I've been on a (forced) internet fast for the last week and a half. I blame Clare and Ally for using up all the (large) monthly allowance: too much watching episodes of Pokemon and Vampire Knight on the internet in the school holidays. Last time we were slowed in under three weeks was in the Christmas school holidays so it has to be them...couldn't be me and my love of picture heavy blogs. Nah, definitely not.
It is so good to have high speed internet back. Sad but true.
Work progresses on The Dress. It even looks like the picture on the pattern envelope and Leah is very happy with it.
I've done some more since I took this photo, finished off the bodice and put in the waist stay (a belt-like thing inside the dress that helps support a strapless dress with a full skirt). Still to be done: sewing the drapey bits to the lining (I'll need to reinforce those spots), at the moment it's held by little safety pins in the seamline, then all that remains is to do the hem. The Ball is 28/5.
In between sewing and fittings of The Dress I've been obsessively sewing together bits of wool fabric, for bags and scarves and I'm going to start my Wagga while the obsession has taken hold.
One scarf is finished, lined and all it is. To prevent Itchy Neck Syndrome.
Some more await lining.
I have so enjoyed the process of piecing these together. "Hmm, that colour works, and that one. No not that one".
Same meditative creative process with the three wool-patch bags I made "fabric" panels for. I cut out more bags from fabric in my stash, as well.
Top three are woolly-patchy, the other are all one fabric, all have wild but complementary lining. It's always good to have a hundred projects on the go...nah, not really, it's overwhelming. In addition to all the above, including The Dress, I have cut out some clothes for me. Some from that "spencer-coloured" wool jersey that I dyed.
Cannot complain of boredom.
Help! Disaster has befallen me. My camera has died.
Clare and Ally were taking photos of the rabbits as they were exploring the back yard out of their hutch. People need to be out there on "predator alert" aka, "The dog's coming!".
Peter and Sheryl devouring perpetual spinach, having moved on from parsley and strawberry leaves.
Hoochie-Coochie eating an autumn leaf. See, projecting from her mouth. They like the ones that aren't too dessicated, hmm, that makes sense.
Anyway, rabbits aside (these are the last photos taken), Peter was heading for under the house so Ally, who had the camera around her neck, bent over to grab him. Dashing the camera lens against the river rocks that pose as paving at the back door, in the process.
Nasty rattle, even though the actual lens seemed intact. The zoom not working. Sinking feeling experienced by me.
Then , Mr Morgan said he'd look at it. Warning bells should've rung deafeningly. However, he's very good at fixing things, so I handed it over. After much unscrewing and putting back together a vital electronic wire broke.
So, I have a few options:
1. Have the lens wiring repaired, if that is possible.
2. Get a new lens for the camera, the body appears fine. I've had the camera probably 3.5 years and it was a superseded model when I bought it. It's been good and easy to use, however.
3. Get another camera.
All options require $$$.
Would I pay to have the lens wiring looked at only to have it declared unfixable?
Is it worth buying a new lens for what is now an old camera body? I must say that this golden oldie has done well, I don't need all the bells and whistles.
A new DSLR, not the latest model or anything, with a good lens will still cost $$$.
I have some savings, but I loath to devastate them. In case of unexpected expenses. Does a good camera, which is very important to me count as an unexpected expense?
When I first started working I saved big time for my first SLR (film in those days) camera.The best friend of my daughter has used it for a number of years, in high school and now at VCA.
I am paying each month for Linsey's rent in Melbourne, not a huge amount considering how the Melbourne rental market is, she shares of course. I'm glad that we can do this, so the lass can study her chosen course (this is important to me, as well). Money I save now all gets chanelled towards the rent.
But a good camera is so important to me.
I haven't looked second-hand yet, so all is not lost.
All suggestions gratefully accepted.
Please make suggestions.
Must be around a year now, since my last post.
Water under the bridge and all that.
I find posting without images difficult. Morning fog last week - the front yard.
Many times I wanted to make posts, to "show-and-tell" things I'd made, treasure found (increasingly rarely) at the op-shop, lovely/interesting places I'd visited , and stuff in general.
Had a good year at TAFE in 2009. This year, I'm doing Sculpture and Digital Imaging. So far not as demanding as Painting,Drawing and Art Theory was last year.
I had one of those "lightbulb" moments recently as I was agonising over doing large canvases for a proposed exhibition. They're very difficult to work on at home. I don't have an easel, and even if I did I wouldn't have anywhere to leave it set up. Nor anywhere to store large canvases. I sometimes wonder at myself, you know, the times the obvious eludes me. I've decided to work on what I call "kitchen table paintings". Small stuff, mostly around A4 size that I can sit at the kitchen table and do. I really enjoy working at the table and working on that scale. As I said, the obvious.
I 'm not sure that I'll still have an exhibition at the gallery I was going to, the owner much prefers to exhibit large scale work. Exhibition or not, I'm immensely relieved to be working how I like to. Working is the wrong word to use, I think, for something that is pleasure.
In addition, artwork is but one of a trio of things I love to do. Sewing and gardening are the others. All kinds of sewing, but garment sewing the best (frustrating as it can be for me) and it is very important to me to keep a food garden, and the whole garden to be abundant and beautiful.
My recent "sewing for the home" frenzy is a subject for the next post, perhaps.
Greens from the garden for a salad. The onion comes from a shop!
Ha, it was good to make this post. I welcome myself back.
Oh, the frustration. I am trying to make a custom banner for my blog. Correction. I have made one, I just can't upload/insert the damn thing. Man, it's doing my head in I tell you!
I've put it all aside for now, to deal with next week...mutter,swear, mutter, swear.
The Battle of the Banner has meant no crafting or other interesting pursuits. Have a look at my bathroom medicine cabinet instead. Finally installed in the bathroom! Came from a garage sale years ago, and fixed up.
I read/heard somewhere that greyhounds are cuddly pets. They don't look as if they would be but here is some evidence.
Clare having a snooze with Suska. That's cuddly.
With the cold weather upon us out comes the winter kitchen window covering. Put on at sundown to keep the cold out and the warmth in.
In other news: I've been having a go at patternmaking. I have a (long term) plan to open an online shop, probably Etsy. Selling little kid's clothes, toys, felt purses, cards and bags. Or maybe just the clothes and toys. Either way I need to make patterns from my sketches. Nothing like a new challenge - but it's nowhere near as frustrating as that banner thing! Of course, it's a slow process...meaning: don't expect grand shop openings anytime soon.
Those of you with Etsy shops, I'd appreciate any ideas/feedback.
I'm off tomorrow afternoon for an overnight stay at Lakes Entrance - tea out Saturday night and a sleep-in on Sunday...ah. This little interlude has been in the pipeline for a good eighteen months! My two buddies and I have found it hard to score a weekend when all three of us don't have other commitments!
