Snow Hare painting, memories of Scandavia

I finally sat at my easel today, for the first time in months. And set to work on a painting of a snow hare based on this sketch I drew in Stockholm at the Natural History Museum. I spent a great day sketching there, although I recall at the end of the day having to wait 12 minutes for the bus, and learning just how cold you get standing still for 12 minutes in minus 14 degrees Celsius, even though I was completely bundled up.

 

Some time back I had roughly drawn the outline on some acrylic paper, and painted the foreground in what I thought would be a nice contrast, using bold red. 

At my first major pause from painting today, walking away for a while, I took another look and all I could see was a hare bleeding everywhere! The red had to go, and the feet definitely needed more work.

 

Much happier with the cooler foreground. Overall I'm fairly pleased with how it's coming along, certainly it still needs more work, mostly around the feet, the foreground, and more definition around the snout. I'm really pleased with the colourings in the fur, and the eyes though.

 



At one point today I knocked the Reindeer pelt off my painting stool - what, doesn't everyone have Reindeer pelt at home? This is a much loved souvenir of our first visit to Helsinki, and our first sightings of real reindeer trotting around in snow. I've really fallen for them, they are awkward, gangly, and the little ones struggle to co-ordinate such enormously long legs (being a klutz who can trip over a shadow, perhaps I relate). They always remind me of one of those toys where you press the base and the animal collapses, their real legs seem as unstable as these toys. Anyway - I've digressed slightly there.

 

What I noticed today that made me smile, and is so reminiscent of Finnish advertising (or I suppose IKEA instructions), was this sticker on the bottom of the pelt. 'what is this for? it is for sitting on!'

 



Have a good weekend! 

 

 

Tension, I'll show you tension

It's always there at the beginning of the pattern - you must do a tension swatch before beginning the garment, and for years I used to ignore it. Nowadays though I'm pretty thorough, and as my resource for knitting patterns and yarns has now extended beyond the local wool store I think that's probably a good idea.

So when I started this cardi, I did the tension square, chose the correct size needles and knitted away - but over time I felt the tension looked like rubbish, or inconsistent at least. So I rechecked the tension, pulled it all back, made the adjustments and went again (I wrote about this here).

At the end of the first front I found my cheap import bamboo needles were probably the cause of the few snagged and split stitches that were still appearing - and went and bought new needles. They were joyful, such an improvement to knit with, and so on I went. There was a little voice in the back of my head that kept raising the question about whether this change of brand and improved feel of the new needles would effect the tension, should I do another tension square? Should I again pull back the whole thing? Ignoring what is now clearly saner thinking, I knitted on, and on, and on (see here).

Today that marvellous moment arrived, when I cast off the last stitch, admired how neat the cast off row looked, and how neat the hem line looked considering it was end row stitches (the garment is knitted in one piece sideways), and that overall it looked so neat. Oh happy days, it's done and it looks good! Of course this was all scrunched up in my lap in the car as we drove up the M1 in torrential rain.

Then I pulled my lovely new crotchet hook out and crossed my fingers that I could produce something neat enough with my limited crotchet skills, at least the instructions for the crotcheted edging sounded simple, I did a little test and thought I could successfully wing it. After sitting down with a pot of tea the hem was edged. Then the fun bit, I went and picked out the buttons, cute baby pink checked ones.

Back in the hotel room tonight I wove in all the edges, and was just about to sew on the buttons, when laying it flat on the desk I froze. How, really how, had I not once noticed, or checked back on that nagging thought that the new needles may have changed the tension? But there it was, one front was a good inch longer than the other at the bands, by the side seam it matches (where I had been knitting with the new needles already)

It looks so obvious laying flat like that, I've really learnt a lesson about knitting on the go and measuring on your knee here. So that's it, the whole thing will have to be undone and re-knitted....again. As it's all in one piece, and its the first bit that's wrong there's not really any other way out of it but starting from scratch, undoing 3/4 of correct tension to fix the first wrong quarter. If it wasn't for the lace section I would at least have a go at just knitting this section and grafting it, I may possibly attempt to knit it backwards from the side seam but I don't hold much hope of that working out.

I can't bear to think of it, in fact I can't bear to even look at it right now. It's a bit like there's a naughty dog in the corner that's just dug up the yard, I keep giving the evil eye but know I can't really blame it! Even room service dinner and 'The Holiday' isn't helping, in fact its reminding me of Christmas and all the other knitting I was going to have done by then. Perhaps if I'm good at least this one sodding cardigan will be done and worn by Christmas!

Leeds Life Drawing

I was lucky to be able to attend Leeds Life Drawing again this week - unfortunately the model was taken ill and had to leave after the first 10min pose. After some coaxing (some might say bullying!) members of the group were convinced to model, clothes on of course. Turned into a really good session - although I think a few of the volunteers might be a bit sore after taking slightly awkward poses to hold for 10-15mins.

