• 28Jan
    Categories: craft, home Comments: 8

    DeskLeft(Partial) inventory:

    1. Kid’s art. Should find the blu-tack to stick it on the wall.

    2. Ideas.

    3. Computer. Yes, with Twitter.

    4. Bills. Fun.

    5.  Pencil case.

    6. Sewing and tracing tools. For a burda skirt I meant to make. before Christmas.

    7. Chinese books. I was going to study intensively over the holidays. But, like all students, I actually did other stuff. Also, balloons for a kid’s birthday.

    8.I love this light. It used to be in a train carriage. Bought in a weird little shop in Enmore, ages ago, the shop doesn’t exist anymore …

    9. Used tissues stuffed into an old tissue box. Not sure if this counts as reuse, recycle or unhygienic?

    10. Christmas pudding, unopened. My favourite Christmas treat, so I’m still looking forward to it.

    DeskRight

    11. Tissues.

    12. Presents from the kids, their drawings.

    13. Diagrams of indoor clothes drying racks, for husband.

    14. Sewing machine. At least it’s where I can see it.

    15. Crap, various.

    16. Crochet project.

    17. Fashion illustration project (haven’t decided whether I’ll show you or not).

    18. Tea towel to keep my desk clean, when I eat here.

    19. Hair clips, Christmas gift from Mum.

    20. Quilt project. Fabric washed, but that’s as far as I’ve got.

  • 24Jan
    Categories: Amigurumi Comments: 1

    Day1Hahaha! That’s my result for the first day of vowing to work on my crafts each day. Took me an hour ;-)

    No, it’s not a play for sympathy, I honestly thought it was funny and ironic: I had to share. I’m planning to make an Amigurumi, but unlike the other times I’ve made one, I’m following someone else’s pattern. Meaning I need to learn crochet terminology properly. I was going to follow Pip’s calm, step by step video course; got derailed by the how to hold your yarn (realising I usually did something totally different); thought I’ll just follow the instructions in the book; switched to trying a tension gauge ’cause I’m a little worried my yarn is too thin and … yes! ended up with a mess!

    I’m totally not worried, I know I can crochet. Or learn to. In fact, when I think about it, that’s my totally normal settling-in-to-a-new-project routine. I used to work in community TV, and had to write the current affairs script each week. I got used to the fact that I’d have to throw the first 5 or so away (lucky my boss was a mad paper-recycler, even way back then, when not everyone had a computer on their desk). It’s the way I work: muck around; muck it up; then start again and get it right.

    If you follow me on Twitter, you might have gathered I’m thinking of starting a craft or fashion-based business one day. Sooner rather than later, actually. And I’ve been reading a lot of how-to-blog blogs, you know, like Problogger. And Copyblogger. Even started looking at IttyBiz. And other ones I’m less sure I like. (Actually, this reading about blogging only happened because Twitter started by suggesting “social media gurus” to follow … interesting). Anyway, I’m pretty sure I’m meant to sound like an authority, sound like I know what I’m doing. Because, one day, this could be a business-related blog. But that doesn’t feel honest to me, and I think it might be doing other crafters a disservice, not to admit everyone makes mistakes and has bad days.

    In the photo background, there’s part of my daughter A’s picture. Kids play to learn. Me too.

    And why the effort to craft daily? I’m still feeling the effects of New Year’s resolutions, I think. Yes, I do know it’s nearly February. But it’s rather freeing to think it’s actually better to start your resolutions any time, work on them little by little. And I’m still thinking over a few of Sooz’ posts, they’re inspiring me. But I don’t want another meant-to-do. As you may already gathered, things I’m meant-to-do tend to bring out the rebel in me, particularly where craft or art are concerned. Particularly if there’s no good reason for the meant-to-do. So you may or may not hear about my daily crafting again. Indeed, I mightn’t do it. If you want, look on my Flickr to see.

  • 06Jan
    Categories: craft, drawing, home Comments: 1

    XmasDecorations

    Because it’s Twelfth Night tonight (at least the way I count it). Time to take down the tree. And you (or I) might want to make these decorations next year.

    Christmas trees and kids

    You see, if you have young children, say aged 2 & 4, Christmas decorations are always a dilemma. Do you:

    1. use the decorations from before-you-had-kids, but insist you are  THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO TOUCH THEM, rather dampening the Christmas spirit; or
    2. use those gorgeous decorations from before-you-had-kids, screaming silently each time your helpers shatter them; or
    3. decide that all decorations have to be kid-friendly, preferably cheaply homemade?

    This year, my kids were both old enough to ask. As you might guess, they voted number 3. They put the decorations on the tree themselves, the tree didn’t need a barrier and I didn’t even freak when they went to play jumping on the bed with various new “bracelets” … although I did insist all decorations be returned later.

    How to make

    They’re so simple, I’m sure you know how to make them just by looking. But, well, Christmas can be a little stressful, making even the easiest tasks seem hard …

    1. buy some foiled card from, like, Kmart (scrap-booking section), or find any stiff paper really;
    2. use a clean mug to trace circles, a ruler to trace sets of 6 strips, and cut;
    3. fold circles in half and staple each one to the next in groups of 3 (husband’s preference), 4 (kids’ preference, I think?) or 5 (mine);
    4. arrange 3 strips in a star-like shape, turn over, and wrong sides facing wrong sides, arrange 3 more strips in the same star shape. Staple in the centre;
    5. staple folded curling ribbon to hang.

    Actually, I love how they turned out: they feel so Christmassy to me. I’ve since realised that my absolute favourite decorations as a child were foiled paper, in the exact same colours: gold, silver, red, blue, purple and green … ah, so nostalgic.

  • 01Jan
    Categories: Sydney, Tokyo, design Comments: 0

    BondiXJapaneseWoodblock

    Happy 2010, everyone!

    This year, I’ll be sharing more of my love of pattern, colour and prints with you here (my love of fashion will soon be a separate blog). I’m planning a few downloads for you, like desktop wallpaper for each month, and perhaps a few other products, too.

    As a start, here’s the January 2010 wallpaper for you to download by clicking HERE (1024 x 768; 152 KB)*. I felt the sunrise and the circles were full of hope for the New Year. And you see how my time in Tokyo keeps on influencing me: it’s a Japanese woodblock version of Bondi beach!!

    Also, Melissa and Veronica, thanks so much for your comments ;)

    *The wallpaper is for you to use on your computer desktop; I’m keeping all other rights/copyrights.