The bigger smiling sun face lino block was put away somewhere ‘sensible’, so I haven’t seen it for a long time. This tiny version can have variations in its light rays. A hair dye brush worked well!
Sunshine
Tag: colours
Unravelling (again!)
I was pleased with the knitting progress, until I noticed that I should have stopped a few rows ago to shape the neck part. Glad I had a thinner needle to put in to the row before undoing the stitches. Easy to undo everything back to that row, then the pink stitches can go back onto the 4mm needle to continue
Oval dance
In theory this is an illustration for a novel that has been an ongoing project for decades. They’re practicing for a dance at their midsummer festival. The lady in the purple dress is a character called Amelia Bliss. All of the characters have names that I’ve come across while researching my family history.
In 1871, my great grandfather was lodging with a woman and her daughter. The first transcription I found said that she was Mrs Bliss. Later updates show that she was Mrs Elliss. I was disappointed, but looked for a real Amelia Bliss anyway. The one I found, of about the right age, went on to die aged 25. It’s much easier to find info about people who aren’t my relatives.
My great grandfather was particularly elusive; he was a widower in one 1871 transcription but married in the later version. He’s nowhere to be found in 1861 or 1881, but he was in the merchant navy so could have been anywhere. In 1891 he’s a lodger (or visitor?) at his son’s/ my grandfather’s house. They both worked at the Woolwich Arsenal. His gravestone in Norwich describes him as the beloved son of Isaac and Rebecca Daines, no mention of anyone else.
End of year
I printed a midwinter card but didn’t send many copies out into the world. Here it is with an appliqué tree from a few decades ago. The knitted geese are made of aran yarn, too thick but the thinner yarns weren’t available in the colours I wanted at the time.
Birds of happiness
Sleeve
I was pleased with how this sleeve was going. However, it’s using the same pattern as another cardigan I finished a while ago. The sleeves are too baggy.
It’s better to unravel this version and start again. The rose chart is from a Prima magazine, which is presumably vintage now.
Editing light
Trying to rescue a print that had been overcut. The light gradually moved across the paper while I was colouring…
White Poppy
When this lino block was first cut, a long time ago, it was going to be printed in pale subtle colours. Something on the news the other day while choosing inks made me reach for scarlet and emerald green instead.
The block is similar to an unfinished print from even longer ago. As a teenager I liked the idea of nature reclaiming damaged land. Maybe it’s still a nice idea. The white poppy has symbolised pacifism for nearly a century. Weapons are presumably more profitable but mediation and peaceful resolution has a preferable outcome.
Multitasking
There are many tasks to do today but I knitted instead. The project will become too big for three needles so I’ve added more. They’re slightly bent from being stuck under a heavy item for too long. They still function well.
berry daines 