Yes I know, I’m an illustrator and I should be drawing stuff but I’m still in a post-uni-get-drawing-away-from-me slump. So, until inspiration comes back, I’m concentrating on working more hours in the shop where I currently find myself employed (or enslaved, take your pick. Honestly, it’s 40C and we have no air-con! It’s that muggy that the air is practically drinkable). And to keep the creative juices flowing, in my spare time I am improving my crochet skills and this neon rhino is my latest finished project.
The pattern is by designer Heidi Bears and is called Thandi the African Flower Rhino. Rhinos are one of my most favourite animals along with cows, sharks and nudibranchs (weird selection, I know) but are unfortunately fast becoming extinct. The Western Black rhino was announced to have been ‘wiped out’ in 2013 and the Northern White Rhino is on the very brink. So I was glad that a small amount of the proceeds from buying this pattern went towards the Kariega Foundation, dedicated to preserving rhinos.
Needless to say I am very happy with my rhino, who has been named Basil, I don’t know why, he just looks like a Basil. He looks lonely though so I think I might have to make him a friend, who will probably end up being called Sybil…
My cat Lily, using herself most generously to show the scale of the rhino.
