Friday, January 05, 2007

The year of the paintbrush

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you're all well and had a great festive season. I spent the last week on a beech in Queensland bribing people to fetch me a Pimms. Lovely.

I don't know whether it was the start of a new year or maybe just the reflection that comes when you step out of your life for a little while, but it was really...(I think) refreshing (is the word)...to re-evaluate the little things and remember that there's a big picture.

And oh my there's nothing quite like bobbing up and down in the ocean. I always forget just how alive and fresh it makes me feel. I must remember to swim in the ocean more.

I must also remember not to be so lazy. Witness these:


Inspired by the fabulousness of these (but without reading the tutorial I just found when I went to get the link - Arhhhhhh!) I decided to make some hard-cover needle cases. I like the roll ones, but they're kind of flaccid. No matter where or how I put the flaps the contents always falls out all over the place. Always. These ones look solid, sturdy, practical. Things looks stable.

So I thought about how to put them together all was going well, the cutting, sewing, ironing, etc. until I had to glue the front. I sat in the backyard, squirted on the glue and tried to use the nosel to spread the glue out. This failed. So I grabbed a piece of cardboard and tried to use that to flatten it out. This failed. What I really needed was a paint brush. But did I go and get one? No. That would mean I had to stand up. Yes, that really was my excuse. I am an idiot. Unspuprisingly the glue was a failure, and now the cases have big splodge marks where the glue was. It's not pretty. You can kind of see them in this one:


But you live, you learn.
Hurrah for 2007! The year of the paintbrush.

15 comments:

SoulCradler said...

Welcome back!

Yes, ocean restoration is good...now if only it weren't too hot to get up, put my bathers on and walk the 50 metres to the ocean. What was that about laziness?

I actually find it inspiring that you had the option to get up and fetch a paintbrush, ie. you had one at hand. I certainly don't have any here, so take consolation in that.

Hmmm, Pimms? How about a nice refreshing vino blanco?

Anonymous said...

Bah Humbug. Don't you hate that?? They do look great nevertheless, and such a clever idea for my sock needles too!!

melissa said...

they look great! i need to make one of those. my double pointed needles are EVERYWHERE, completely disorganized. it would be nice to have a little order.

futuregirl said...

That's a great idea, and yours are lovely. "Year of the Paintbrush," totally cracked me up. :)

Coleen said...

I really like those! They came out great despite the glue mishaps. I'm glad you had a great time at the beach - I did too, but it was much to cold here to contemplate any dips in the ocean!

Sourire11 said...

Happy New Years to you, too!

I can't see the glue marks in those at all... all I see is CUTE!

Bells said...

Hey BP - good work! I'll buy one off you if you make more and get them to the way you like them. Agree whole heartedly with the flaccid (snigger) rolled up ones. I have never been convinced of their usefulness, although I have a lovely one a friend made for me.

I drank Pimms in QLD too. Are we long lost twins????

SadieandLance said...

Dude I see no glue splotches...juts more craft achievement (to go with the socks on Dear Kel).

I too swam in the ocean but it was hardly hot enough when I did it - the water and weather was freezing in Sydney and now I'm home in Melbourne again it's bloody boiling - and the ocean is too far away. Instead I am bathing in my own sweat.

lobstah said...

That is the cutest fabric ever! Is is vintage or a reproduction? I think the needle cases look lovely!

the knitrider said...

holy! those needle cases are BEAUTIFUL! ive never seen hard cases like that, and you are absolutely right about the soft ones being all floppy and annoying!

Meg said...

May 2007 bring satisfactory glue distribution to you and yours (not that I could see any splotches but I know how it feels to do everything just right and then be disappointed by the glue!)

Lizzy said...

Happy New Year ! The needle cases look excellent anyways and as you say, it's a learning experience. What about spray glue ? No brush needed and pretty even spread.

Anonymous said...

Just pretend it's vintage fabric... there, problem fixed! x

Anonymous said...

That's me (above).

schrodinger said...

I love the fabric of your needle cases (well, the needle cases too). Thanks for visiting my blog.