The Hounds of Falsterbo - a Great Discovery

Inspiration on the beach

It has been an interesting week, finally catching up with people after the break, and taking delivery of a couple of belated Birthday presents. And oh joy! What a lovely "booky" surprise from my friend Val and Lassa, and how apt. The book feels like a coffee table book, but can be enjoyed by young and old just by the way it is written with short witty poems.   

The Hounds of Falsterbo 

The work by local artist, Jules Nilsson was inspired by the curious antics of her dog and those of a friend who owns the local cafe Kust....

They are lucky enough to get their kicks on the local beach near me and these are some of the images... 

You can see more about the hounds here. I love the way she has captured the characters of her dogs, and the atmosphere around the beach huts and heather. If you  get a chance take a look. I am also pleased to find someone else who describes such fine canine characters as "the fluffy gentleman".

I think that I will be making some Crazyhound characters inspired by these fellows, and I am going to get to meet them in the fur next week.... so watch this space. Thanks Jules and thanks to those dogs.    

Happy weekend and keep warm out the wind. 

   

   

Winter Harbour and a great Recycled Hound

Who would be a fisherman in these months....... The winter chill is coming no doubt about it.... 

A Hound with a (re)purpose !   

I just found this repurposed hound, and many others in the Etsy Shop of Willy Wagenaar, a professional artist based in Florida. I found it hard to choose just one one forthis page, but finally setlled on Marsha. Love it. 

Dogs on the Beach

Dog Days of Summer... 

I walk the dogs on the beach most days, come rain or shine, whatever. As summer arrives and it warms up in the sea, literally everyone and their dog is out in the sand.... 

The Yummy Mummies with their young, and perfectly behaved pedigree dogs surveying the chaos in front of their eyes... 

 The Keep Fit enthusiast, running, their eyes fixed in the middle distance, just like their big, lopping dogs, on a mission. Blissfully ignored by the Syd Svenskan" reader who is also unaware of the chaos just about to break out with their dog and the new arrival....   

 An not forgetting the Sun Adverse walker, kitted out in black cotton gear and adoring Westies. She keeps walking on collision course with the runner, but somehow they miss each other and sail by. 

My Two believe that it is truly Doggy Paradise.  

 

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 ! 

  

The curious shape of the Dachshund and the Long Brown Dog Sock Animal

This Dachshund shape from the Postcard Boutique on Etsy caught my eye, when I was looking for inspiration to design and make another Dog Sock Animal last week. With their long bendy body, their earnest head thrust forward and the legs trying hard to catch up, trying hard not to make a fool of their owner.  
I had a supply of lovely brown boiled wool, and a pure wool / cashmere sock that were crying out to be turned into something long and  Dachshund like. 

I had a ball making this chap, that I have called Dashing Rupert. I used toe pieces lined with a wool jumper cut on the cross grain to make his ears, and the combination resulted in the ears getting a nice quirky bend. He has taken up residence on the back of the sofa and shows no sign of going anytime soon. The hand painted gathered eyes and needle sculpted face worked well I think. I would love to know what you think. 

The natural felting of the wool has added some real character I think. 

I had in mind, that he would be a good companion on your shoulder when you are reading a good book... Or maybe just to keep your seat warm...

I know that all the advice on photos ( see Etsy seller handbook for all the rules!) for handmade items is to avoid Dark backgounds, but I love the brown leather combination with my Wool animals. Also, it is handy that Mr C has a sausage dog shaped soft box for the shot isn't it !

Reading List - Stuffed Animals

The new book by Abigail Patner Glassenberg ( creater of "whileshenaps") -  "Stuffed Animals from Concept to Construction" arrived this week. I was looking forward to getting this, and to see if I could find more construction tips. I put it to one side, and kept it as a treat after I had finished office work yesterday and started last night in earnest. Today, I  have read most of it, and I am not disappointed. I really like the way that she weaves new skills and techniques within projects. I also discovered why making my new painted eyes was so difficult ! You have to make them 5 x the size of the finished eye. So thanks for that. It is packed with information and clear photos. 

Local Felted Wool Shop - Ylle & Sparris

I came across a lovely independent wool, quilt and felting shop in the village of Gessiekyrkby, near Malmo. It is called Ylle & Sparris   which translates to "Wool and Asparagus". In a renovated farm house there is plenty of space to look around, and they also run courses in wool felting. Friendly and helpful people in the shop too. There is also a farm shop selling their own produce, and you can get your firewood there too. What more could you ask for !   . 

    

Fasterbo Handmade Craft Fair

   What a wonderful Saturday.... the sun was out and about all the day, and the ever present breeze was taking a vacation too, or s it seemed. To top it all, the creative folk in Fasterbo organised the first summer craft fair on the green by the old Station. The only criteria for entry was that all items for sale had to be hand made by the stall holders themselves, so no scope for commercial mass production here. (Mr C helped with these shots as ever)... 

Paintings inspired by the beach....

Hand made clothes.. I used that material to make a skirt last year, but think this coat and hat set looks the best!

Traditional Skane clogs

Here's hoping that the organisers and stall holders get together again for another event next year....

And finally, not at the fair, but at the near by Second Hand clothes shop... I couldn't resist snapping these shoes and boots....

The only down point on an otherwise wonderful day was that as we left the scenic and pretty  village of Fasterbo, the car exhaust chose to drop off the old Volvo landing us back to earth  and reality with a bump. 
                 Coming soon. my slowest upholstery project...