red_swirl

Feverishly working on Mr. February (yes, it's nearly ended) and getting ready for Uni - tomorrow.

Posted by red swirl at 21:56 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Song. It's funny how the mind works. First I was thinking about songs, and how many types there are - not just rock and pop, but opera, hymns, jazz, medieval chants - and that's just songs in European cultures!! I was thinking of trying to use as many colours as possible, and I had the idea of using the 4 letters to contain them.

Then I started thinking about the octave and how it's actually part of physics, lots of cultures have recognised it, and how songs can be analysed quite mathematically. I had decided to do a swirl for the "s" of song, sort of like a fern, and I guess thinking about the octave as a natural phenomena, I decided to defpict all different types of nature, using a limited palette. There you are. The complete opposite of how I started out.

By the way, I think the bamboo must have been inspired by my cookie cutter, the inside is here.

Mood: Do you like the website redesign?
Sorry, I had to cut & paste all the existing comments - but thanks, it's so great to hear from you!

Posted by red swirl at 20:23 | Permalink | Comments (1)

The cucumbers like me enough to put out little flowers. Or is it that they think they better reproduce now, before they get shaded out? Either way, there's little flowers in amongst the cucumber leaves, and 1 zucchini flower too. I think they're all male flowers, so nothing to eat yet. A promising sign, nonetheless. ;D

Yes, yes, I know there's a little mildew on a few leaves, but I don't think it's doing them any harm. I might water a little less or give them some seaweed solution - if I get time. Otherwise, well it's meant to be an organic garden!! And my long term aim is to find out which heritage vegetables are most productive in my conditions, including my lack of interest in spraying them with anything, even an organic home-brewed anti-fungicide!!

Mood: Madly rushing to tidy our house before Uni starts next week.

Posted by red swirl at 20:08 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Mr. February, remember him? He was meant to be finished by the end of this month, for the Month of Softies theme a "Heart-shaped Box". Yes, he's started ... but not finished, and I've been thinking about why:

I like the concept for Mr. February, so I want him to turn out well. He's also my first softie. But beyond that, I have so much more confidence in my knitting compared to my sewing. I have lots more knitting experience: my dolls had a full knitted wardrobe of jumpers and overalls (80s fluro green and orange!!) Hardly any sewn dresses, my stitches were too big!

I guess that's the problem really. I've developed techniques for keeping an even tension in knitting. I've even transferred them to crochet, without much fuss. Something to do with visual checking; pulling the wool around 2cm along the needle after each stitch; but not pulling stitches taut until I'm at the next one. I don't have similar techniques for sewing, so it takes lots, lots more concentration, so I procrastinate and do other things, like seals ... ;D

Does anyone else find knitting so much easier?

Mood: How much do you wanna bet my next softie will be felted?

Posted by red swirl at 21:44 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Needle felting! I've been hoping I'd like it. Waiting and waiting for the local woolshop to get in some wool, finally going to Tapestry Craft on Friday ...

I wanted to use this book, which I bought in Berlin. It came with one needle - phew, I didn't realise how hard it is to buy a felting needle in Australia!! And instructions for making various naturalistic animals (yes, I can read German). So I had a go making a seal, one of my all-time favourite animals - and I'm really pleased with how he turned out. I want to make more and more and more ... the only downer is, I broke the needle just as I was finishing him.

Heaps more images at my flickr. Sorry about the quality of camera-phone images.

Mood: up, up, up oops down ;D
BTW: if you want to envy the resources available in other countries, go to the German Amazon, and type in "Filz" (felt).

Posted by red swirl at 11:51 | Permalink | Comments (1)

So that's why Squiggle always comes with me to the woolshop!

Usually, because I have Squiggle with me, I rush into Tapestry Craft, tear down the stairs and hurtle up to the counter saying "Hi, do you have100% wool for felting, 8 ply pink shhh shhh sorry i'm in a bit of oops a hurry oh that's great shhh shhh yes, yes i'll take that thanks lots bye!" But today I left Squiggle with Lster, and the result is ... one pattern book, 2 balls wool, very nearly alot of other patterns and wool ... oh and some expensive-ish wool rovings, the real purpose of the trip.

The book is by Cleckheaton "Wildlife in 8 ply". What's with the Australiana? Well, I think Squiggle would enjoy a good-looking fairy penguin and Lster's Mum is an avid bird-watcher, so I might make her a birthday Kookaburra. The Bilby, Frill-neck Lizards, Wombat and Galahs look like interesting knits to learn more about softies, and I'm sure Squiggle will enjoy the results.

