Plans Gone Awry

I had been planning to share photos of Willowmenia (my Liz Frost doll) this week, but unfortunately her shipping has been delayed due to the fires throughout the north east coast of Australia. There are fires burning from The Sunshine Coast through to Canberra. You can see the extent of them here.

PHOTO: Brittany Daly

These fires are horrendous and so many people have lost their homes (577 in the last two weeks) and all their belongings. The homes can always be rebuilt and furniture can be replaced. However, you cannot replace photographs or personal items that have special memories attached to them.

Over a million hectares (2.5 million acres) have now been razed across New South Wales since the start of this year's unprecedented bushfire season. People have been killed and there has been so much destruction on the state's mid-north coast and northwest where bushfires ravaged regional towns. The rail between Brisbane and Sydney has been shut down, as the the lines have been warped by the fire.

Liz is right in the thick of this, at present she's okay, but it must be scary to have these fires so close to home. Being right on the coast, I think Liz should remain safe, however, the highway is closed and not knowing which way the fire will head next, my doll will remain with her until Liz knows it's safe to send her.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those in the fire zone as things have been predicted to worsen. With forecasts of a heatwave later this week and temperatures expected to climb past 40 degrees Celsius in some areas, I am really dreading the outcome.

PHOTO: ABC

Sydney has been covered in smoke haze, South Australia has also had fires with 111 schools closed due to temperatures of 42C. Now fires are out of control in Western Australia.  What makes me really sick to my stomach is that some of these fires have been deliberately lit by teenagers . . . I don't know what goes on in those people's heads.

Meanwhile, the northern part of Victoria faces scorching days as northerly winds will leave temperatures well over 40C both today and tomorrow, which has prompted the CFA to declare a total fire ban for the Mallee region.

Melbourne was expected to heat up today before hitting one of its hottest November days ever, as temperatures are forecast to hit 39C tomorrow, so I'm going to take my doggy for his walk now before it gets too hot and I'll be back in a few days, hopefully with something more positive to talk about.

Project: The Tailor's Shop (Pt.3)

Yesterday, I purchased another couple rolls of alfoil, but only used one, as well as a large of packet of long glue sticks for the glue gun. After adding more alfoil to the sides and some roots at the bottom of the tree, I got stuck into covering the whole thing with masking tape. I used a full 50 meter roll and it took me about three hours to complete . . . this is what it looks like now.

It's almost cave like to look at, but there's still another rather messy stage to complete before I can begin painting.

I added one of these LED lights (above). These are fairly cheap and you can find them in Bunnings and on line. For those in the USA, Home Depot also carry something similar, but it's round. I simply glued it to the ceiling with the hot glue gun, but I did cut a hole so I have access to the battery.

You can see in this photos, just how bright the light is, and there's no wires to worry about. I'll be back when I've completed the next stage.

P.S. 16th Nov. This morning I noticed some of my masking tape had lifted, so I suggest, if you choose to do a similar project, you purchase a good quality masking tape ( Scotch, 3M, Gorilla or Duck) rather than a cheap one like I did from the Reject Shop . . . a lesson learnt today!

Project: The Tailor's Shop (Pt.2)

Last Sunday I had a parcel delivered. The parcel contained my new Parlux hairdryer. Now normally, I would write about or show photos of what was inside, however, that is not what I'm going to share with you today. Instead I'm showing you the box it came in . . .

The box measures 38cm wide x 30.5cm high x 20cm deep (approx. 15x12.5x8 inches), the perfect size for my Tailor's Shop. As you can see above, I have already cut the holes out for the door and window. Don't think for one minute it's going to stay like this though, by the time I'm finished you won't recognise this as ever being a simple cardboard box.

Supplies needed to complete the first stage of the transformation were:
Aluminum foil & lots of it; a hot glue gun with glue sticks; a roll of paper towel; PVA glue
Tools required: Stanley knife or scalpel; scissors; and pegs or something similar

After I marked the position of the doorway and drew around the inner and outer sides, I carefully cut out the entrance, using my Stanley knife. Then did the same with the window.

To make sure I had hade no ragged edges, I used the masking tape to seal them off (as shown above).

Then I used the PVA glue to stick the doorway and the window to the box and held them in place with pegs until it dried.

While it was drying, I began scrunching up my alfoil into strips ready to stick them on the box using my hot glue gun.

The roll of alfoil I purchased was 30 meters (approx. 98.5 feet) long . . .  it took all of it just to cover the front of the box and a little way around the corners.

I wanted the top to extend above the edge of the box, just to ensure any lighting I may add could not be seen.

Then the tree would need a root system of some sort, so I tried to form at least one.

I also wanted some sort of porch cover, so I add a little more alfoil above the door, creating a lip.

As some of you were not sure of the actual size of this door, I asked Mossy (Fairyland Real Puki) and Darjeeling (Fairyland Puki Fee) if they would model for you. :)

Well that's all for today my friends.