Her new face

Her new face
Originally uploaded by redmag

Ok he is now a she.....

Her name is Gertie and I love her!

A new design

A new design
Originally uploaded by redmag

I'm trying to make a giraffe.
It's based on a wooden giraffe I saw in a photo online somewhere- I cant find the picture anymore so this is based on a fleeting memory.

I've always been drawn to wooden designs - my dad is a capenter and i think i absorbed a fascination from making wood not look like wood from him.

I'm not sure if you can tell from the picture but its three separate pieces - one head neck bit and two body-legs bits and they're all held together with bottons at the front - so the giraffe can bend its neck.

I think he's quite nice for a first attempt - I still need to add a second ear and I'm going to make over his face - he doesnt look right. I'll show you how he turn's out.

My new camera case

My new camera case
Originally uploaded by redmag

It arrived today from here and its just soooooooo cool.
I love it!!
I think i might even use it as a purse that way I can carry it with me everywhere!

Another vintage find

Another vintage find
Originally uploaded by redmag

Thanks to the wonderful nanette - who kindly reminded me that the YMCA garage sale was on Saturday - I had a great day of op-shopping on the weekend. This was one of the finds - an old curtain which must have used internally because it isnt sun damaged....I also got another crocheted lap blanket ( you never have too many! Although when you say that out loud when its 33 degrees outside it doesnt sound very convincing), two vintage ties (both in fabulous orangey, browny paisley patterns), a couple of metres of a blue and green fabric which I'll show you all down the track and a book for the little boy - all for $10!

Also my treasury was on the front page of etsy some time today - I didnt see it but the comments seem to suggest that it was there which was nice. I've always wondered if having your treasury on the front page is worth it for the curator - I dont think it is really, I didnt seem to get many views - so mystery solved!

The Orange Volta Air Guitar

The Orange Volta Air Guitar
Originally uploaded by redmag

Ok so its not a camera shaped rattle - but it is a new take on an old design for me.

The neck has machine sewn tucks to resemble frets and I've hand sewn strings (4 in total - I wasnt sure how many strings an air guitar needed ;) ...)

It's currently available in my shop.

I was so pleased with the way it turned out I joined a new flickr group - "Handmade guitars". I've added my photos....and now I'm waiting and hoping that people take me seriously and dont get pissed off that my handmade guitar isn't the playing kind.

Voltron Star Shooter

Voltron Star Shooter
Originally uploaded by John Kratz

....only a few minutes in and I found this beauty!!

I love things that are more than they seem...i love the transformable, the repurposed, and the accidental hero....back to time wasting!

Another go at making a lion

Another go at making a lion
Originally uploaded by redmag

It's not quite there....but he/she does look good with a body and legs rather than the cat body the previous one had.

I'm not sure what is is but I'm itching/pressuring myself to come up with some new designs. I think its partly that I'm getting more skilled - my sewing is better and my designs are a little more adventurous - but I think its also because I feel like I'm not quite there I look at the wonderful things I see other people create - like this or this .....and feel like I still have a long way to go in terms of finding my style and being able to turn my hand to craft as either art or income or both.

Anyway - I was thinking I might have a go at making a new rattle - I thought a camera shaped rattle might be cute, given babies spend a lot of time in front of one - I know my son now strikes a pose as soon as he sees the lens pop out when the camera is turned on which has to be a sign that the poor thing has been the subject of way to many photo shots. That's the task I've set myself for today....although I am home sick so I'm probably being too ambitious.

....off to wander round flickr looking for photos of cool cameras to be inspired by - how tiring can that be?

Red retro rubber boots

Red retro rubber boots
Originally uploaded by Craft & Creativity

I stumbled across this while wandering randomly through flickr - and I just love them!!!

Made by the Viking footwear company. They have loads of lovely colourful boots.

Sadly they dont have a distributor in Australia which is a shame because I'd love to be able to try them on.

If anyone owns a pair or has treid them on I'd be interested to hear how comfortable they are.

Leaves have started to turn

Leaves have started to turn
Originally uploaded by redmag

Sickness has wipped us all out and so I didnt get all the autumn leaves up....but here's a taste of what's to come.

For me autumn is more than just the great reds and yellows the leaves turn....it's also about the leaves falling from the trees.......falling slowing in a light wind...it's magical.....I also love walking through huge piles of leaves, kicking my legs high in the air so as to make as much noise and mess as possible (last autumn our dog got scared of the leaves and the noise - hopefully wisdom comes with age and this year he'll learn to like it....or like sittting on the couch in the sun while the rest of us go for a walk)....I'm not sure how I'm going to replicate all that in the bedroom yet!
....I'll leave that for next weekend when we're all (fingers and everything else crossed) much better.

I'd welcome any ideas...so please leave a comment!

A small harvest

A small harvest
Originally uploaded by redmag

I've never been one for attention to detail - those who've read any of my entires will have noticed the typos and missing words....that translates into most things I do....I know i do it and try and mange where I need to - like at work - but when I'm on my time I dont bother....i figure if it bothers other people then there are loads of other blogs to read...or whatever the circumstance is...

But sometimes it does cause problems. I've always regarded the planting guide on seed packets and seedling trays as a guideline and then just kind-of ignored them. Everything I planted this year is far too close together because I hate throwing away seedlings - i always feel sorry for them - 'specially if I've grown them myself so i squeeze them all in - it doesnt look so bad or like such a terrible idea in the begining - they're small and there seems plenty of room.

But then they grow! This year the cooler damp weather has meant that some of our poor tomatoes have gotten a mould on them....and not very many have ripened yet....so far its been a meager tomato harvest...just enough for sandwiches but not much more than that.

I know I'll regret my next few words - its a shame really I was hoping for a large harvest.

You see - I got a passta maker for Xmas and so far its still in the box. Fingers crossed the hotter weather will actually happen this week and I in seven days I'll be complaining about having too many!