Pull up a chair....

Just a short post today.  I'm feeling tired and the need to curl up by the fire and read a book.  I so wish I could figure out a way to make this little pink chair life size!

Or if pink's not your thing, it comes in BLUE too!

Check out these chairs and more at McBride House!

The Owls Have Landed at McBride House

The owls have descended onto McBride House in all shapes, colours and functions.  This little one is a staple at McBride House and has had a few sisters created in her likeness.  So far we have had Owlene, Owlese, and this little one is Owlette.  She's a pretty little owl. She spent hours getting her bow on just right, asking me time and time again to adjust it just so. Standing in front of the mirror primping and preening she finally decided that the bow is perfect and it's time for her portrait. She stands and looks up at the light knowing this is her best side. Click, click, click goes the camera all the while her little tail feathers quiver with excitement.

Next is Darby McBride who is a St Patrick Day Owl.  He's quite the dapper fellow who is a very quiet owl that just loves to sit and watch the goings on. He requires very little maintenance and would make a fantastic house owl.

 In the same bred of owls, comes these two.  Another St. Patrick Day Owl but with a little rider!  And guess what?  They did it, they did it! They found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! Mr. Leprechaun proudly hugs his treasure knowing he is safe and secure riding on the back of his pet owl. What the two of them will do with all of this gold I do not know but I'm sure with the influence of a wise owl, they won't spend it frivolously.

 

Next is the Book Owl. Did you know that back in the deep recesses of the London Library lives a whole family of owls? This particular owl is named Darby and he and his siblings fly about at night putting all those books away that the librarians cannot reach. They twist and turn about the tight corridors all the while looking for the perfect matched hole for their books. Once they find the correct spot the mice take over and slide the book into it's own spot... but that, my dear friends, is another tale.

It's an exciting day for Mr Owlistare and his son, Hoot. They've waited and practiced all year and today is the day. They gather their belongings and Mrs Owlistare, or better known as Luna, lovingly wraps a scarf around each of their necks and gives them a peck on the cheek as she bids them farewell.  You can read a lot more about these two and their grand adventure HERE.

 

Owlivia is a pretty little owlet that dreams of becoming a ballerina but knows with her centre of gravity being what it is, tap is more up to her skill level.

To see these owls and other creations come on over to my shop, McBride House!

Needle Felted Albert Einstein

This is the first time that I've needle felted a person to look like an actual person.  I've done lots of green men and pumpkins but this was a challenge to make Albert actually look like Albert.  And yes, after spending hours and hours and days and days working so closely on this piece I feel like I can call Mr. Einstein, Albert!

For those of you who are new to this art form, it's called Needle Felting.  Needle felting involves poking and prodding different colours of wool with an extremely sharp barbed needle until you reach the perfect shape. It literally takes thousands of pokes and days and days to reach just the right sculpture. Other than his black glass eyes, he is 100% wool. He is firmly attached to his wool book base making them a single soft sculpture.

 This is a big piece... almost life size!  Even though Albert Einstein hardly weighs a thing, he is approx. 37 cm (14.5 inches) tall from the bottom of his wool book base to the top of his bushy hair.  If you want to see more of him or other soft sculptures of mine check out my Etsy shop, McBride House!

I'll leave you with some words to live by by the great man:
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
Albert Einstein

Bears Have Come to McBride House

Winter has been very long in this part of the world.  He's been patient. Oh so patient. In the fall, when the first nip of snow is in the air he happily settles down for a long winter's nap. His bed, made from a large dug out tree in a secret location, is made with care and he looks forward to settling down until the snow of winter magically evaporates. The snow comes and he lumbers in, lays down, rests his head on his paws and sleeps. He sleeps, and sleeps, and sleeps until finally his internal clock awakens him and he raises his great head, stretches, shakes and sticks his nose out the hole.

WHAT?! Why is there still snow, not only on the ground, but covering every shrub, rock and tree in sight? He shakes his head and ambles back in and sleeps some more. This happens again, and again. Finally, long after the first day of spring has arrived, he dons his warmest scarf, packs his bags, and says "I'm outta here." Where is he going I do not know, but it's got less snow than here.  To see more pictures click HERE.

And then there is this very content bear with this winter.

He is a bear of great determination. Having seen the need for his fellow bear population to produce their own honey, he sets his mind to figure out the mystery behind it. There has long been a rift between the Bee Clan and the Bear Clan and Mr Bear is tired of getting his paws stung while trying to obtain the delicious elixir of life called honey.

He reads the books, studies the plans but alas, he should be reading a book on how to "mend fences" instead. I'm afraid making honey is simply for the bees, and not for the hair covered bear!

Spring is here, Spring is here!

I planted some seeds that I found in a long neglected package. I really didn't know what they were but I thought I would give them a chance to see life and grow.

I watered them and took care of them. Most of the seeds turned out to be spindly things that immediately went out into the compost to live out their lives. But one seed was special. I watered it daily, talked to it and generally took great care of it.

It grew and grew and finally a bud began to form. Each day I waited with baited breath wondering just what this little treasure would grow into. Finally one morning I came down and what should I see but this beautiful red bloom smiling back at me!

He spoke with such ease and elegance and thanked me for taking such good care of him. He reminded me we all need to take care of one another. If we do then beautiful things will come from it. Well said Red Bloom, well said.

To see more about him click HERE!

Winding Roads Mitten Crochet Pattern

When you crochet in the round a spiral seam pattern will form. I'm not sure why or how it does this, especially when you are increasing or decreasing on each row, but it does.

So how can I overcome this spiral pattern? Well, don't fight it, join it! I actually embraced the spiral seam and created these new mittens with a winding road, or vine theme to them!
I think it is one of most favourite patterns that I have designed! Shhh... don't tell the other patterns, they might develop a complex!
I really like the versatility of these mittens since they can be worn in the fall or spring with a t-shirt and vest when temperatures are not quite cold enough for bulky winter coats, but can still be worn under a winter coat when the temperatures drop. There will be no cold draughts coming up my sleeves this winter!
Of course the mittens can be made without the winding vines, and a darker colour wouldn't even show the spiral seam, but I kind of like them just the way they are!

Winding Roads Mitten Pattern can be found HERE.

Confession....

I have been thinking about this long and hard and finally decided to let my blogger friends in on something... it's not a secret, but it's something I don't often share. I was recently interviewed by Cassandra from a great blogazine called Design: Handmade that is "designed and produced by artists and entrepreneurs who share a vision of a handmade world".

While I was answering some of the questions I found that I could not answer them truthfully without telling more of my story. At a young age I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, although at the time they didn't know what was wrong with me, just that something was. I've tried everything from getting my wisdom teeth out, cutting my waist long hair, herbal supplements, diet, etc., but nothing has helped. I've learned to live with it, but this dear readers is why I don't often answer all your wonderful comments, or comment on your lovely blogs. I desperately want to and I feel guilty about not doing so, but I just can't keep up sometimes. However, be assured that I have a wonderful husband and a fantastic supportive family that understands and nurtures me. AND... the snow is finally melting, Spring is on it's way... hope is in sight!

Only a few more days for my Bloggy Giveaway! Don't forget to enter if you haven't already!