Kirsty Armstrong Sculpture

Hi KAS followers! I’ve been busy working through my Erik the Otter orders recently, and I’ll be contacting the next few on the list shortly with an update. 😬

Unfortunately, I’ve been slightly slowed down during the last two weeks by re-tearing the cartilage in my knee, as well as other various strains on my wrists and elbows! 😩 Poor ‘Foxy’ (not his real name! 🦊) has had very slow boring walks too, as I can’t walk up or down any slopes!

My lovely husband has rigged up a hoist in my work room which now takes the weight of Erik when I’m polishing him, and this has helped enormously! When each heavy metal otter takes half an hour of holding it up be polished, you can possibly imagine what that was doing to my ‘old’ wrists!

So, updates soon for all those patiently waiting for your Erik to be ready!

Our little rescue Collie… 🥰

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Hi KAS followers! Mesmerising northern lights over our garden last night…🤩

Hi KAS followers! Update on Erik…

🥳 I’ll be collecting the next batch of cast ‘Eriks’ in mid May, so not too long to wait now if you’ve ordered one!

🦦 There are still two Eriks from the first 25 pieces available at the introductory price.

📞 Please message me for details if you’re interested, with obligation to purchase!

💰Instalment plans are available over three months via PayPal.

Hi KAS followers! What a beautiful day it’s been today here in Cumbria today. ☀️ Foxy (not his real name! 🦊) has been enjoying the woods, and I’ve been sculpting a Bull’s nose (more on that later!)

I’ve also had a *comment on my website from ‘Marvin’… I’m not certain that Marvin is in the right job! 🤔… unless he thinks my sculptures are real animals?! 🤷🏻‍♀️😆

*I’ve been told that ‘vetstoken’ means ‘fattening’ in Dutch! Even more bizarre! 😁

Hi KAS followers! This is the QR code for my online Sh0p on the wonderful British Craft House selling platform.

🇬🇧 I have been part of the British Craft House since it was founded in 2019.

🎁 It is full of thoughtful gift ideas all handcrafted by hand picked small independent businesses, creating original designs all over Great Britain!

📸 To take a look, simply point your phone’s camera at the QR code below (you’ll need FB open on a separate device! 😬) and the link will automatically pop up for you to follow.

👀You can also take a look at all the other fabulous British business on there too! 🇬🇧

Hi KAS followers!
I finished this Harriet Hare with a bronze & verdigris effect a few weeks ago… I might give Erik Otter the same treatment?! 🤔🦦What do you think? 👍🏻 👎🏻😊

Hi KAS followers!

Foxy (not his real name! 🦊) has been a star today. 🌟 As a previously bullied farm dog, he tends to panic when more than one dog runs up to us barking, but he didn’t react today when we were surrounded by three XL Bully-type dogs (with absolutely no recall!). 😳

Eventually, the owners got their dogs under control, and I came home and designed a swing label for Erik thd Otter! It’ll be printed on recycled card and a batch should be in the post tomorrow! 🥳

Hi KAS followers! I’m busy making packaging for the first Otters today… It does make rather a mess though!

🌱 I use new double walled recycled cardboard boxes, and I reuse donated wool packing. 🐑 ☑️

🌱 Although polystyrene isn’t exactly environmentally friendly, it is perfect for creating a rigid internal box to protect my work in transit. It can also be reused in plant pots for drainage or as insulation. ☑️

🌱I use 15 metres of bubblewrap in each parcel, which again perfectly protects each sculpture in transit and is recyclable. It is also in long lengths so it could be used as greenhouse insulation, or for protecting your own items! ☑️

🌱Finally, I recycle cardboard boxes to make rigid vertical and horizontal columns within the box which prevents any possible ‘crushing’ from external sources during transit. ☑️

🚢 World-wide shipping is available for all my sculptures (with the regrettable exception of Europe after Brexit-related changes).

Hi KAS followers! I’ve finally got all of the THREE different finishes for Erik’ the Otter polished and photographed! Cold-cast BRONZE, PEWTER and IRON.
🦦🦦🦦🦦🦦🦦

I’ll be contacting all those on the list to ask for your final decision, and then they’ll be cast to order (in the Lake District) over the next few weeks. Those of you who have already decided on the pewter version will get yours sooner as I already have those cast ready to polish and finish!
🤔🦦🤔🦦🤔🦦🤔🦦

(There are now only 3 remaining pieces to order from the first batch of 25 at the introductory price. Please message me if you’re interested in receiving the details).

Hi KAS followers! I’ve been busy finishing the first Erik Otters, and so I thought I’d show you the difference between the polished cold-cast bronze (on the left) and the matt cold-cast iron on the right).