It sounds easy, but just try sitting in what you think is a comfortable position, and remain still for 15mins - even just focusing on one spot for that long starts making you dizzy! I've sat for portrait classes before, where to save money on hiring a model students took turns, thankfully as people were only drawing my face I could wriggle a bit, but I had spots before my eyes after 5mins of staring at the same spot and still had another 15mins to go - it was head spins by then. How models stand in fairly unnatural poses for 20, 40, even 50mins and barely move I don't know. I stand still drawing for more than 5 minutes and something starts aching.

Only have a couple of pics to post from the session - I decided to give the watercolour pencils and aquash brushes a further go

hmm, it's a bit Ah-ha-esque maybe?

.

 

I added a bit more to one of my watercolour drawings from the last session - the pale blue was just lost against the white background, adding some colour contrast has really brought it forward.

 

Have also been back to the Leeds Art Gallery and City Museum. While enjoying a lovely pot of tea in the Gallery's Tiled Hall (they do have lovely Earl Grey there, and such a good size pot), I took a window seat and had a view out over the chess players. There are two giant sized chess boards in front of the Gallery, and unless its pouring with rain there are always players there throughout the day. I didn't realise until I looked at this page later that the angle I had my book at (balanced on the radiator next to my table), combined with the angle peering down from the window - all my chess guys have a definite lean!

 

 

 

drew the visitors rather than exhibits at the museum

 

 

I'm hoping for some better weather on my next Leeds visit (not likely in September, but hopeful), as I've noticed some interesting building tops and features while wandering around this time and planning to have a day drawing the sights just above peoples heads that they probably never notice walking the city footpaths. 

Windy Sketching

I started day two in Harrogate at Bettys Cafe - with a delicious Early Grey and luscious raspberry filled macaroon. It's one of those 'must do' things if you visit Harrogate, at least that's what Ade Edmondson told me when I watched 'Ade in Britain'. Go early though to avoid the queue!

 

(photos from Bettys website, but my macaroon looked every bit this good)

 

Then I had a bit of a wander, admiring the lovely Regency and Victorian buildings. I noticed the Victoria Shopping Centre building, with interesting statues around the top. It was a very windy day, and I had foolishly chosen to wear a dress, so sketches were quick, on foot, and interrupted by holding my dress down. Just got a few sketches down before the wind won and I headed to The Fat Badger pub for lunch!

 

 

 

Hotel Room Christmas Crafting

I had a full day and night in Harrogate on my lonesome, and while wandering around the town centre in the morning found myself rifling through the craft magazines at the Newsagent. I picked up 'Homestyle sewing' as I was enticed by it including contents to make 8 Scandinavian style Xmas decorations - I thought it could be a good evenings entertainment in the hotel room.

 

 

Before starting I assembled my new purchase of a camping headlamp - almost every hotel and apartment we stay in has useless lighting for crafting in the evenings, and I've spent too many nights trying to knit under reading lamps or flicking through 12 stations of Swedish tv shows so bored that Family Guy in German becomes the highlight.

 

 

So looking rather ridiculous I settled at the desk and tore open the magazine packet - glanced over the instructions and then flipped to the templates to start cutting, and discovered that 'includes everything' means includes everything with the exceptions that you will also need scissors as the felt is not cut, and a photocopier to enlarge the templates!

 

 



Luckily I had scissors with me, enough drawing skills to free draw a replica of the shapes, and handy the hotel stationery was just the right size to draw the pattern for cutting.

Turns out getting all eight made in one evening was perhaps over ambitious, but I am really happy with the two I finished, the rest are cut out - and I have another couple of evenings entertainment left

 

Not bad for £7.99; eight hand made decorations and then I still have the rest of the magazine to browse for more ideas and patterns - like the cute embroidered felt booties, or the embroidered sleep mask. Really must show some constraint though, and finish what I've started first!

Channeling Miss Marple

I have a few nights in Harrogate at 'The Old Swan Hotel', their claim to fame being the hotel where Agatha Christie was found suffering amnesia after her disappearance 11 days prior in December 1926. On arrival my first impression was that it was probably the hotel that gave her the breakdown - but it's definitely grown on me now, you just have to slow down to the same pace as the hotel. I doubt there is very little about the place that has changed since she visited (not that it's worn out, just old fashioned), and the very antique lift was a little spooky, but having survived some really scary ones in Scandinavia even that was OK.

I spent a lovely drizzly spring afternoon sitting in the corner of the lounge bar, in a gorgeous leather wing chair with a view to the garden, knitting for five hours and enjoyed a few sav blancs along the way. Overhearing various conversations throughout the afternoon, and thinking of the Agatha connection, I started to feel like quite the Miss Marple knitting away in the corner.

It was a productive afternoon though - the back of the cardigan is nearly done! The pattern is freely available on the internet from Garn Studio, and I'm using Drops Baby Merino, which I'm really happy with. I loved the idea that it is all knitted in one piece, sideways from band to band, it's just taken me a while to get the shaping correct.

