Blast From the Past

I very rarely share personal stuff on here, but I dug up some old photos (and I mean old) while cleaning up my picture file this week that I thought might make you smile . . . so here's the history.

During my career, spanning some forty plus years, I have designed a wide range of things. It never mattered whether I was working within a clients brief to develop a corporate image, illustrating a children's book, dressing a shop window, or preparing display rooms for the Australian Furnishing Fair, it has always required the use of my imagination.

Aside from work, I enjoyed designing whimsical bears and found inspiration for this range of bears, cats and bunnies right in my kitchen at home! You may wonder what on earth would one find in the kitchen to inspire such a design . . . well, it was the little wooden box I keep my onions in, which has teddy bears painted on the front. Virginia was the first one, which I made from mohair and was five way jointed.

This was the second piece in the range . . . a kitty cat named Daphne. She had a long tail weighted with tiny glass beads and horsehair whiskers. In this photo I'm sure she's saying "What'r you lookin' at?"

Then I made another bear (below). This time I played around with the eyes, which I think gave my creation an even more comical look . . . I called her Lucy in the Sky. She almost looks like she's away with the birds! Or perhaps just a little confused.

Then, I really got carried away and made a very girly Prima Bunnyina. I know she's a bit extreme and glitzy, even her eyelashes sparkle, but don't you just love those shoes? I knew as soon as I saw them, what I was going to use them for. Sometimes you don't need to look for inspiration, sometimes it simply finds you.

The close up of her face shows details of the needle felting and shading. I made her teeth from Fimo with a loop that helps you insert them the same way glass eyes are inserted in a teddy bear.

These were all quite large creations standing approximately 21 inches tall. I have, on very rare occasions, considered making some smaller ones along similar lines . . . and maybe, just maybe, I will one day . . . but only if I live long enough.

Well, my working life was definitely interesting to say the very least. Illustrating, designing, utilising textiles and colour has always played a big role right throughout my whole life. However, to still be able to use all the things I have learnt over the years and more importantly, be able to combine them all into one interesting and diverse hobby, is enormously satisfying. So it should come as no surprise to you, when I say, I'm really enjoying what I do now most of all.

I do hope my furry critters bring a smile your way today and that you are enjoying life too!
Big hugs,
X