Thank goodness for little brothers...

Classically E left her photography homework until the eleventh hour. That is, having had an entire two week Easter holiday she left it until Sunday to get the camera out! Thank goodness the sun was shining that day and thank goodness for little brothers and pet dogs!

The brief was to recreate photographs by a famous photographer. E chose Herbert List, a photographer with a taste for the young male body. When J looked at some of the examples he decided he would model for E but not with his top off! I can't say I blame him. These photo's may well end up on display in the school they both now attend.

So, with United Nations Peace Keeping Mum (that's me by the way) and props advisor (Dad), bribed models (Jake and Harvey) and chief (or should that read 'diva'?) photographer we managed to get some snaps done...

Bear in mind that these are iPod snapshots of very poor quality print outs from the school photocopier. The originals are fantastic; worth printing out at our local print shop for E's portfolio.

First up, the selection of Herbert List photographs followed by E's recreations. The dog was a star, he posed just long enough with his teddy dangling above his nose!

Say cheese!

She's a little camera shy but wanting to show off her ruffled tutu and chocolate brown pom poms. Mr and Mrs Mouse are delighted by the quiet but very polite new addition and have welcomed her into their cosy nest lined with wool scraps.

A long tea break is now due and perhaps some blanket crochet, though I am eyeing my mohair mix blue-grey yarn and thinking what a lovely mouse that would make!

It's a girl!

These mice are most addictive and I very rarely enjoy making more of one thing. I have several odd wrist warmers and the odd sock from my knitting days when knitting up the second was not an exciting prospect. I suppose it must be to do with creating their individual characters. No two will ever be the same.

I'm not quite sure what happened to thoughts of denim overalls for this little mouse. She was clearly not born to be a tomboy. In fact she is squeaking in anticipation of the cream coloured ballet slippers that are currently 'on the hook'. They must have pom poms like Mr and Mrs Mouse she says. I have told her that it is not usual for ballet slippers to have pom poms but she insists.

(Apple iPad spellcheck know that I WANT to call these things pom poms not pom pons! Grrrr!)

Stretching out...

The cat and her many sleeping positions never ceases to entertain me. The photo isn't very good I'm afraid but you can just make her out taking almost the entire length of a two seater sofa! Most mornings she can be found in her Amazon box behind this sofa, next to the radiator. Just lately though, with Spring sunshine (at last) coming in through the sunlounge windows she has started to sleep in patches of sun (see photo montage). This 'spot' is on a footstool which is Harvey height. She doesn't worry though, if he bothers her by licking her ears a bit too vigorously she just swipes him. They are good buddies really. She licks his ears too. Ew.

Psssst!

Mrs Mouse has some gossip for Mr Mouse. She's heard there's another mouse in the making. They are both keen to find out who. As far as they are concerned; the more the merrier. They have plenty of food to share. Only the other day Mr Mouse scored a large piece of chocolate Easter egg from the tall boy's bedroom. Mice are quite partial to chocolate now and then.

Mousey goings on...

Introducing Mr and Mrs Mouse! They live beneath the floorboards where things can get a little draughty. Mr Mouse keeps his woolly scarf on all the time which pleases Mrs Mouse because she had to risk life and limb to 'borrow' the wool from 'upstairs' and spent many evenings struggling with a nibbled cocktail stick to crochet it for him. Mrs Mouse loves their home, where there is never any shortage of wool (she is particularly fond of making pom poms). She chose a fetching walnut brown for her own shawl and slippers and couldn't believe her luck when a tiny wooden button fell through a gap in the floorboards. It's the small things in life that make them happy.

A mouse in the making...

If there is one good thing to come out of creating this colourful basket of softies this Easter break it is learning how to create certain shapes in crochet. I already knew how to make perfect spheres, having made several juggling balls, well, three, because I haven't quite got the hang of juggling with four yet. I figured out how to do bulgy bits for paws and feet too. Bodies have been kept simple until now. So behind the scenes here I have been working on my very own pattern for a little softie mouse.

I am hoping he will be suitable for a November craft fair. We have several of those in the run up to Christmas. In a few days I will give you a peek and I'd welcome any feedback. At the moment he is legless and I am tying myself up in knots trying to decide what he should wear. Notice my creations are almost always male. It must be the tomboy in me still. I really didn't have much time for dolls when I was small. Though I have bought a small quantity of fabric for little mouse dresses, so we shall see!