Almost a year later…

So the first anniversary of my blog is coming up. I’m not going to celebrate it or anything like that but I have been thinking about what I’ve done in the last year. I’ve learnt a lot, I really have. Some skills I already knew, so I improved on them and I’ve come a long way.
I learnt how to sew and knit when I was younger and I sewed here and there but it wasn’t until last summer that I bought a sewing machine (see post) and really started headway. Then I had to go back to hand sewing after about 2 months because it turned out that the particular sewing machine turned out to be utter shite and refused to work properly anymore. Making mad funny plastic clunky noises, throwing temper tantrums, deliberately messing up the threads…I don’t know what issues it had with me, but I eventually just threw it out and tried never mentioning it again.
Lesson learnt: €40 does not mean it’s a bargain for a brand new sewing machine. €40 for a vintage sewing machine is actually a great deal, especially for a treadle.

My sewing toolkit

On the upside, my mam gave me her sewing machine, a glorious Singer 9012. (Yep, the one I wasn’t allowed touch as a kid!) This workhorse has lasted 20 years and it’s still going strong. T’is a dream to use!

(I call her Attie, short for Athena, the goddess of crafting. It’s not an ego thing, it was either that or Zapp from “Futurama” fame. Personally, I don’t want to sew nothing but velour!)

Getting my love of photography on with my love of sewing...

I’ve already made loads of things with her, but that’s for another post.

The other things I’ve learnt this year: knitting (learnt basics as a kid, but I forget almost everything until January just gone), crochet (I’m only at the basic stage now), digital art, jewellery making, embroidery and I’m sure there’s other stuff but I can’t think of them right now.

My first embroidery piece - ever!

OK,  so some of these skills are still at extremely basic levels, but it’s all fun and I’m gonna keep on trying! I’m gonna try quilting next 🙂

Out of everything though, I gotta admit that sewing is probably my favourite.

I joined up to Craftster.org which is this unique community of crafty people. Everyone’s so nice and so goddamn talented that my jaw drops on a hourly basis at least (I do occasionally have to drag myself away from Craftster). Some of the tutorials are incredibly brilliant as well, I wholeheartedly endorse having a look!

I also joined up to the Monthly Odd Holidays swaps which have been fun, slightly nerve wrecking (“oh insert-deity-here, what if my partner doesn’t like what I sent? What if it doesn’t arrive?!”)  and invaluable to my learning. But mostly a lot of fun!

Well, I’ll leave it at that for now. But I’ll be back again soon(ish) with more updates!

Ask me a question

I’ve been thinking that it’s about time that I started trying to interact with readers so I’m saying to you, right now, ask me a question.
I’ll do my best to answer them in a humorous fashion and if I don’t know the answer, then I’ll use my nerdy skills to find you a link.

In return, all I ask is one question.
If you could rule any country in the world, where would you choose and why?

Letter To Santa 2009

Dear Santa,

I know I haven’t written to you since I was 8 years old but I’ve been thinking about it, and I’ve been a good girl (mostly). So, if you don’t mind, here’s a little wishlist:

 

Things I Need Want:

 

• A drill. Preferably cordless but I’m not hugely fussy.
• Drill bits. (Obviously.)
• Polymer clay.
• Fabric paint.
• A saw (for making shelves).
• A tool box.
• A Canon D10 (for underwater shots!).

 

If you deliver the goods Santa, then I promise to use the items, blog what I’ve made and be a good girl for another year.

 

 

And since I’m dreaming, how about helping me win the lotto?

 

P.S.  I hope a lack of chimneys in my home won’t deter you from trying.

Karma

I spent a lot of my life wondering what the deal was with religion. Having grown up in Ireland, I was constantly bombarded with Catholicism from birth. I’ve been baptised, had my Communion at age 7, my Confirmation at age 12 and have seen the inside of many a church with all the christenings, weddings and funerals I’ve been to. I was also forced to go to Mass every Sunday for about 5 years (by myself, I often wondered why my parents made me go when they rarely went). But I never saw the point in it all, even though I honestly tried. I just can’t take a leap of faith, I need proof.

I’ve researched a lot of religions, partially out of curiousity as to what they’re like and partially to see if there was anything I could put my belief in. Paganism was close but not quite it. Belief has power and while I’m not going into any details, belief in paganism works.

Back in 2007, I started having all sorts of ephiphanies about all sorts of things. I was going through a major change in my life so it’s not surprising that I figured out a lot of stuff in my head. One of the biggest discoveries within my own head was a new way of thinking, a new belief.

Karma.

Okay, so it’s not a new concept but I took it and adapted it for myself. I wrote up some guidelines to always remember and every time I practise it, karma presents me with proof. Brilliant!

1. Do random nice things for people, even strangers. Walk up to someone on the street and compliment them, then walk away leaving them slightly confused and flattered. Make a kickass CD/DVD/mix/folder/whatever for someone who’ll appreciate it. Make a cup of tea for your mam. You get the idea, and being inventive with your random acts of kindness can be a lot of fun.
2. Don’t live the karma way of life if you expect the 3 Fold Law to work in every circumstance. It doesn’t work like that. Sometimes, a person can do many a great deed and still have a string of bad luck for a while but the karma will build up and be released eventually. You can’t really appreciate the highs until you’ve suffered the lows. Besides, karma isn’t about what you get back from it. You should expect nothing back except maybe for a smile and/or a hug.
3. You must learn the difference between Right and Wrong. Completely essential stuff.
4. Try to have manners. They don’t hurt or cost anything and can really brighten up someone’s day. (Talking from experience here!)
5. Help those who cannot help themselves.
6. All religions can be celebrated. Karma is not an exclusive club.
7. Be kind and interested in our environment/nature/planet. We’ve taken a lot from all around us and it’s mostly taken for granted.
8. Be kind to yourself every now and then. Do something you want to do. Do something exciting and different that you’ve never done before. If nobody wants to join you, well go ahead and do it by yourself anyway!
9. Give the world as much love and karma and as little destruction and chaos as possible.
10. Enjoy life but do no harm to anyone. This includes making people worry about you.

I know it might sound a bit sappy and all, but it’s something I’ve created and something I can truly believe in. Besides, it’s an easy religion to celebrate. All I have to do is share my karma with everyone 🙂

“To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest of places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.” ~ Arundhati Roy

Hello world!

Welcome to ThingsIveMade, my site dedicated to all the random stuff I make. I tend to do all sorts of stuff to keep myself entertained as I cannot abide boredom. It’s just too boring to sit around, bemoaning the lack of things to do when my own brain can keep me amused.

So…I’ll come back to this in a bit and edit it some more!