Swedish Summer Craft Fairs and Papier Mache Dogs

Papier  Mache Dog 

Dog Obsessed as I am, imagine my delight when a friend turned her eye from painting landscapes to making Papier Mache animals and posted them on her facebook page. You can see more at her facebook page. This chap is a Cocker Spaniel, and he is looking for a home. I can see him ending up in our house    (no food needs, no vet bills, just a go over with the vacuum cleaner every now and then, sounds ideal!), I will keep him away from the real Cocker though. 

It set me looking for ways to make my own hounds, and there are loads of tutorials on the web, but I could see me ending up in a glue-ey messy heap, so better to leave to those that can I think. I did come across this lovely Irish Wolf Hound by Lorraine Corrigan at Hounds of Bath . A different style, but still pleasing. 

Swedish Summer Craft Fairs

There is a saying here... " Ah yes, Swedish Summer, the best day of the year". Usually that is true, but this year we have basked in the clear blue skies of Sweden for, oh at least three weeks ! And that means it has been great to get out to the Handmade Craft Fairs without wellies or waterproofs. Last weekend it was the 

Falsterbo Handmade Craft Fair  and being local we could cycle there - Brilliant! 

Here are a few of the gems I spied. 

    

Beautifully made and crafted folk art dolls and marionettes by Christina Meisolle Hoi who is from Denmark, but who lives in Skane now. 

Needle Felted animals, including, you guessed it, a dog....  by Annemarie Horve of Filterier who runs courses too.  

  

Heavenly bodies, in female form, and ceramic birds were found  at  Maria Thorlund and you can see more at her facebook page

 

Finally, the trend of the moment, Text based work by Mellow Design this one is called "Friends are like stars.. you don't always seem them, but you know that they are always there..." aah. 

So thank you makers who showed there, you made a great show ! 

  

Heading for the Hills

 
I found this lovely woodcut at the local charity flea market. I like the stark quality of woodcuts, just showing the shapes necessary.  In this I know so well the simple bamboo chair that sits empty in the garden, the kind that you see in loads of vintage shops. I wonder who is going to join her? The artist?  The artist is local, so I am guessing that the scene must be local as in Swedish, but the house looks very French I think, and that's why I just had to have it.
Also, I have to admit that this is how I would like to see myself over the next few weeks, sitting in a sunny flower filled garden, needle in hand working on something, and I can just make out her mouth asking for a glass of Pimms to someone in the house. Well we can all dream can't we? We plan to be digging terraces so that a fiercely steep garden can at last be tamed, so perhaps less Pimms and more spade work.  

The lino-cut or wood cut put me in mind of the lovely lino-cut work by Mark Hearld that you can find at St Jude's print store. 

All of this is a round about way to mention that as Summer gets underway posting here may be a less frequent until July. In the meantime, Frank will enjoy forays around the garden, chasing anything that moves before taking a rest in the shade of the garden bush ..... 

 
And the Little Cocker is prepared with the addition of an Amber necklace that people here believe keeps those horrible tics at bay... Let's hope that it doesn't get lost in the bushes.

          Looking forward to enjoying this late and slow early summer.... 

Mid Summer Sizzler

Mid Summer Sizzle.............. It really is strange that the sun only goes down for about three hours, or so it seems at the moment. I think of the birds and wee animals outside making hay while the sun shines (alas,  infrequently in these parts) . The birds sing their hearts out .. the young to be fed and the older ones to find a mate. 

In France, a nightingale in the garden sang throughout every evening in May, and into June. Does that mean he is alone in the village ? That is just too, too sad. 

Image courtesy from the RSPB

                       

Aside from wildlife, the roses and the heady scent of the Elderflowers sum up the summer for me. I wish I could bottle that scent to cheer me up during the winter months.     

Moving home at the end of this month, so all creative clutter is being packed away. All the crazy disorder on my desk being put into boxes and into store for a month. I'll just have to make do with a pen and pad, watercolours and a camera. Who knows what will emerge. I don't want to wish the summer away, but can't wait until August when normality can resume.