Mood: Only one week's holiday left!! Argghh!!

Posted by red swirl at 22:17 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, that's what happens when you don't follow a pattern! I was intending to make a cute amigurumi, like the ones in this flickr group. But I went ahead by myself, working out the pattern as I went along. While I like the result so far, I've decided she seems too dignified to be called "cute". Funny how you start seeing personalities in toys you make. :)

What brought on all this introspection? Well, I was trying to work out what proportion her limbs should be in relation to her head and torso. I started thinking that she reminded me of something, and after a few days, I realised it's Mum's reproduction of a Cycladic figure. Must have been in my mind unconsciously or something ...

On the subject of patterns, I've just found Crafty Pants' blog. It's so cool, she's collected together lots of fabulous free crochet patterns for cute creatures - I want to make this duckling, this elephant and this seal.

Mood: Yay, it's finally raining outside!

Posted by red swirl at 20:32 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Simple. A plate, a wooden table, a red wall. My homage to Scandinavian design, to its vibrant colours, clear shapes and contrasts of plain wood and plain white. I'm thinking Marimekko, Ikea, Kosta Boda and how what you see as a child influences the designs you like as an adult.

Marimekko is still a big influence on artists and crafts people - see whip up. Sometimes people rather laugh at Ikea, it's funny diagrams and put-it-together-yourself philosophy. But I have fond memories of Ikea Gordon in the '80s, and of the contrast between what Ikea's furniture and most other furniture available then. And I still can't understand some designers on the UK changing rooms hating pine. Maybe I've never looked properly at the woods they love, only seen the bad quality knock-offs made for those Aussies who can't come to terms with living here ...

It's interesting that Mum, Nan and many other Sydneysiders were so influenced by Scandinavian design and Marion Hall Best. I fully understand that bright colours and a sense of space and clean are vital in countries that experience long, dark winters. But why should the same things work so well where there is plenty of space and light? I don't know ...

Of course, simple design is not simple. My drawing captures a little of how I feel, but can't match what I see in my head.

Mood: so glad it's cooler!!

Posted by red swirl at 16:54 | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'll give you a riddle -

who has ...
... an Italian name but is not Italian?
... a law degree but is not a lawyer?
... trouble adding up but is studying science?
... fluent French but has never been to France?
... a complete set of the UK changing rooms magazine, ring bound, but no landlord's permission to paint the walls?
... bought no novels in the last 5 years but many, many non-fiction books?
... filmed, edited, floor managed, directed and produced TV programs but rarely seen TV when growing up?
... said traditional wedding vows in church, wearing red and black and receiving a plastic (and silver) ring?
... a husband who actually thinks a yellow sofa is a good idea, and whose favourite colour is also red?
... a daughter she loves very much?

All of me, all the contradictions, all me. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone, singles and couples alike!

Posted by red swirl at 14:27 | Permalink | Comments (1)

My favourite in any Japanese restaurant is always Oyako-don (followed closely by salmon sushi with lots of wasabi, yum). I've been searching for a simple Oyako-don recipe for some time, and I think I finally found one here. For some reason, I love dishes combining egg and meat...

Shopping list (for 2):

• 1 cup dry (3 cups cooked) rice
  
• 150g or so chicken thigh meat
• 1 brown onion
  
• 3 eggs
• 2 and 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 and 1/2 tablespoons mirin (sweet sake)
• 1 sachet dashi (soup broth) mixed in 2/3 cup boiling water
  
• 1 teaspoon sugar

• Slice chicken and onion into small pieces.
  
• Put rice on to boil. My Singaporean friends taught me to put the rice in the saucepan; flatten it; then fill with water from the tip of your index finger touching the rice to your first finger joint.
• At the same time, boil the chicken and onion in the soy sauce, mirin, dashi, water and sugar.
• Once the chicken is cooked, swirl in the eggs without scrambling them too much. Cook eggs, but once they start bubbling strongly, put on the lid and steam them about 5 minutes or until cooked.
• Serve rice and place chicken/egg mixture on top without breaking it up too much. Miso soup and a fresh green salad to complete the meal.

Mood: Tired. We went looking at primary schools for Squiggle today, more tomorrow.

