Work

Some days the only thing you can do is knit (and blog). This my portable knitting kit today:g

 

Here's a glimpse to something else I'm working on - little boxes for my finger puppets. More photos of the completed ones hopefully coming up soon. h

These are upcycled vintage sewing boxes, the ones that open up like a staircase. If you have one like this that you don't need, and would like to trade it for a handmade finger puppet of your choice, please let me know!g

 

More Deer

New finger puppets and a new print available here!d

Finger Puppets by Fellow Etsy Coleagues

Before opening my Etsy shop last week, I've done some research and, among many finds that I plan to post here in the next few weeks, I found these elegant skull finger puppets, also sold on Etsy, by DeweyDecimalCrafts (who is studying to be a librarian, and all her profits go towards her education in library science - so inspiring, and for a good cause, too!):l

 

I also came across super cool finger puppet maker Lee-Anne Poole of KinkyCozies, who knits these hilarious finger puppets, for adults only!h

 

The Complete Finger Puppets Series

Finally the finger puppets project is complete! Bears, rabbits, kangaroos, foxes and cammels, five of each! The fun part is mixing them up and creating all kinds of families. Here are a few:l

 

More families and combinations on Lazy Animals Etsy shop, that will hopefully open soon. Look up for updates and discounts on Lazy Animals facebook page.g

Finger Zoo

Introducing the first complete finger zoo set! h

Second from the right is the newest member - the camel, another animal that is very dear to my heart. I think this specific one bears a certain resemblance to a tiger or a panther, at least the animated ones like the pink panther. Let's say this is my tribute to all of you protesters all over the Middle East - I'm sure you're reading my blog right now. Please look deeply into the eyes of this tiger-camel and let your hearts fill up with courage and motivation!n

Also a first appearance on this blog of Mr. Rabbit, second from the left, dedicated to my little friend Yanai, whose finger got bit by a terrible rabbit!h

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Dancing Fox

Next on the finger puppets series - Mr. Fox! I prepared a little stop-motion clip for him, inspired by these adorable clips by Eva of Misako Mimoko, the coolest craft-maker and blogger ever(!), whose work has always been an endless source of inspiration.j

Here are some images of her delicious dalls: j

Hebrew readers, please check out this post by another very-cool-artist-and-blogger Galia Pasternak, featuring a portrait of me! f

Finger Kangaroos

More finger puppets! and this time one of my all time favorites - kangaroos.

Here is another one I made a while ago -

and a self portrait as a kangaroo from last winter.

Finger bears

These are the first members of my new finger-puppets series. They will be on sale, along with a few more friends, and also along with some copies of "Clips", a beautiful artist-book by my talented friend Galia Pasternak, at "Minshar" craft-fair, on May 30th. g

Porcupine

I am finally proud to present the first knitted animal I have made without using a pattern. It was vaguely planned in my mind as I started it but I mostly made it up along the way. Making it was very enjoyable and liberating after working with patterns for so long. I still have a lot to learn, but it was very encouraging to look at my finished, tail-less, crooked, unsymmetrical porcupine and to realize I can already make up my own patterns, clumsy as they might be.j

 

Sister Kiwi

Knitting is one of the slowest and most repetitive activities I know, but I have found a way to make it even more so. it's very simple: once you've finally finished a knitting project, start over and knit another one exactly like the one you've just finished!g

You can learn a lot by doing something twice! A less frustrating option is to knit a smaller version of your project, which can be less time-consuming,  but more challenging, as you would have to do some thinking and adapting, instead of just following instructions (if you're working with a pattern, of course). I have found this to be a good way to learn.k

Also, in case you're still a beginner and your kiwi or whatever it is you've made tends to look a little sad and unfortunate, it will gain a friend, that with a bit of patience and persistence might even seem a little more hopeful (but even if not, at least they would both have each other).s