Dig, dig, dig!

Who knew greyhounds made such great landscape gardeners?

We took Albert to our friends garden recently, a safe space where we can let him off lead safely. He loved sniffing around and discovered his love for digging! We’re still not sure if it’s him relieving boredom/anxiety, for pure fun or to dig a cool pit to lie in. Whatever it is he is a very speedy digger and we need to fill in our friend’s garden!

Scroll for a photo of a very happy greyhound!

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Greyhounds and stairs

Another unique thing about many greyhounds is their struggle with stairs. Most greyhounds haven’t seen stairs until they retire from racing, they only know going from kennels to race track via a van/car which is all on one level. They can be very scared of stairs as it’s a new concept and even well practised stair greyhounds can look ungainly!

Albert was certainly no exception the struggle of stairs. Even after 4 months of going up and down 8 stairs to our flat 4 x a day he still needs a LOT of encouragement! The first few weeks were traumatic for him and we didn’t see how he would ever manage to do it. We were armed with plenty of tasty treats that we left on each step and placed his paws step by step and let him lean against us. He was terrified and shaking the whole time. He’s come a long way already but any distractions like a neighbour or postman means that anything else is suddenly way more interesting that getting up/down the stairs to the flat! A treat seems to be a good incentive for the ‘impossible’ task of getting down the stairs….

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Home Yoga/Doga

 
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Ahhh the bliss of a yoga class, dreams of beachside views and calming ocean sounds. Open your eyes, no that’s not a mountain in the distance, that’s not the breeze blowing against your cheek, that’s your greyhound standing over you breathing his I-just-ate-a-fishy-dinner- breath into your face.

(Keep scrolling for #Albertsweek comic.)

I practice yoga with the amazing Isabelle Tara. I’ve been joining her classes every Monday since the beginning of lockdown and in that time she has taught me the crow pose and headstand ( I can hold a shaky 5 second headstand but every week, with practise, it is getting stronger 👊 ). I highly recommend her classes and I love her teaching style, it’s really fun and she explains how each pose should feel and what we are trying to achieve with each movement. Sounds so obvious to me now but when I’ve done yoga in the past I’ve just followed the instructor blindly without really paying attention to how my body was reacting. Get involved with her Zoom yoga classes and find out more about here via her instagram.

One hungry greyhound

The first time Albert started to talk to me I was so confused! I'd never heard anything like it. It wasn't a bark or a whine but like a baby chatting gibberish. I don't even know how to spell it... Kind of like "arooawowoorahroohaah" The second time he did it I ignored him and he followed it with a demanding little foot stamp, it was hilarious. I think the laughing definitely encouraged him and now at about this time of day he lets me know it's time to start getting his dinner prepped by huffing, flouncing, foot stamping, staring and talking. 

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What a handsome dog!

Whenever I take Albert for a walk and pass someone who says “what a handsome dog!” or “That dog is beautiful” I can’t help but feel so proud!

We’ve been really working on getting his weight up and giving him a good diet which suddenly seems to have taken effect. His coat is healthier and his special dry skin baths have helped with his (terrible) dandruff. Although he has always been a handsome boy the weight gain and shiny coat mean that he is looking extra regal.

He still has baldy thighs, I’ve been adding oats to his breakfast which some greyhound owners have claimed help. There’s a slight fuzz growing back but I’m not holding out much hope for total regrowth, it doesn’t seem to bother him and as long as he is happy that’s the main thing.

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Albert's Bath time

We gave Albert his first bath recently. We were amazed by how much hair came off him and then how shiny he was when he was dry. He was very reluctant to get into the bath but when he was in he was so well behaved and just stood there while we shampooed him, such a good boy!

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Get ready with Albert

I had intended to make ‘A Day in the life of Albert’ comic but it was going to be too long a strip so I’ve split it into two. The first part chronicles his morning adventures which start at a very unsociable time of 5.30am (note the bed hair and lack of enthusiasm of the human).

