.

 Nice to be back home...lots of catching up to do...last touches on paintings for an exhibition at Rebecca Roth's gallery at Salamanca, starts this weekend till the end of June. 13 paintings all up..the theme is based on Fairytale's and enchanted forests.

A few new dolls are in the pipe line, lots of new adventures and learning new skills are planned for the up coming months too. You can see more of this painting and 12 others from my Enchanted Forest series HERE