Category: life

life, photo

Quick Pics from this weekend.

christinahopgood
Yesterday the 2nd was Charles’ birthday!

This is what I wore on Saturday.  I didn’t actually wear the beanie out!
Blouse: handmade
Pants: American Apparel
Cardigan: Forever 21

I made him a PS3 controller cake because I got him a PS3 for his birthday!

It was just the two of us on his actual birthday.

Also the cake had jam and cream in the middle!

Then today we went and had a family lunch.  I took a picture of some bees on Charles’ parents’ flowers.

Another cake!  More wishes!

Now I’m sick in bed 😦 I hope I feel better for the week ahead!

CIT, life, sewing

My new courses at CIT!

christinahopgood
So this semester I’ve started two courses at CIT (Canberra Institute of Technology) as part of a Certificate IV in Clothing Production. Since I’m only doing it part time, two evenings a week, I’ll be doing my Cert4 for about three years!  Full time students finish in one year.  But I’ve got to pay the bills (which I now have, living in an actual rented house)!

The two courses I’m doing this term are Fibres and Fabrics, and Clothing Production 1.  We started three weeks ago now.

In our fibres course, we learn about different types of fabrics, what they are made of, and their qualities.  We also learn about the production of fibres and fabrics.  Last week we all had to present some research on any natural fibre of our choice (I chose cashmere), and it was really interesting.  That session was great because I got to learn about bamboo, angora, abaca, jute, hemp, ramie, mohair, and more.  I’d never even heard of abaca or ramie! I also learnt that just because something is from a “natural” source (plant or animal), does not mean it’s environmentally friendly or cruelty-free. Bamboo is a good example – it’s very renewable because it grows so fast and in such quantities, but to make soft delicate bamboo fabric they use harsh chemicals which are very damaging to the environment. The same is true for cotton.  And there was a lot of talk about cruelty to Merino sheep, which I had no idea about.  We need to think about where our clothing comes from if we want to be environmentally responsible.  It doesn’t just appear in the shop!  Does anyone remember that song from Sesame Street, Bert’s Blanket?  That’s what this class was like.


Also last week, we did some felting with unspun wool! I thought I’d put up a tutorial on how to do that when I’ve done some at home.  I don’t want to be a felter, because I don’t really like the results, but I’ll do some experiments and see if I can do something good.

In Clothing Production 1, we have been learning how to operate the big industrial sewing machines. We’ve only had two classes and the first was entirely talking about OH&S, like don’t put pins in your mouth, tie your hair back, etc. There were so many horror stories about people swallowing pins and getting scalped by the machines and it was scary!  This week we actually did some sewing – on practice sheets, but at least we got to do it!  The industrial machines are quite different from your home machine.  They do one thing – go in a straight line.  Fast.  They are SO fast!  The teacher gave the analogy of going from driving a Barina to driving a tank. They’re pure guts!  The sewing we did was all in straight lines to get used to the speed and how to stop without massively overshooting.  I think we’re doing practice stuff for a few weeks before we get to start on real fabric.

Otherwise in my life, I’ve started reading Overdressed, because I saw some other sewers talking about it on their blogs, and I have a (bad? good?) feeling that it’s going to drastically change my shopping habits!

And that’s what’s going on!  It’s also why I’m so crazy busy!  But I got some yarn in the mail today from Bendigo Woollen Mills (it feels so nice and smooth, it’s going to be so nice to knit with) and I’m going to start a new cardigan – because that’s what I like to make and wear!
concert, life, percussion

DRUMatiX Next Phrase Concert photos

christinahopgood
This concert was like three months ago! Better late than never!
All the photos are by the lovely Pete Butz.

 This looks like I’m singing but I’m not.  I’m mic testing!

 Still mic testing!  You don’t play drum kit with one mallet.

 Rehearsing!

 This might be concert.

 I only put up pictures of me and Charles really, because I don’t know how everyone else would feel about being on my blog.  But there were like 10 of us.

 Arty shot of mallets and stuff.

The stage setup was pretty massive.  I have never done a concert with so many instruments on stage at once!  It was a fantastic concert.  I hope to do more like this in future!

life, xylophone

Sticks and Tones gig at the Campbell shops

christinahopgood
On saturday we had a gig for The Musical Offering, a project for the centenary of Canberra where there’s a free concert every day!
It was super hot – 36 degrees!  Or 97F for those who aren’t used to celcius.

 We set up right near a cafe.

I like that there are three kids bikes in this photo.

 When we packed up it was getting really hot!  We started playing at 11am, by the time we were done packing up it was around 12:30.  Funny, looking at the pictures it doesn’t look hot at all!

I changed my shoes to pack up, unfortunately!  I play in heels because my xylophone is pretty high, or is it the other way round?  My dress is from Review, it’s my going-away outfit from my wedding (except that I totally changed into jeans to go away).

Next saturday we’re playing at the Yarralumla shops at 11am!  Canberrans, be there!

house, life, makeup

New makeup and jewellery storage!

christinahopgood
Since moving in, I’ve been trying to figure out a good arrangement for my makeup and stuff.  There’s no mirror in the bedroom, where I had it in my dressing table.  I’ve been keeping my makeup essentials in the mirror cupboard in the bathroom, but I wanted everything together where I could see it.  It was annoying to have to keep going to another room.

The bathroom.  No bench space and not much storage.

My solution… put it all in a basket to keep under the sink!  Bring it out to use it and then just put it back!

 All my stuff fits really well in here!

Up the back, my finishing spray, lipsticks, and Australis palette.

My brushes in a cardboard tube to stop them from getting away, my moisturiser and my Naked palette.

All my eye things: mascaras and shadows (except palettes)

It all fits super nicely under the sink!
My other problem has been my jewellery.  I love having my jewellery out where I can see it, but it has all been hiding in my jewellery box.  I went out to officeworks and bought myself a little pinboard and…
Cute jewellery display! All my necklaces and brooches where I can see them easily.  This way I’m sure I’ll actually wear more of my things.

The entire top of my dressing table.

In this little box I keep tiny keepsakes.  This box was given to me when I was really little.  I just love my bears.

My hook earrings.  I have them all hanging off a dessert glass I found at a garage sale, with some of my most-used stud earrings in the middle.
My jewellery box.  Now it’s not cluttered with necklaces and brooches, I keep my rings, stud earrings, pendants, and a couple of other bits in here.

Close up of my little pins.  Kenshin, robo-panda (Aranzi Aronzo), Totoro and dust balls!

Under the top part I keep the things I don’t wear much, some brooches, necklaces and bracelets.  I don’t wear bracelets at all.
I’m really happy with my new arrangements for my jewellery and makeup!  Already after two days, I’ve worn more of my jewellery and my makeup storage works super well.
My next project is our study/my sewing room… Oh gosh.

 Ha! Stay tuned.