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The mornings are very quiet, there are a few joggers out but not many dogs which is good for Albert at the moment as we are trying to slowly socialise him. He has only ever had interactions with other greyhounds so doesn’t recognise other types as dogs… especially not the small fluffy ones.
30 minutes after his walk he gets his breakfast which he wolfs down followed by a few burps and then settles back down into a deep sleep! This leaves me with a lot of time in the morning, I’ve started to use this time efficiently by creating illustrations or animations, working out and taking long baths.

The second part of Albert’s day will be here next Friday, spoiler: he sleeps a lot.

Take care, Bryony x

Banana-Drama

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Banana bread has been getting some seriously bad press on instagram recently. I know there’s a lot of people people making it and there are probably too many tutorials and stories. But there is a very simple reason; It’s so easy to make and it’s really delicious even if you’re not a banana lover or you’re a greyhound. Which brings me to my very own banana-drama. Yes, I made banana bread I’m so sorry! In my defence it’s my go-to bake and I had a freezer full of over ripe bananas.

I thought it would be fun to make a little comic of the disaster:

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So, on Wednesday afternoon I cut myself a very generous slice of freshly baked banana loaf and spread a little veg spread on (this is the ultimate banana bread experience). The dog was blowing zzz’s, his eyes rolling in the back of his head, completely out of it. I set my coffee and plate down in the living (I know, I know) and took my boyfriend’s to him in the office (AKA the bedroom). It’s a short commute, maybe 5 steps max and I came back into the living room to find Albert frantically chewing something on his bed. He sees me, puts on his guilty face, throws the banana bread up in the air and sends it straight into his gullet like a panicking pelican. The only way to get it back was to straddle him like a horse, pull his jaws apart and grab the disappearing cake! Trying to wrestle a fairly hefty slab of cake out of the neck of a 35kg dog is not easy or fun. I managed to recover 95% which is a good outcome, his mistake was to try and swallow it whole. Bryony 1 Albert 0

I obviously cut myself a new slice.

I’m still learning the greyhound ways, I now know that food in reachable places is a no-no. Stay tuned for more Albert comics and lockdown illustrations.

Take care,

Bryony x

PS. I know you’re curious, the recipe I use is: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/vegan-banana-bread I add toasted pecans and apricots. It’s Albert approved 🦡✔️

Inktober Week 1

This year I’ve taken part in Inktober, a daily drawing challenge started by Jake Parker (though I’m not following the ‘official’ prompts). I’ve been posting updates over on my instagram page (@bryonymoss_illustration). My aim is to create a double page of illustrations every day so that by the end of October I have a completed sketchbook, like this one I finished last month:

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It’s a good challenge for me to draw even if I don’t feel like drawing that day. Some of the elements that I have been drawing will be used within other projects that I have been working on so it also acts as a journal for me.

 

Week 1 reflection:

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I would say my favourite drawing from the week is the majestic pigeon from day 2, it was a fun one to draw and a character developed from one of my embroideries.

My least favourite is Day 5, it didn’t really turn out the way I expected to however there are elements of it that I like eg. the background leaves and the clover.

I am starting to think that a daily double page spread was a little ambitious! Especially as last week was one of my busiest weeks of the year ( but more about that later). I’m enjoying inktober so far but I'm finding it tricky without prompts, if you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see me draw, please get in touch!

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I've been using a Kaweco fountain pen (from Papersmiths, Shoreditch) and a PH Hightide Japan notebook ( from iyouall, East Dulwich) 📓🖋



Follow my progess over on instagram.

 

Christmas Round up!

A post Christmas round up with a few photos from my Christmas markets including The Craftyfox market, Craft Bustacular and SoLo Craft.

Bryony Moss Christmas Market Illustration and Print Maker.

I had smaller stands this year which meant  that space was very limited when you can't spread out you must spread up! my amazing friends designed and made this very tall stand for my display. The shelves can be moved around, the boards come apart and it all packs down very flat.  

My new baubles went down a treat, decorated with the illustrations from my latest christmas card designs. I decorated each bauble with a digitally printed transfer and my ceramicist friend fired them for me! 

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