Hand me downs

The day before yesterday Martha arrived back from a couple of nights at my parents with my old doll's pram, and a doll my Grandma once gave me, with an outfit she had knitted for him.

There's something very poignant about a hand knitted item which was made by someone who is now long dead. I think about that poignancy a lot as my other Grandmother - Gran - was a prolific knitter and my girls now wear some of the many cardigans she knitted for me and my sister

I may be a sentimental fool, but I like to think a little of their love for me is in each stitch, and that love is being passed on down the generations when Martha and Greta wear or play with things they made.

I only know my mother's father through things he made, as he died long before I was born, but I feel I know him well, and Martha knows about him too, as she grows up with his work on her living room wall.

And when she spins around in a princess outfit made by my Mum, looking rather a lot like the lady in the poster painted by my Grandad,

I like to think that the things I make will live for longer than me, so that even if my creations never reach a wider audience than my family they will still let my great grandchildren understand a little about me and my world.

And the winner is................

Rejects

Sometimes you spend an evening working away, an evening that's very precious because there aren't many available when you work two a week and have a baby who doesn't approve of sleeping between 7-midnight.
You spend the evening working and working, you finish the piece and then you put it with the other pieces it's meant to complement, and you realise it doesn't work at all.
Oh that's a horrible sinking feeling. I had that feeling when I made this last night.
If anyone would like this rejected papercut then leave a comment below....

A Very Snowy Butterfly

It's 'Book Day' at school today, so Martha decided she would go as the butterfly at the end of 'The Very Hungry Catterpillar' I loved making this costume, and she LOVED wearing it.

A 'get-in' in pictures.

On Sunday I embarked on a snowy journey to Richmond - bus. train, another  train and I was there. Miraculously it took only an hour and a bit - Sunday + snow + London normally equals travel chaos.

I had to get to Richmond for the get-in of 'Muswell Hill' - A play at Orange Tree Theatre which I have designed the set and costumes for. This was to be possibly the smoothest get in ever - the play's set in a modern kitchen in Muswell Hill, The floorboards had already been painted and varnished, and the kitchen was already built and painted too.

So once the last show's floor had come up, My floor boards went straight down.

Time for lunch. At Orange Tree lunch for the Stage Management/Techies consists of eggs and soldiers, the eggs are boiled in kettles... it's fast becoming a get in tradition, theatre folk tend to be keen on their traditions. Handily Octavia, the artistic director's daughter, has chickens which keep everyone supplied with gorgeous free range eggs.

The floor was laid, the kitchen wheeled in to place, and it was time for a spot of rigging and focussing of lights.

I just had to paint a door before wending my way back home in the snow.

Next morning, after a spot of early morning snowman building...

...it was time for Sam Walters, the director to come and have a look, and plot the lighting cues.

Then it was time to dress the set with the props the stage management team had spent the past month collecting and making.

My favourite of their creations has to be these delicious looking deserts, make from not-so-delicious pva glue, paint, and sawdust, and the fake avocado and prawn starters.

and of course they also had to create versions that come back from the dining room and go into the dishwasher...

So the set was in and dressed, the costumes were ready in the dressing rooms, the lights were rigged and plotted...just add actors and you have a play.

Once they'd teched and dressed it was time for me to slope off and leave them.

I hope they have a lovely run - it's on until the 10th March, book tickets here if you fancy.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Advice

I don't like to be given advice.
If someone does attempt to advise me on any matter I'm more likely to then go and do the opposite than to follow what they say. That dislike of others offering their wisdom is one of the last vestiges of my teenage self, and something I should really grow out of at the grand old age of thirty.




If I'm going to start following the advice of others then I think this little nugget is a good one to begin with -


"Love one another and you will be happy.
It's as simple and difficult as that.
There is no other way."
Michael Leunig, from 'A common prayer'. 


Perfect for Valentine's day, or a wedding present don't you think? you do? well then take a peek here... 

