UK Handmade Round Robin Creature Swap

Finally I’ve got round to writing my blog about our UK Handmade creature swap. I really enjoyed it because each stage had an element of surprise. There were 4 of us in the team and we each got to have a go at all stages.

So, the rules were quite simple:

1. Describe a creature – post to next person
2. Draw a picture of the description you receive – post on
3. Make the creature from the description & pic you receive – post on
4. Add the features to the creature you recieve – post on
5. This is where you get back the creature you originally described and have a chance to add any final details before posting  back to the host…

So, here is my most excellent creature, I love him to bits and I don’t want to send him off yet! I’ve christened him INKY

Stage 1: Description

Stage 2: Drawing

Stage 3 & 4: Made up creature with features added

Stage 5: Inky with his new boots on

Close up of those lovely Inky ears!

<<<A BIG THANK YOU TO MY FELLOW ROUND ROBINERS FOR CREATING SUCH A GORGEOUS LITTLE CREATURE AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OLLY FOR HOSTING>>>

Olly from Wöllies for such an imaginative and magical drawing

Wöllies Blog ~~~ Wöllies Folksy Shop

Kathleen from Murgatroyd & Bean for such a perfectly stitched body

Murgatroyd & Beans Blog ~~~ Murgatroyd & Beans Folksy Shop

Julia from Hand Knitted Things for giving Inky his personality

Hand Knitted Things Blog

If you like the idea of Round Robins and Swaps there are always lots of opportunities to take part in such things at UK Handmade. Why not join up, it’s free and a great way to make links with other crafters.

Gathering Threads

May is the month of Open Studios 2010 in West Berkshire & North Hampshire.

Three of the artists are currently running an exhibition of textiles at the National Needlework Archive, Greenham Park, Newbury.

I was particularly interested because one of the ladies I’d come across on UK Handmade is exhibiting – Vikki Aust – business name Koodles.

Vikki is  showing lots of her imagined creature illustrations, many with their own ‘personal’ story incorporated into the artwork. She then makes her creatures real by creating 3 dimensional soft sculptures using reclaimed fabrics and embellishments.

I couldn’t resiting coming away with a set of postcard illustrations of 10 of her lovely characters!

If you get a chance between now and the end of May do go along to enjoy her work and have a chat.

The other two artists showing their work at this exhibition also have Open Studio visits. Serena’s knitwear is just perfect and Val’s mixed media pieces are stunning in their intricacy. Click on their names to find out more about their work and visiting times:

Serena Nickson – “I have been working on new textile designs to use in my knitwear, drawn from photographs of windows – the shapes found in the grand palazzo and complex reflections in a modern skyscraper.”

Val Tierney – “It is the timeless quality of natural environments that influences my mixed media images, which are inspired by the effect of light over landscape, combining printmaking, acrylics, dyes and traditional media.”

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P.S. Thanks for taking the time to chat to us Vikki – really enjoyed looking around. Shaz. x