Friday 30 January 2009

Dancing Tonight

Here is something I was working on over Christmas and didn't want to post a picture of until I had actually given to the little man it was made for.
It's called Dancing Tonight, and it's for my little nephew Thomas, for his first Christmas. You can still see the Moomin influence like in the last piece I made.







I am deeply enjoying the process of working like this. I have a little tin I carry around with me that contains all I need. Scissors, thread and needle. And whatever little piece of blanket I am working on. I do a few stitches here and few stitches there. Sitting in my car waiting for the school bell to ring, or on the couch at the end of the day. Little by little they add up, to this. Eventually.

And my notebook is bursting with ideas for more...

27 comments:

Paddy said...

Beautiful. Reminds me of E. H. Shepard, illustrator of Winnie-the-Pooh, yet unique in its style.
Thomas is a lucky boy.

Anonymous said...

that is so beautiful. a real treasure.

Mary-Laure said...

Wow, I can't BEGIN to tell you how much I love this and how impressed I am by your skills.
Thomas is a lucky little guy!

I want to learn the redwork technique, any ideas how to get started?

Deborah said...

Ciara, your work is sos beautiful...where do you find the time? x

Esti said...

I love it!
I'm starting to feel the urge to get my needle and my red thread... :)

AMI said...

oooo gorgeous! you must give me a lesson or two!

affectioknit said...

That's lovely!

Emma said...

Wow, this is beautiful, Ciara. And so cute. What a lucky little guy. I can see a book coming...

Jo said...

Super sweet, so simple. I love the cows! Is there anything special to learn or is it just red on white?

Ciara Brehony said...

Thanks for all your lovely comments!

I am a complete novice here, honestly. This is my second ever attempt at this and really I am winging it! I have no idea if I am doing this the way it is meant to be done traditionally. But in a nutshell: I do what (I think) is called a backstitch which allows you to have a continuous line. I'm not really sure how to describe it but there are videos on google and youtube showing you how.
Again, thanks for all your positive encouragement!

Karen said...

This is so sweet. Lucky little Thomas!
I have a Thomas too, but he's not so little anymore
x

Mary-Laure said...

Thanks for the tips, I'll look up the videos on YouTube!

Anonymous said...

i want to go here please and dance with these little creatures and maybe pet those longhorned cows!\

lovely, lovely.

Sara said...

I love it. I am sure he loved it as well. :)

Annah said...

So exquisite Ciara. I love the idea of a little tin and thread and scissors and taking any opportunity to get your fix!

RosesRadishesandRubbish said...

Enjoying your blog and this piece is great! It is fun to look at all the details. I am trying to make myself up a little drawing kit much like the tin you described. It is funny how little snippets of time can add up.:)

Fine Little Day said...

Wow, this is so beautiful Ciara!

Rima Staines said...

Wow... another delight! Really it is a wonderful scene Ciara! I think I like the little birds in the corner best and I love that you wrote "when he was a little boy" :) I feel very honoured to have your first ever piece!! They'll become collectors pieces :)
X

Deirdre said...

This is just so gorgeous and cute, Thomas is indeed a very lucky boy. Hours of work in this I well know.

Andrew Judge said...

Wow, Ciara. This is gorgeous. Can't wait to see it in the "flesh". Thomas will appreciate this for years to come. A

Chris Judge said...

Amazing ciara!!

Fiona said...

Thanks so much Ciara for this gorgeous piece of work. It brought a lump to my throat when I saw how beautiful it was and the amount of time,thought and love you put into it is overwhelming. I cant wait to put it up on Thomas's bebroom wall over his cot so its the last thing at night he sees and the first thing in the morning. Thomas is a very lucky boy

marta said...

i love this! i hope yo make a few and we can buy them

Ciara Brehony said...

You are all so sweet thank you!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

This is so very charming! I just adore the little parade in the bottom corner. A future heirloom for Thomas and his family.

Unknown said...

Oh Ciara,

Such a lovely piece that you've made for your nephew. I have to say I'm becoming addicted to redwork and am inspired to do something myself....

Frazer Huard said...

These pieces are magical! Such whimsy. I adore it.