As I posted previously this is the second time over for knitting this as I was not happy with the tension or number of split stitches the first time over. I bought new needles last week, as shown here (the crochet hook is for finishing the edges,eventually) but it's the same brand as the needles - KnitPro Symfonie. They are gorgeous to knit with, much smoother and with longer finer points than the cheaper bamboo ones I was using before. I also love the multi coloured finish of the wood. I'm really happy now with how the tension is looking.

 

Just have to keep knitting away now - really want to get this finished this week, even getting a few rows done between uploading photos here at the hotels slow speed. I usually leave the hotel and head out for coffee and some knitting when housekeeping is due to arrive, I started to wonder today if I could knit while I was walking along - I've seen photos of Debbie Bliss knitting while she wandered Roman ruins! But I'm pretty sure I don't have the co-ordination for that and decided it would probably all end in tears with me impaled on one of my nice new needles!  

Quick Cath Kidston Moleskine Decoration

Just a quick craft up today. I went shopping at Cath Kidston for a friends birthday present, mentally adding lots to my Christmas wish list, and they put their latest catalogue in the bag with her goodies. After drooling over the catalogue I tore out the pages which were a full page image of her fabulous prints - noticing they were just the right size to cover the new pack of Moleskin Cahier Journals I bought.

tore the page out of the catalogue

 

cut a section to clear the spine - just like covering old schoolbooks

tuck the cut for the spine inside before folding and taping the rest of the edges down

these books have a flap style pocket in the back, worked out just tucking the paper in there allowed me to keep the pocket

tada - three plain craft covers transferred into three spiffy Cath Kidston covers for no expense beyond a bit of sticky tape and five minutes of my time.

 

I feel compelled to tell you what I use these books for. I always carry one in my bag, and use it to record all sorts of info along the way; an address for a store or appointment, booking reference number for airline or train tickets, making notes of book titles and isbns when I find them on my travels and can't add them to my luggage, shopping lists - including those long term housewares you shop around for over time like photo frame or rug sizes, Xmas shopping lists, comparing prices when shopping around, dates and details for concerts that I see a poster for when I'm out, websites I see an add or reference for on the go, section of the knitting pattern I'm working on instead of carrying the book around, an idea for a painting or craft item if I don't have my sketchbook with me. Anything that I want to make a note of really, rather than having various bits of scrap paper floating around in my bag/wallet/desk/diary (and yes I am the last person on earth who doesn't own a smart phone - and likes to use stationery instead!).

 

Now I just need to rummage around and find some matching ribbon to attach as a page marker.

This weeks life drawing

Back in Leeds this week and I attended Leeds Life Drawing, which I look forward to any time I'm in Leeds for a Wednesday night. It's not an instructional class, just a gathering of people of varying skill levels and techniques - the gallery provides chairs, boards, cartridge paper, charcoal and most importantly the model.
Usually there are a few 10min poses, a 20min and then a torturous 50minute (I've never been to a group who asks a model to keep the same post for 50mins without a break!) This week I decided to go with more detailed pencil drawing rather than the usual free broad charcoal sketches I've created at previous sessions.

past session 10min sketch

I also wanted to try drawing from life with watercolour pencils and my new pentel aquash water brushes - a great little invention, they hold water and have a soft brush nib. Quick to whip out, create a wash of your pencils and pack them back in your pencil case, no water to spill, no drips, no mess and so far I've had no leaks.

pentel aquash

 

So here are my pencil sketches from the shorter poses - had plenty of foreshortening practice this week!

 

Finally this is the sketch using watercolour pencil and the wash brushes - didn't really amount to much after a 50min pose, but it's a start.

 

 

Treasured! Smuggled, Stolen, Saved?

Have been back at the Leeds Museum again, visiting the exhibition;

"Treasured! Smuggled, Stolen, Saved? is a free exhibition at Leeds City Museum displaying a number objects that have never been on public show. The exhibition explores the unusual, and often exciting, journeys that objects undergo before ending up in museum collections"

It's certainly a varied collection of objects, and I was tempted into sketching a couple.

This is a sketch of an actual shrunken human head from Ecuador. Whilst drawing there was a video playing next to me explaining the museum's authentication process for this object, and the apparent popularity of these as souvenirs in the Victorian period! When the curator clip finished it changed to a short animated film explaining how the heads were shrunk. It began, after a pause from the last film, with a loud 'hey, you!' - I was so deep in concentration drawing that it made me jump out of my skin.

My second sketch was of the skull of the gorilla 'Mok'

 

 

Mok arrived in London Zoo from Paris in 1932. In Paris he had spent time in the lobby of a hotel as entertainment for guests. When Mok moved to the zoo he fell in love with Moena. Six years after arriving in London Mok suddenly died. Moena was so heartbroken she scratched her feet in grief and died from infections in the cuts.

 

I'm not sure what it says about me that I found the gorilla story heartbreaking yet felt  no emotion about the shrunken head (other than thinking all that boiling sure makes the hair really shiny).