With his black and white outfit, the crochet panda is difficult to photograph. This picture had the right feeling to it. I love how the white parts of Pom’s back and head light up where the sunlight touches it.
Category: Art
Something wet
My next crochet pattern will be one of an otter (European kind). Normally I post just a simple sketch, but this time I felt like drawing the pattern image and posting it here. At the top of each of my patterns is an illustration of the animal the pattern is for. Usually it is an improved and coloured version of my first sketch. For the otter pattern, this illustration you will find at the top.
Otters are very entertaining and whimsical animals. Every time I’ve seen them in a zoo, they always make me laugh with their curious and playful attitudes. I doubted about the shape of my crochet version. Otters their features aren’t very suitable for a doll shaped animal, so it had to be either standing on two feet, or four feet. As you can see I decided to go for the two feet option. I believe that is the most representative position to make the otter as I described above.
I hope all of you who have asked me to make an otter pattern, will be looking forward to this crochet otter as much as I do!
Finse and Jonesy’s night of fireflies
As desktop wallpaper I most often use one of my illustrations. Untill yesterday, my Christmas illustration featured on both my laptop and iPhone desktops, which obviously was becoming outdated. I had many ideas for new illustrations, but didn’t find the time to actually make one. After Jones was finished I decided to skip crocheting for a few weeks to paint a new illustration.
First I thought of making a strictly seasonal spring painting but also had the idea of a big field with fireflies in it. And by all means, it had to become a Son’s Popkes themed illustration. I decided to go for the field with fireflies, and Finse and Jonesy.
When the illustration was finished, I was not happy at all with the result. Somehow the colours didn’t seem right to me. As usual I’m starting to like the illustration now. It is not perfect, but I love the atmosphere and the expressions of the animals. It is probably some kind of an artist syndrome, not liking the result immediately….it always takes time for me to really love what I made and then I’m absolutely proud. It is a weird thing.
Well, now I’m back to crocheting. On a whim I decided I’m going to design a panda. Two leftovers of yarn caught my attention and I decided they had to become a panda. (Hopefully there is enough for the whole beast.) After that I’m back to my list of otter, mole and red panda. I don’t know the order in which I’m going to make them and a rat or mouse also is on my mind.
Enough to be done!
Finse and Jonesy’s night of fireflies is acrylic on canvas, 24 x 18 cm.
Upcoming spring pattern
And now for something completely different. Well, perhaps not completely but a bit. My next pattern will be my first bird pattern. Last year I thought of making a duckling and decided to wait till spring this year. Yes, a duckling! I love ducks and especially mallards and white ducks and do think a pattern for a crochet duckling will make a perfect crochet spring project.
If the duckling is going to meet my expectations, I will also make his father someday. I very much hope I can make my duckling as whimsical as he looks in the second sketch. Looking forward to present my first little bird.
A little surprise pattern will follow soon……
A silent one
Just Rupert.
Merry Christmas!
The Christmas holiday has started and I’m closing the previous period with a Son’s Popkes adventure.
A Son’s Popkes adventure by Sonja van der Wijk. Acrylic on canvas, 30 x 20 cm.
Finse, Falun and Rupert went into a dark forest to find themselves the perfect Christmas tree. It took them all day and by nightfall they finally found it and went back home.
I wish you all a great and fun time and a very cosy Christmas! On New Years day I’m back with an image post about dolls made by all of you. See you then!
New logo, improved patterns
This week I’ve been busy improving and refreshing all my patterns. When I started writing these patterns I didn’t have a good logo yet and did not use the sketches as more than just the sketch. Later I decided to make the sketches in colour and to add them to the patterns.
Also, the more animals I designed, the more complete the patterns became. Because I think good quality patterns are very important, the old versions were good, but the new ones just better(looking), I decided to give all my patterns the same layout. I also changed my Son’s Popkes name logo a bit, because I noticed some people couldn’t read it. And that is very important!
I’m glad I’m finished now with refreshing the patterns, it was a lot of work and not much fun to do. Everyone who’ve bought a pattern, will get an email from either Craftsy or Ravelry with a new and free download link for the improved version. It really looks better and I’m very happy with the result.
Here’s another image to show all the sketches that are now appearing in the patterns.
Haha, Son’s Popkes! Thanks for all your support and I hope you like the improved patterns. If you’ve bought a pattern directly from me and want a new version, please let me know!
Leaves and hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are fond of leaves. They love to rustle through them, to find food and when winter is arriving they nestle themselves in a nice pile of leaves and other bedding materials to keep them warm and cosy.
I couldn’t think of a better season to design a crochet hedgehog pattern. Here’s a first glimpse of Flims in a beautiful coloured autumn scenery.
I’m not finished yet with the pattern but it will be available next week.
Now I’m back to enjoying my favorite season, like hedgehogs rustling through the leaves, sniffing in all the lovely smells and watching the beautiful colours of autumn. I wish it could last forever….
An autumn duo
What foxes do
When you don’t see them.
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