An ode to my slow cooker

When you have a day that begins before 6am, involves wrangling two children unwillingly into their clothes and out the door in time for school, then taking the smaller of those children across London on a bus and two trains (in the pouring rain) to a theatre where you try to appear professional whilst making sure the baby doesn't trash the theatre or kill herself in the workshop, before making the trek back across London in time to collect the big one from school, bring her home and attempt to engage in the endless make believe games she insists on me playing (Oh for the day to arrive when the little one can take my place)

When you have a day like that and you walk through the door to the smell of herby chickeny goodness, then you can't help but love your slow cooker almost as much as the children (who are the reason you need it as you can no longer live on take aways as you did in those faintly remembered pre children days)

I'd almost forgotten I'd put it on first thing - it had been so many hours earlier that I'd thrown some unpromising veg in it with some barley, chicken, herbs and water. It seems like alchemy that such humble beginnings turn into this.

The theatre was Orange Tree by the way, where I'm designing the set and costumes for 'Muswell Hill'.

Makeover

You might have noticed things are looking a little different here. I am very much still a puppet doll maker, and Rose Lullaby Dolls will still be open for business, but I'm doing so many different things these days that I'd like to blog about. So I thought a more general blog title was appropriate.

I also have a new shop opening on etsy called 'Robyn Made' which will be filling up with papercuts over the next few weeks, it's just got one item at the moment, but it's a very pretty item - a papercut family tree.



I'm excited about starting to blog about my theatre work, and the wonderful creations of the people taking part in my workshops. I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride.

Workshops!

Spring 2012 Workshops

After February half term I'm starting a series of workshops locally, here are some details on what's happening. Contact me here to book your places!

At Manor Farm House

Manor Farm Site, Pinn Way, Ruislip HA4 7QL

Pre school arts and crafts

Tues mornings throughout term time starting on 21st February 10.30-12 noon.

We’ll be making masks, hats, capes, and puppets amongst other things. There’ll be building blocks and some baby toys for little ones, playdough to squidge, colouring to do and a drink and a biscuit for everyone. We’ll finish each session with a story related to our make and some songs.

£3 per child (siblings under a year free) drop in, but spaces are limited.

Adult Rod Puppet Making.

Tues evenings 7.30-9.30 21st Feb-27th March (6 weeks) 

Working with bamboo, masking tape and papier mache we’ll sculpt your own individual puppet, then give them hair and clothes using a variety of yarns, fabrics and leathers.

I’ll be teaching you my own way of working, which I have used to make puppets for theatre  and film and as art objects.

£60 per person, including materials and refreshments.

Make a Crazy Creature

Knitting class for ages 8+

3rd April 10-1pm.

Learn to cast on, knit, and cast off and create your own little crazy creature in the process!

£15 to include materials, refreshments and your own knitting needles to take home so you can carry on creating.

You’ll need to be able to sit and concentrate carefully for this class.

Make a Colourful Corsage.

Hand sewing class for age 8+

4th April 10-1pm.

Learn some basic sewing techniques and create beautiful brooch or corsage in the process!

We’ll be using gorgeous fabrics to design and make something really individual.

£15 to include materials and refreshments.

You’ll need to be able to sit and concentrate carefully for this class.

At Little Willows in Pinner

Children's Rod Puppet Making for ages 8+

10th April 2012

Make your own Rod Puppet using all sorts of materials.

Please contact Little Willows for prices, times and availability.

http://www.little-willows.co.uk/index.html

At Pinner Library

Weekly Craft Club - Knitting!

Every Thursday during term time from the 23rd February 6-7.30pm

We're asking for £3 for the half term - just to cover materials used during the session.

Birthday Parties

I run puppet making workshops and parties for boys and girls aged from 5-11. I can create a workshop on any theme, provide all materials and clear up afterwards! Please email me for more details

featured on frankly!

The lovely folksy folk have featured me in their online magazine! take a look here to find out about my 'essential kit'