20/20 Hindsight

I've lived in this area for a few months now so it was high time I explored Prospect Road - I've driven down it and went to the tour down under opening a week ago, but I really haven't seen it properly yet.

I set out on foot and walked down to Cafe Komodo for breakfast - who knew it was such a lovely retro-ish place? It's behind a row of shops and looks to be part converted shed, part outdoors, part converted garage... and all wonderful. The breakfast I had - Turkish Breakfast Bread - definitely scores my recommendation. To top it all off it was so friendly there... I'll be back for sure.

I wandered further along and found a really nice second hand bookshop - Prospecting for books - not so much the recent relase reselling kind of second hand bookshop but the could-be-anything kind. That's the best kind I think. I found some books of Australian poetry I'd been seeking - I had almost given up on finding them without a trip to the CBD but at last I succeeded. I'll be back to this bookshop too.

I wandered back homeward past the op-shops and antique and vintage sellers and generally had a wonderful time looking about. I've made it home in time to shelter from the hottest part of the day, so all is very much well.

Living here has been working very well for me and I had no trouble at all adjusting to things - I've even got used to the seventies floor coverings!

Work has put some challenges and less-than-wonderful things in my way lately but it continues to be a job I really, really enjoy and I'm going to get an opportunity for some fantastic training starting next week so, on the whole, things are quite positive there.

Oh, and I have a sewing machine now. So I think I'm going to go and find something to sew. It's been far too long, and I feel the need to get crafty!

I made this prototype of a Christmas card tonight - exterior decorations are very simple, all the time's on the pop-up tree inside. I've found a better template since - if I'm not happy with that I'll make my own up. Then make rather a few of these... and some other designs perhaps.

Template came from here, note the illustrations don't match the template provided with the tutorial, it seems those nice tree shapes are cut using a rather expensive cutting machine and die set.

Anyhow, took a bit of working out some of the finer details but I just love this card. It's still a thrill opening it up and having a 3D Christmas tree right there :D

Tonight, after I got home from the late shift, I felt like doing something crafty. I was going through google reader and found a link to a blog I hadn't seen before, and to the tutorial for these, which you can find here. The original is actually on a Japanese website linked there.

This was the second attempt - the first is fine but it's a bit undersized - and on the second I made some alterations to the template. I have no idea what I'll do with the card, but making it was fun!

These flowers only last a day, they grow on one of the fastest-growing trees I know. They remind me a little of the hibiscus we used to have - except that was pink and more uh... hibiscus-shaped.

I did a little sewing tonight but I tend to think that my photos of the garden are so much nicer than a partly-finished hand sewing project...

I've finished and packed up my first completed commissioned piece - to be mailed in the morning!

Another nearly-finished card... I'll try not to bombard you with photos-like-that-one-last-week too often, honest!

I'm a tiny bit brain dead this evening.

Just whipped this up this evening as I wanted something to give as a small gift... pretty sure future recipient can't see this >.>

The iron-in adhesive reacted a little differently to the natural homespun than it has to patterned fabrics in the past (and indeed, in this piece) but... I think it still looks cute :)

A crafty shot - not so much a work in progress as some experimentation. I have had this idea for button threading for a while and finally got a chance to test it out properly. I'd like to hear if you like it, hate it or whatever you might think. For size reference... the cutting mat underneath is in inches. The colours chosen were just what was quick to hand - I'm more testing out the viability of the method rather than the details.

I have to be careful to choose buttons of an even thickness and with less size variation than I usually use - I quite like size variation because it adds a little more interest, but really does not work here. I also want to try making one with diagonal stripes.

I might also try using the fixture to the right of the photo instead of a single anchor point - but that means crimping every single thread in a visible location rather than having one crimp that I can hide - and the more presentable crimps are not as strong. I've not had one of them fail on me yet but I like to use the best quality bits and pieces I can without blowing the budget. Then again, that method might make it sit better. I'll try it out soon and find out, I suppose.

The other option I have is to thread on two rather than four wires - it'd make the outer ones less visible, though that visibility can be a feature if I use coloured threading materials. Four threads gives me more control on how neatly everything sits - something which I very much like.

Rather than a finished item, here's an in progress shot of a necklace - the main stringing's done but it doesn't have catches (or matching earrings) yet. I made this for Amy - she was going to a bad taste party as jailbait. Glad to be able to help :D Must do a couple other custom items ASAP o.o. I admit one or two have been in the queue a fair while.

A'course, always willing to accept more, because why not take on as much as you can handle and then push the limits? It's more fun that way.

After work and taking Grandma home after her day surgery Amy and I did a little cacheing then went back to her place before she had a student... she made tea but her student arrived before we could drink it. So I had a great crafty chat with Alissa, one of Amy's housemates. Alissa had recently acquired an old knitting machine, and walked me through a little bit of basic knitting on it. It's a darned cool machine, and I imagine once you got your head around it the possibilities would be near endless!