Time flies, so they say

It's been a long time since I blogged. It seems to be that the longer you leave something, the harder it is to get back to it. I feel like I have to justify my absence and make an astounding comeback. Tough. I won't do either.

Today we are fencing. Well, Hamish is mostly doing everything and I am helping in small ways. We are creeping wee closer to the completion of a project that has engulfed Hamish for the past 2 - 3 years.. Going on more. His father owns a property just south of Tamworth, NSW and Hamish has taken it upon himself to revegetate and re-fence almost the entire 1000 acres. This involved a grant from the local Catchment Management Authority which covered most if the cost of the trees and the fencing materials. It did not, however, cover any of the time spent preparing the tree lines, spraying out the weeds and putting the fences up.

 It has become quite an art. First the corner posts must be put in and stays put against them to stop them lifting out of the ground. Then the barbed wire that runs along the fence is strung out so that it can be used to make a straight line for the rest of the fence to follow. Then the steel posts are banged into the ground along the barbed wire. Paced out evenly and using a pneumatic post driver to push them into the ground.

Next, 5 plain wires are run out at once which have been pre-threaded through plastic droppers (spacers). This seems simple, but if not done well it could end in the largest tangle of wire one could ever imagine. Finally, the wires are strained up to perfect tension and clipped onto the steel posts.

I am fascinated with the various knots that can be used to tie off the wire. The current favourite is:

It seems like a knot that would be used in silver wire to finish a delicate bracelet. In fact, when I get a chance I will try it!

 

The passion of craft

So the project was completed. 

Many months ago I promised myself I would make pot mitts for a good friend as a house warming present. How simple are they? I asked myself. Anyhow, her house has long since been warmed and the pot mitts had been moved to the back of my mind again and again. 

What better project to be the first in my new space? It is symbolic of the completion of the room - the making of a house warming gift, they're simple to make and it is satisfying to complete a project so quickly.

Out comes the sewing machine and a selection of fabrics. 

I did purchase a couple of samples at a local shop where the total cost of my purchases came to $22.36. I handed over $22.35 in cash and the young girl looked at me and said "it comes to $22.36". I chuckled and said  "well, would you like to round that up or down?". She frowned, then looked at me anxiously and said, "up?". I handed her another 5 cents.

All my fabric samples had been scrunched up in boxes for so long that everything needed ironing.

I am not one for meticulous measuring and perfect cutting. Quilting generally requires both of these skills. If you ignore both of these processes the stitching becomes more awkward. I put up with it though as it is only a small piece and it didn't become too misshapen. 

Usually I put off hand stitching on any projects, which of course leads to multiple unfinished objects in the cupboard. In this case I was on a roll, so I went on with a needle and thread and finished my pot mitt in one sitting.

Et voila!!

The Craft Space

It's done!! It's not perfect, but I now have a craft space and I even have a project to start on.

This is how my space looked before yesterday's rain. It looks a little similar now, but everything is organised and the rubbish has been discarded. Mmmmm, such a nice feeling.

Today I went to the Sunday markets to do... Wait for it... Market research. Mum and I are hoping to start selling jewellery soon and I think a good starting point is the markets. Armidale markets are usually reasonably busy and the quality of items in stalls is pretty good. Today was a little quiet because of the miserable weather and perhaps it being the first weekend of the school holidays. However I did take note if a few displays.

The bottom left photo shows an effective, but simple way of showing off earrings or even brooches would work this way I think.

The bottom right photo is me in my newly organised craft room ready to start my first project in this space... Which is shown in the top left photo. Well, the pieces for it are. I long ago promised a friend I would make her some pot nits for her new house. I kept putting it off, claiming either lack of space or lack of correct materials. I now have both of those excuses written off.

I will attempt a blog again soon when I can show off a completed project... Hopefully mighty soon :)