Posted by red swirl at 21:02 | Permalink | Comments (0)

The first of a series, hopefully. I'm searching for enough easy-to-make but tasty recipes to fill a week or so of dinners. This is my first find, from one of Jamie Oliver's books. Adapted so that the ingredients are easy to buy at Mr Lucky's supermarket and so the instructions are the sort I understand.

Shopping list (for 2):

• enough bow-ties (pasta) for 2
• sealed pack of bacon (Weight Watchers, preferrably) 3 slices or 6 rounds
  
• 200 ml pure cream (King Island Dairy) only 1/4 actually used
  
• 1 egg (only buy 6 eggs if you don't use them much)
  
• black pepper
• small bag baby peas (frozen)
  

• Put the water on to boil. Yes, really. Cooking the pasta's the most time consuming part.

• Fry bacon in minimum oil until cooked, then turn the frying pan off. Put the bow-ties in the water as soon as it starts boiling.

• Whisk 1/4 of the cream with the egg and pepper. Keep an eye on pasta.

• Put the peas in with the bow-ties as soon as they start going pale at the edges. I like a lot of peas, 2 generous cups.
  

• Drain peas and bow-ties in a colander, immediately empty the colander into the fry pan (where the bacon is) and stir in the cream and eggs mixture. Don't turn the frying pan on again, the egg is cooked by the warmth of the bow-ties.
  

• Serve and eat. A little parmesan is nice.

Posted by red swirl at 21:11 | Permalink | Comments (0)

The little courtyard garden is going surprisingly well, I think the watering restrictions are suiting it. The mandarin, for instance, used to only be watered when its leaves looked r..e..a..l..l..y droopy (about 10 times per year). But now I can't just water it whenever, the mandarin gets watered at least once a week, usually twice. And it's loving it! Heaps of new growth, at least 30cm I reckon, and lots of green mandarins waiting for winter. The lemonade tree's also going well - it's new this year from Digger's.

In the middle is my experiment with growing cucumbers and popcorn (and, yes, for those of you with well-trained eyes - at least 1 zucchini). Seed from my favourite sources - Eden, Digger's (again) and New Gippsland. I'm not sure whether they'll keep growing well in pots, but at the moment they're looking good. The idea is the cucumbers climb the popcorn, although really, I should have planted the popcorn first - so I might need a few stakes later. Sort of rushed putting them in because I decided I just couldn't waste the summer, and I read that sweet corn viability drops quickly after a year. The pots are intended for some trees (olives and hazelnut I'm thinking) once the weather cools, but there's no harm in a summer experiment!?!

Mood: Very proud Squiggle's combat crawling isn't a fluke, she's been escaping the livingroom again this morning!

Posted by red swirl at 10:36 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Chair. An orange chair of my Grandfather's that I still have. Of course, the illustration is really about how much I love baby Squiggle's strong little legs.

I never said illustration was my strong point, particularly not from memory. But it will be interesting to see how my style develops as I challenge myself each week.

Mood: Tired. Must go to bed earlier - it's tempting to stay up and do things while Squiggle sleeps.

Posted by red swirl at 01:59 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Not what I'm meant to be doing, but fun anyway. When I started this blog, I told myself I'd always finish my current project before starting another. Hmmm, there goes another New Year's resolution ;D

I'm rather proud of learning circular crochet over the last few days - now I'm even shaping shoulders!! I've never been a big crochet fan, preferring knitting. Learnt crochet from a flatmate a couple of years ago, but was still at the stage of consulting books, even for basic stitches. Now I'm going totally patternless, and, after a few run-throughs, it's going ok.

I'm learning from my all-time-favourite craft book: "Fun With Wool", published by the Australian Wool Corporation. As it's a kid's book, it's got nice clear diagrams of the basics. 'Tho for anything more advanced it challenges you to experiment and work it out for yourself - perhaps that's what's been inspiring me?

Stay tuned for further amigurumi updates, including the name!

Mood: Hurried. Baby Squiggle has just learnt to open and close drawers. And open, close, open drawers and pull stuff out ...

Posted by red swirl at 22:52 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Not what the teacher wanted, but typical of my primary school art efforts.

In my lateral-thinking impatience, I'd decided against even rows for tapestries. Quicker. Nearly the same, really. My Mum supported me, my right as a child to view the world differently, to question and explore. She helped me choose a white/brown wool for the legs, tying the owl to the branch.

The teacher hadn't bothered to check what I was doing 'till I was almost done. Again. I remember the hot, darkish demountable* and the look on her face. There wasn't time for me to do it over, I was to leave it as was.

