2016-04-30 02:08 Making miniatures
Y (Kuma's owner)
Did you like paper crafts when you were small? I did. It depends on the person, but to me the things I loved in childhood, I love well in adulthood.
I loved to play with blocks, and I still play with blocks named wooden puzzles. I liked collecting small things, and I like miniatures now.
When I was 15 years old, I made a miniature house to look the same as the house I had lived in. It was so fun to make a small house. I measured the length of the house I lived, and tried to make it as accurately as I possibly could. At that time, the house I made was not good at all. I was not good at making that kind of thing and also there were no good materials. Since then, I've been thinking that maybe I could make it more genuine.
One day, I suddenly wanted to make miniatures again. Not just small, something realistic. I looked around my room to see what I had. I had some fabric, thread and a sewing machine. Hmm, what can I make using these? Then the idea that came to mind was a miniature tote bag. I made some tote bags before, not miniatures, real bags for my use. The experience pushed me and I thought "Maybe I can make it."
I was particular about making them realistic, I didn't want to make miniatures that didn't have function like a real one. I saw some miniature bags on the internet, but some of them have pockets that just had a small, stitched rectangular fabric, it's an applique not a pocket.
Checking through the internet, I found dollhouses. There seems to be regulations, it's 1/12 scale. A twelfth part is really small. In conformity to the world wide regulation, I wanted to make 1/12 scale bags but I didn't think I could make a miniature bag that has the same function as a real bag. I couldn't change my convictions, so I decided to make bags of my favorite size. First I was thinking 1/10 size. It was still too small and changing the size little by little and decided to use 1/6 scale. This scale was the smallest size that is barely possible that I can make bags with usable function. Coincidentally, this size was just the right size for dolls.
I have started making miniature bags and have made a lot. All bags are made using the same method of making real bags. Please don't ask me why I made so many miniature bags. I just can say because it's fun.
Then what I'm thinking now is making miniature books. Yes, I'm going to make (I would like to use the word "publish" if I could) my own miniature books! And further step is, I think you already can guess, making a small bookshelf.
Having a big dream with less materials is very convenient, I only need to have a big box because they are all small.
2016-04-26 04:52 Lettuce, lettuce everyday
Y (Kuma's owner)
Cultivating vegetables was one of my dreams. This dream came true a year ago. My husband made two big veggie patches for me. One is a Decagon-shaped veggie patch and another one is a long rectangular veggie patch. I was excited to grow vegetables and flowers because when we were in Japan, there was not enough room to plant them.
I was a beginner of growing vegetables and wondered what vegetables are easy to grow. I searched for information on the internet, and asked my neighbor who is good at growing vegetables. I also bought some gardening magazines.
First, I bought some seedlings of lettuce. I followed my neighbor, Rebecca's recommendation. Before I had started growing vegetables, I didn't know that growing lettuce was convenient. I used to buy lettuce or a pack of salad leaves at a supermarket. These leaves had to be kept in the refrigerator. So, my refrigerator was almost full. After I started growing lettuce, I could get leaves at the veggie patch as I wanted.
Being pleased with my lettuce, I started growing other vegetables. There are various kind of vegetable seedlings and seeds at Bunnings (One of the hardware shops in Australia). I have liked seeds since I was small. I think of seeds like a time capsule. It has been waiting for the day of opening. Every time I see a germination, I'm happy.
I have started sowing Capsicums, Tomatoes, Zucchinis, Brussel Sprouts and Japanese vegetables. I knew buying seedlings was easier and quicker than sowing seeds, but you know, I love seeds.
I thought I could manage it well, but gardening was not as easy as I thought. Usually, seeds don't germinate 100%. It depends on temperature, pests or how old seeds are. That was why I sowed seeds generously at once, this was my mistake.
Not every time, but most of the time, seeds germinated well. I didn't expect it. According to the specialist of cultivation, I should have sorted out the seedlings. The weak seedlings had to be pull out and throw them away, but I couldn't do it. I felt sorry for them. This was my second mistake.
Then, what happened after few months was lots of lettuce. Lettuce, lettuce everyday. This was the first wave. Second was tomatoes, and capsicums followed. If I were in Japan now and read this journal, I'm sure I would have said "I wish I had that problem." Please imagine eating lettuce everyday. Even if I changed dressings I couldn't stop from getting tired of it. I gave some to my neighbor, but there was still some. I didn't want to throw food away, so I ate them all.
Since I have learnt from my mistakes, I haven't sowed so many seeds at once. However, there are still seedling that I showed lots before I noticed the mistakes, and I'm paying the price of my failures now.
Okra, okra, okra...
2016-04-25 02:16 A happy lizard
Y (Kuma's owner)
I went to a zoo, Ipswich Nature Centre this weekend. It's a cozy place and good for a family with kids. There are indigenous species; Kangaroos, Wallabies, and Bilbies. Oops, I picked up only the animals that look pretty. I should not forget the other native animals from Australia, that are reptiles.
I don't know about other countries, but Japanese people would imagine pretty marsupials when they hear the word "Australia". Undoubtedly, marsupials are adorable.
Long ago when I went to Northern Territory, a tour guide said that Australia is famous as the country of marsupials, but actually there are many reptiles. And he added that if we talk too much about reptiles, nobody would come to Australia, so we put cute marsupials like Koalas on an advertisement.
I think that it is interesting that most people who even have a different culture or background don't think reptiles are pretty. I wonder is that because of their appearances?
Honestly, I prefer mammals and marsupials over reptiles, but I felt a bit differently this weekend. I thought a big lizard was pretty. Please take a look at the picture below. I saw a big lizard that was taking a nap leaning against the glass. I'm a little disappointed that I couldn't take a picture of him/her as well as I saw. The eyes looked happy and its mouth seemed to smile. How cute! I have never thought that a lizard is pretty.
It was a nice day seeing a happy lizard.