There are now only four of the first 25 pieces available for preorder at the introductory price (please message me for details with no obligation to purchase 😊). There will also be a pewter option, which I’ll show you once I’ve finished the first one! 🦦😬

I’d be very grateful if you could ‘spread the Erik-Love’ by sharing if you are able! 🙏🏻😊

Hi KAS followers! 🦦🦦🦦🦦🦦I’ve just been to collect the first Otters!
I’ll start finishing one of each different finish tomorrow, ready for photographing them ‘out in the wild’ next week.

Many thanks to Lakeland Moulding for their moulding and casting! 😊

Hi KAS followers! Thank you for all your good wishes, and although I’m not quite right yet, I do feel a lot better today!
🦦🦦🦦🦦🦦🦦🦦🦦🦦🦦🦦🦦🦦🦦
I’ve also heard today that Erik the Otter has been moulded, and the first casts should be ready to pick up next week! I should also have the final production c0sts tomorrow, which means that I’ll now be able to set the individual c0st of each ‘Erik’. I’ll be contacting everyone on the ‘Interested’ list shortly.

More details very soon… (follow my page for further updates)

Hi KAS followers! As my days off are usually Thursdays & Fridays, I’m in the studio today putting the finishing touches to one of the last remaining Harriet Hares… 🐇

This afternoon I’ll be working in my other business, which is ‘TWIGS’ (Tidying & Weeding In Gardens Service). It’s Baltic here in Cumbria, so I’m pinching son number two’s skiing sallopettes to wear while weeding a customers garden! 👩🏻‍🌾 🥶⛷️

What are you up to this weekend? 🤔

Hi KAS followers! Today is 📚 One of my favourite books as a child was Beatrix Potter’s, ‘The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin’. 🐿️

📚I’ve had an illustration from the book (which I inherited from my great Aunt) next to my bed since the age of 8, and it has inspired my interest in red squirrel conservation.

📚 🐿️ This has led me to;

• Produce a series of red squirrel sculptures (with a new one on the way!)
• To be one of the founders of our local red squirrel conservation group (which is now a registered charity)
• And, most exciting of all, to present one of my red squirrel sculptures (called ‘Charles’) to His Majesty, King Charles! It now lives at Birkhall, on the Balmoral estate.

📚The power of books is amazing!

📚What’s your favourite book? 🤔

Hi KAS followers! I’ve now also finished the wax Labrador plaque ready for moulding and casting!

The Flat Coated Retriever will be made in copper and pewter, and the Lab in copper, bronze and pewter.

These are 10cm square and will eventually be used on various different products; they’ll be mounted in box frames, on memorial boxes, treat storage tins and lead hooks.

The Cocker Spaniel and Weimaraner will be next! 🐾😬

Hi KAS followers! Here’s a lovely post by JOYSOFGLASS which shows just a selection of the gorgeous Hare themed gifts available from some of the handpicked British artisans on the British Craft House ! (It includes my Hare & Moon tin too! 🐇 🌙!) 😊

Hi KAS followers! Ooh! 🎉 Facebook recognised me as a top ‘rising creator’ this week! Well, just to help prove them right, I’ve been working on three new projects this week;

I’ve started a new Flatcoated retriever and a Labrador plaque. Each dog ‘portrait’ will have descriptive words about each breed around the edges. I’ve also stated the new squirrel kitten piece!

By the way, if you have a Labrador, please add any words to describe the breed in the comments and I’ll choose six of the best! 🐾 🐕

Hi KAS followers! 🐿️🐿️🐿️🐿️🐿️
Now that the Otter is finished, I’ve been thinking about what I should sculpt next? 🤔

All my squirrel pieces have either sold out or very nearly so (there are now only two of these painted ‘Rowan’ red squirrels available, and two in copper).

So, I’m about to start a new Red Squirrel piece…

It’ll be the 6th in the series, which has included; Charles (His majesty King Charles has one of those! 🤩), Willow, Hope, George, and lastly, Rowan.

The new piece will have two baby squirrels on it, each of which will need a name. The female will have a ‘tree’ name(🤔), and the other will have a very British male name?

I’m very open to suggestions! 🐿️🐿️

Hi KAS followers! 🦦Erik has now arrived safely at Lakeland Moulding in the Lake District, where he’ll be moulded. Production will then start with him being made in cold-cast bronze, iron, and pewter.

Please follow my page for the latest updates. 😊

You can also subscribe to my newsletter updates on my website via the button at the bottom of the home page. (Link in comments)

Hi KAS followers! 🦦Literally YEARS after I first started him, ‘Erik’ the Otter is finally ready for moulding! 🥳 🍾

I hadn’t quite got him finished by the end of last week when I was due to take him down to the Lakes for production, but now he’s ready to go at last!

Once I have all the production costs in, then I’ll be in touch with everyone who has asked to be on the list for one of the first casts.

Erik will be made in cold-cast Iron, bronze, and pewter, and probably also as a hand painted version.