I was half disappointed, half defiant. I do like the thick fuzzy stars, like the way the different sized rows recall the horizon. The white lines in between are merely a mistake, my misunderstanding of the teacher's instructions.

Have I changed? No. I still wish I could foresee the consequences of the shortcuts I take, and I still believe in interesting accidents. But maybe now I'm willing to do it over, to try to pull it off consciously this time.

* Demountables are temporary, moveble classrooms schools never have the funding to rebuild or replace.

Posted by red swirl at 21:25 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, if you'd've asked me 5 minutes ago whether I've done any craft since high school, I'd've said no, not really.

However, I just went through my making things box, and found 2 orange/red scalves (one knit, one crochet, nearly done), 1 red jumper (barely started), wool for 2 baby jumpers, 2 tapestries (maybe a third done), 1 cross stitch and a half-sewn skirt. Crochet needles in various sizes with single balls of wool for practice, and two size 10 knitting needles. Oops!

Plenty of things to keep me going, but perhaps I am just procrastinating in making Mr. February? I've cut out his pattern, knitted all the felted fabric parts ... time to start cutting and sewing!!

P.S. Guess my favourite colours?

Mood: hot, it's 31C here.

Posted by red swirl at 12:48 | Permalink | Comments (0)

I posted some of my collection of Vietnamese plasticware to Craftapalooza's cookie cutter show off group. Strictly speaking not cookie cutters, more like cookie stamps. I imagine they'd be used to decorate the Vietnamese version of moon cakes, but don't really know. Anyone?
Yes, I love, love, love Marrickville too.

Anyhow, got me thinking that I actually have 2 moulds for Japanese sweets, bought in the Nishiki market in Kyoto, from Aritsugu. Also a hairclip bought from Takashimaya and 2 koi hairpins from a craftshop ... Yuemiya? We went to Tokyo, Kyoto and Berlin for our honeymoon. The first big trip overseas for both of us (now we wanna go back ;D).

I'd love to be able to make hairclips like that ... maybe one day. Funny, I bought 2 books (1, 2) on making Japanese sweets 'cause they were so yummy, knowing I'd never learn Japanese but thinking that maybe sometime with lots of patience and a dictionary I might be able to figure out the pictures. Well, guess who's learning Japanese 101 next semester as a detour in her IT networking degree? That's right, me!!

P.S. I didn't realise I'd be able to find a website for Aritsugu - I was just trying to spellcheck!

Posted by red swirl at 13:15 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Or do I mean the bit about nothing new under the sun?

Looking further into the blogs at the side, I found these robots: 1,2 and 3. Exactly the look and cuteness balance I was going for, only how could I hope Mr. February would turn out so well? Swear I didn't see them before I designed him. It's so hard to think new thoughts ...

Well, I'll make Mr. February anyway. Perhaps he'll somehow look a bit like me or there'll be an interesting accident or something ?!?

Mood: hmm

Posted by red swirl at 20:51 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Introducing Mr. February.

At least, I hope he will come into existence soon. He's my answer to a "Heart-shaped Box". A big, boxy robot with heart-shaped ears and a heart-shaped pocket filled with pens and glasses. A nerdy valentine perhaps?

Seriously, it was interesting coming up with him. Got me thinking about whether a softie could portray questions about masculinity/femininity ... and even work/life balance. Originally his colour theme was to be business grey and feminine pink, but when I went looking for fabric today, it was blue and pink I found - equally appropriate I think.

Mood: calm, happy.

Posted by red swirl at 23:35 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, 2006 looks like being the year of challenging myself. Not only I have I felted for the first time and started a blog, but I've decided to attempt my first softie!

Actually, making a softie is surprisingly confronting. You see, my Mum's a visual artist (painting / drawing). I know she tries hard to steer away from commercial art. And a softie / plushy / stuffie is surely commercial art - cutesy, kitschy art at that. I guess commercial art would be almost too easy for Mum - she can do fine detail, perfectionist accuracy and patience, it's just not what interests her. Whereas for me, trying to be a perfectionist is quite a challenge. So that's why I'm trying a softie.

To keep me on track & give myself a deadline, I thought I'd enter it into a Month of Softies for February. I've been reading about how MoS started here, ogling the galleries here. I was thinking my first softie might be a rabbit, but the theme for February is a "Heart-shaped Box". Hmm, I can't really see a rabbit as a box, heart-shaped or not.

Mood: distracted.

Posted by red swirl at 12:39 | Permalink | Comments (0)