Last night we watched 101 Dalmations after buying a remastered copy on Amazon.  Yep, that’s right, the original Walt Disney cartoon from way back in 1961.  The last time I saw this film I was just a wee little boy and Cruela was the most frightening woman a small boy could imagine.  Of course, these far too many years later it doesn’t look quite the same and it is a little odd that all the “adult” characters have English accents whilst all the little doggies talk with American children’s accents.  On the other hand, the artwork behind this animation is just superb.  You look at the incredibly short list of animators responsible by comparison to the screenfuls nowadays that need a specially written 5 minute song to playout while they are being displayed and you wonder how it could have been possible.  When you look at the loving detail and careful craftsmanship of these old Disney cartoons you also wonder if all the increased technology has been worthwhile.  The modern cartoons are very bright and glitzy with lots of special effects but it is a very different kind of artwork.  There is a charm to these old Disney cartoons that is somehow timeless.  By comparison, the modern ones seem cold and impersonal.  I don’t know how emotionally involved modern animators are in their work.  Maybe some of them do really love what they do but I am certain that the animators who worked on 101 Dalmations and the other early Disney classics poured everything they had into their work.   It is good to see that the cartoons have been so well remastered and can be preserved for future generations.  Almost 50 years on from when 101 Dalmations was first released maybe some of those animators are no longer with us but what a legacy of love to leave behind.   Maybe new is not always better …

As most cross stitch enthusiasts will already know, not only is cross stitching a very rewarding, relaxing hobby but it is also a form of art.

Although most cross stitch kits provide everything required to complete your chosen item, it still requires a degree of artistic skill to complete your piece of work, frame it and then decide where it should be hung to achieve the maximum result. If you have decided to make a present of your cross stitched piece to a friend or relative, not only will they greatly appreciate your gesture but will, no doubt, request your advice on the best method of displaying such a treasure.

What an achievement of your imagination and “arty crafty” skills to design your own pattern, choosing your own colour scheme and theme - that really is artistic talent. Imagine the pleasure on someone`s face when you give them an originally designed cross stitched emblem to be sewn to a jacket pocket or attached to a pair of jeans - a really glitzy pattern will turn ordinary jeans into special jeans. A young football fan will be delighted with a baseball cap in his favourite team`s colours with possibly his name alongside the team emblem.

There are so many different types of needle craft following on from cross stitch including embroidery, quilting, needlepoint tapestry work, knitting and crochet which are also amongst the most popular forms of needle craft.

Embroidery is also an artistic needle craft and when you think of the number of items that can be embroidered the list is endless. For example, it is possible to transform a plain pillow case by embroidering a pretty pattern onto it, edging the complete pillow case with lace and you have created a luxurious place to rest your weary head when you have finished all that stitching.

Of course, now you need a pretty patchwork quilt to compliment the pillow cases - get quilting.

Needlepoint tapestry uses wool instead of sewing floss and the completed results are very dramatic and hardwearing. Footstools are an ideal example of needlepoint tapestry.

Experienced knitters will know they are creating something unique when making a Fair Isle item of clothing. The patterns are very intricate and it needs a great deal of skill to use several colours (without dropping any stitches) but this form of knitting really does enable you to end up with a very special sweater, hat or cardigan.

Crochet is another form of needlecraft and it is possible to complete some really unusual items - one of my favourite keepsakes is a crochet christening shawl my mum made for my first baby. This shawl comprises some 500 individually crocheted shells and is absolutely gorgeous. As you can imagine, it has now become a family heirloom with my grandchildren each being christened in it.

So you see there are several forms of needle craft following on from cross stitch which could all be referred to as artistic. Cross stitched cushion covers, coasters, greetings cards, matching tablecloths and napkins are all beautiful pieces of Cross Stitch illustrating your artistic as well as sewing talents.

If you love graphic art and you haven’t yet got hold of a copy of FLIGHT then something is clearly and desperately wrong!  Mind you, not living in Canada is a hindrance as it is published there.  I should have been writing this five years ago but by god time flies faster than flight that is now in its fifth year.  Every Christmas I get a new copy of it from my brother who lives in Canada and I’m always amazed by the sheer variety of talent and inventiveness contained in it.  Flight showcases many different graphic artists ranging from wonderful painters to sketchy cartoons.  The stories can go across all five issues or just be a one-off and the variety of ideas and characters is staggering.  The first one is always about a fox-like creature with a crystal horn called Rex and you really get to love this little alien creature as he goes on his long voyage of self-discovery in a bizarre world of alien life forms.  One particular cartoon style strip that only started in issue four is so funny I almost cry.  It has the bizarre title of ‘Igloo-head and Tree-head’ who are the two main characters and the artist-writer of this one really has a strange and wonderful sense of humour with the innocence of a child thrown in for good measure.  Some stories are moral messages, others are just fun.  Some make you think, others make you feel, but given the variety it is hard not to find something you like and to be able to enjoy such a wide range of artistic and writing talent is a real joy.  Even if you don’t manage to find a copy in your own country it is certainly worth sending off to Canada for.  The only reason I haven’t name-checked particular artists here is that it would seem a shame to name some and leave others out as they are all doing such a wonderful job of contributing to this project.  But let’s give a mention to Kazu Kibuishi who is behind the whole Flight project.  Let’s hope it soars on for many years to come.

Have you ever wondered how comic artists manage to conceive of some of the bizarre and outrageous poses of their characters?  That leering expression or striding hero figure, that posturing or fawning servant, for instance?  Well, Glenn Fabry, a comic artist of no small talent has given us the privilege of a glimpse into his world by showing us the photos he took of himself for some of his work, which flip over to the final artwork when you put your cursor on the photo.  Go and have a look.  It’s really a fun way to look at how an artist works.  Then come back here and tell us what you thought of it.  You just need to click here to go to the right page on Glenn Fabry’s website.