The obvious fact to state first is the inclination I've had to write. But what?
Something witty, clever, interesting and engaging as essential with some solid content - a matter of substance - to stir the grey matter from the hypnotic slumber of the commercial world.
Boring But Essential.
Why I wonder do those words get bundled together? Let's dump boring and address essential: what have I done? and who knows about it!
It seems I've spent a considerable amount of time recently pursuing handcrafts and what may loosely be described hobbies. A few weeks have passed during this phase of creative construction and today a somewhat random sequence of events led to a new conclusion: I've been working!
More than that, though, the work done has pushed the limits of my own creative expression. So the sequence of events reads thusly:
Sarah going to meet with girlfriends for company and entertainment
Paul hungry and malcontent sitting at home alone
Having burnt a pavlova base for tomorrow's household Christmas party decided to go for a burger.
It was -4 degrees celcius outside
Walked 1.5kms to Hunger und Durst for a Large Mexico Sharf burger
Ate alone save the interruption of a small group, of which a girl joined me at my table.
Empty conversation. Felt I'd be better off at home and didn't bother with the clubs along the way.
Surfed the internet looking a little lost
Read some Australian news
Remembered the idea to tune into ABC radio
Found a light talk program on Tripple J: A couple of doctor's doing talk back radio on listener's questions.
Listened awhile and enjoyed the Australian accent plus a friendly conversation or three but not enough substance to stick with it.
Found another program on Radio National
Turned up the volume and set about making a leather book cover
Fascinating program: Art works; art prizes; value of works at auction; life of an artist; impact of prize money on working conditions and dedication to pursuit of self development...
Next speaker: short interview with the founder of the Hoakes Museum or something... the website caught my attention: www.ibys.org :: backyard ....
Switched off the radio.. Finished the leather dust cover with finished stitching; ready for embossing
Read the website. Aside from the Hoakes material found a few short videos from ppl plying old crafts and trades such as stone mason, tinsmithing, book binding and more. Funny the parallel with the book binding.
The tinsmith, an old guy, picks up a hammer and says, "This was my father's hammer... it just feels good.. I feel good when I use it" and I identify with that in that I have preached a long time the value of buying the best tool for a job because it lasts and 'every time you pick up that tool to do the job you feel good because it is the best tool, cost the most, or cost more than the cheap set of
The tin smith commented that he and his wife make most things they can and they derive a great deal of pleasure from doing so. His parents did the same. He said there's not much room thesedays for the hand craftsman because machines and mass production have flooded the market with disposable junk - he was making a tin horn for an old gramophone! Lovely stuff, fit perfectly together and everything.
Then I knew what I'd been doing.
So here's the pictures of my recent creations: (to be updated; msg me if you find this post without pics!)
Schraubenkistensortiament - Screw compartment container box
Leather Draw String Diamond Pouch
Shelf in the kitchen for the paper recycling
Custom storage box insert for Dremel Versatip interchangeable tip gas tool
Leather Belt
Leather Dust Cover for notepad
And I've just sent a package back to Australia with some of my best knotted and leather handcrafts like the bell ropes, keychains, friendship bracelets and necklaces.
It's late Saturday night. It's been a busy night and I'm just tapping out a few notes to remember the day. I have a couple of chapters of my book yet to read and I can get back to updating the technology side of my life like facebook, yahoo mail, notetab clips forum, some wikipedia referencing, notetab pro blogging, ntp clip writing for my article spinner and some desktop publishing for the symbol I will ultimately engrave into the leather dust cover for the notebook!
All in all it's fascinating how one's life develops.
Here's cheers! Thank God! Amen.
