Lighting Show

Our lamp is the orange one, top left.

After a few late nights and an early morning, the mr. and I finished our lamp for the Unidentified Lighting Object submission. It turned out really well and a kind friend brought our lamp when it was auctioned off for charity. We hope someday to make some more for other friends and family. It makes a great childrens night-light with its warm glow and the multi-layer stories. You can watch the video of the interviews with the designers here. The photos above were taken by whiteunit who also took portraits of all the designers. The event was organised by a collective called When Lights Work. Their site has more images including this nice large one where you can see our lamp in more detail.

Mushroom Hunting

Recently this little birdy went shroom-hunting in the night. This picture was captured with only the glow of the streetlamp and a primitive digital camera but it turned out great. I tried to capture this from mouse-eye view and the ever popular rabbit-eye-view. If the angle looks like I was lying on the ground, its because I was!

mouse-eye view of the mushroom

rabbit eye view of the mushroom

Mushrooms make me happy too. I think its because of a childhood filled with stories of fairies and wonderlands where buildings were mushrooms...

Craft Goodies!

As Missus D was leaving she bestowed upon me a bounty of beads, wire and fastenings for making jewelery. This I plan to do soon, I think the little pink bows would make a very nice Christmas present for a few little girls I know (I just need to find some time!). There are a lot of beads though that wont go very far though, as I'm going to make them into some nice things for me!

Missus D was also kind enough to gift me one of her brooches, which is rather cute. I think its Japanese fabric and I really like the button in the centre. It goes nicely with lots of things (hint, hint!), you may want to check out her shop to get your own or maybe one for a friend? :) Its nearly Christmas...

My friend Mein was busy at MAAD (Market of Artists And Designers) recently with her letter press which I got to try on this vintage sketchbook.

I love the quality of the letter press print, the depth of the press really adds another dimension to the image.

A cacophony of greys

Grey+letterpress+cottonprint=happybirdy

I think I brought this because it reminds me of a dress I wore as a very small child

The full Malacca bounty: beads, thread, clasps & cotton

I also forgot to post my Malacca Trip booty. We crafty colleagues chanced upon a couple of craft shops in Malacca and very nearly didn't make it back to the bus! There were many fabric shops, a beads and general crafting shop and a fabulous stationery shop all in the same street near to the Majestic Hotel which is a gorgeous place (and they serve nice cake, and have a really good dayspa!!). I managed to find three different shades of grey crochet thread (of course!), some beads (also grey!), antique brass coloured clasps and some cute cotton fabric.

Now, I just need to find a scrap of time somewhere...

The Finished Skirt

The crocheted waistline and button closure

The rolled hem and simple texture

The finished skirt

View of the texture and hem

I finished this skirt a while ago (I've worn it twice already), but forgot to post it up. Its a simple fitted A-line skirt with a rolled hem and a crocheted waist with buttons. The knit pattern adds just a little texture to the skirt for interest, but otherwise, its a very plain and simple skirt. I'm really happy with how it turned out and my experiment in fitting worked out well.

Why I don't post every day, or every week for that matter...

Photocopy art

Blue Eggshell I found on my way to my office

My work is often very busy, but is also a source of inspiration. Though most days don't leave me time to sit down, let alone make things, I'm still constantly thinking of new ideas and finding new possibilities in that which surrounds me. Having 5 minutes after doing some photocopying, I considered the possibility of the photocopier in front of me. After experimenting over a few sheets, I found I was able to create multiple mirror images, stretch text and make things disappear. The potential for this machine of the office, is exciting. Then there was the eggshell I found on my way from the carpark to my office. The colour is so beautiful, so bright and so lovely. The colour alone is inspiration enough to want to get to making things. Which brings me to the busyness. Below was my yesterday for contemplation:

6:40 wake up, prise eyes open, get ready for work

7:56 leave for work

8:30 arrive at work, pick up eggshell

8:35 photograph eggshell while waiting for computer to start up

8:40-8:50 check emails

8:50 Roll call for critique, arrange furniture, take attendance again (88 students, takes a while)

9-11:20 Critique

11:20-11:35 answer students questions

11:35-11:45 run upstairs to eat lunch, answer questions about crochet from my collegue

1150 - Roll call for critique again, take attendance again

12- 2:10 Critique

2:10-2:20 check emails again, photograph students work for web

2:20 Roll call for critique again! talk to students

2:30 - 4:20 Critique

4:20-4:50 answer students questions

4:50 - 6:15 reply to all those emails, imput attendance data into system

6:20 finally leave work, only to be stuck in a traffic jam

7:15 arrive home, wash up, chuck bag inside, greet husband

7:25 leave for dinner appointment (luckily just around the corner)

7:30 - 10:15 dinner at friends place

10:20 head home, get ready for sleep

10:30 fall asleep pretty much instantaneously!

wake up, repeat.

(for those of you who don't know, critique is what we have in design school in place of exams - students have time to present their work to a panel of lecturers and guests from practice who examine the student's designs and the students have to explain their work)

Something I made a week ago...

Japanese cotton or linen fabric lining

Pinch clasp from Daiso

Chain & clasp

Details

Grey cotton/linen blend thread (DMC Senso)

My own design for a simple clutch purse. Its roomy but not too large. The thread and fabric lining are both lovely so I wanted to show them off to best advantage. Its too nice to put dirty old money in though, its better as a makeup or evening purse. I'm very happy with how it turned out. I'd like to make a larger one as a clutch bag when I find a large enough clasp. Its nice to hold because of the texture of the linen/cotton crochet and the silky smooth cotton/linen (the lining fabric was a sample from a Japanese magazine, so I don't know what it is!). I keep wanting to take it with me everywhere. I really love this grey too, it makes me excessively happy just gazing at this colour.

Its Sunday Night and the place is a mess...

When I was a child I was fascinated by my mother's charm bracelet. It had little things that she had collected from all around the world on her travels: the Eiffel tower, a kiwi, a bell, a clog from Holland. I always wanted my own, but I'm not much of a bracelet wearing person. If I go out wearing a bracelet, I usually end up taking it off and stuffing it in my bag as it gets in the way! So my solution is the charm brooch. So, I haven't a wonderful story about travels to far away lands, but I do have built a collection of Alice-in-Wonderland inspired charms. So on Sunday night, while attempting to clean up my room, I made a brooch. I've the white rabbit, a sweet, keys, two birds on a perch, a duck and a heart with the Chinese character for double happiness on it. I'm very happy with it and have been wearing it all week and showing it to anyone who cares to see!