Sewing and Store. 10 July, 2009

Hi everyone!

It’s been ages since I blogged last! I’ve missed you all. Hehe. I have heaps of things to share with you!

Well, you know my shop – Made By Ethan? I finally got some packaging supplies for it! My grandma gave me some beautiful brown kraft paper. It’s really heavy! I also got some beautiful butchers twine (yes, the one that all the crafters love). If you want to know where I got it; I obviously got it from the butchers! I got the whole roll for $10. Bargain.

Also, you know at work the infamous H? Well the other day my manager was sick and he couldn’t come in. H took charge (as she usually does; even when the manager is there) and she probably made up this rule that ‘No-one under 16 can cook in a takeaway kitchen; and since the manager isn’t here you’ll just be taking orders today’. Whoo. That was annoying fun. Isn’t she just a pleasure to work with?

Anyway; I went on eBay a few weeks ago looking for a train for my brother, and I came across some beautiful vintage trims! Obviously, I bought them. They’re gorgeous! (photo’s coming soon!)

Oh! You know how I was talking about Year 11/12 subjects? I have officially chosen the following:
0 units – Christian Studies
2 Units – English (advanced) 
2 Units – Maths (general)
2 Units – Biology
2 Units – Chemistry
2 Units – PD/H/PE
2 Units – TAFE (Cert. 3 in Healh Services Assistance – Acute Care Nursing)

I also made an executive-y (is that a word?) decision that I will do Medicine at the University of Newcastle, if I get an ATAR¹? high enough; if not I will do Nursing at UTS. I am so excited.

Finally, my sewing space has been transformed (and tidied)…it works so much better (again, photos coming soon). It’s so cool…whoo.

Best wishes,
Ethan

PS. I will be going on holidays; so I won’t be blogging for 6 days. D: But I get to go to IKEA!!
PPS. THE ABOUT PAGE IS NOW LIVE (finally.)!

About my Sewing Machine. 14 June, 2009

Well, as part of Sew, Mama, Sew’s Sewing Machine Month; I decided that I should finally fill out their sewing machine meme! So; here I go!

–

What brand and model do you have?
I have my trusty Brother NS50. 

How long have you had it?
Not that long actually – about two or three months (for the second one – my first one broke!)

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?
When I bought it from the wonderful Sew World; it was something like $499 delivered with Australian Air Express…but the special has ended, unfortunately.

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?
Anything really, but I only really use it to make supplies for my shop and when something needs repairing.

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
Unfortunately, I’ve only pulled it out of the box about twice!! I can’t wait for the school holidays when I can lock myself out in my (new!) studio (photos coming) and sew!

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does he/she have a name?
I haven’t used it that much; but I love him (it’s a Brother?). He works hard and is my little workhorse (when I need him to be – hehe). He did…it was something like George? I talk to it too. Shh. (”Come on…I have to sew some new pencil cases.”)

What features does your machine have that work well for you?
Well; the easy threading, the FAST bobbin system, the LCD screen and keypad; and not to mention the central controls! The feature how it leaves the needle in the fabric (unless configured otherwise) is genius too!

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
Not really? I don’t really like the E it does with the monogramming though? Haha!

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)?
No, George and I don’t have anything to share yet…but I did knock it on the kitchen chair (gently, I might add) when I got it out for the first time.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
Well; it depends on what they sew…but overall yes, I would. It’s a great machine! I bought this one because I knew it would grow with me too; from beginner to more advanced.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
Personally, I am interested in features, warranty, style and price (obviously). Then from there I can just decide from what needs I have for the machine.

Do you have a dream machine?
There’s oh too many. But I’d have to say one that sews and does embroidery. 

Have a great day! Tell me what you do with your machine too!

I am here! 13 June, 2009

Hi Guys!!!

Sorry I haven’t blogged recently…but I will tomorrow. I have so much to show you all!!

Love,
Ethan

My Shop and Future. 30 May, 2009

Hi everyone!

Sorry I haven’t been blogging (again); but I’ve had half-yearly exams, and some really valuable careers days! You know my shop? Well, I convinced Mum to get a PayPal account…so now when I finally add products I can receive money!

I’ve had some wonderful careers opportunities to go to, and I’ve decided that I want to be either a Doctor, Nurse (Division 1/Registered) or Clinical Coder. It just depends on what fate gives me for my UAI. One University this year only needed a UAI of 61 to apply for nursing!

Also, we also had to express interest of subjects for Year 11-12. In NSW; with the Higher School Certificate (HSC) we have to choose 12+ units; and can drop down to 10+ in Year 12. I’m also considering doing a Combination Career Pathway – so I leave with my HSC, a UAI and a TVET Certificate. I’m thinking of doing Aged Care Nursing (Certificate III); so while I am studying at Uni I can work at an aged care home and earn some money!

I ended up expressing interest in 13 units of study which were:
1 unit – Christian Studies (Mandatory)
2 unit – English (Advanced)
2 unit – Mathematics (General…I fail haha)
2 unit – Biology
2 unit – Chemistry
2 unit – Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
2 unit – TVET (Aged Care – Cert III)

Best wishes,
Ethan

PS. My application for Nursing Experience was accepted! I can’t wait to go!!

Shop Transformation. 17 May, 2009

Well, it’s 1:23am and I just finished washing the dishes after watching a movie. If somehow, you found a link to my shop on Bigcartel; it’s dramatically changed! If you visited my site before today; you would have seen this:

My Site's Maintenance Page

it is the page that you will see whenever I am doing a major overhaul like I did today. This is what my site looked like before I did anything.

I thought it looked a bit dull and bland, no? I made a banner; inspired by Pixels Plus Paper Paraphernalia. I really like it, the fonts and colours…everything! The technical details are at the bottom. So I then added a banner.

I thought that instantly brightened the whole shop! Just one more thing to add to make it complete, my first item!!

I’m proud of my new shop! All I need now is to persuade Mum to get a PayPal Business account so I can get money and I’ll be all set!! I hope you like my new shop! However, nothing is available for sale as yet.

Finally, while I was at it I made some reciepts too; do you like them?

 

Copyright 2009; Ethan Watters. Do not alter or steal.

Thanks,
Ethan

——Technical Information——
Banner: ‘Made By Ethan’ was made with Wendy Medium font, coloured with hex-code ff3333. ‘handmade goods by ethan watters’ used Century Gothic font, coloured with hex-code 929292.

Operating System: I use Windows XP; and I have a beautiful Vista visual theme called VistaVG Ultimate

Browser: I just use Safari…it works for my needs. Plus, since the laptop is a school computer they’ve disallowed Firefox, and Safari was the closest option.

Receipt: Yes, I know I spelled receipt as reciept. Haha! It’s been fixed now…

Busy and Stuff. 13 May, 2009

I’ve been really busy with assignments and exams lately; which means my blog is being pushed to the side. I’m really sorry guys!

Anyway; work was fun until I got yelled at for incorrectly adding up an order for 7 burgers, 20 scollops, 20 fish cocktails and $20 of chips. I added it up to be $83.70 – but I forgot to add on the chips to make it $103.70. Other people who worked there (and will remain known as H) just stood beside me watching me add up the order and H didn’t even ask “Do you need help, Ethan?”. Then when I was out the back cutting onions, I heard H buddying up to my employer and saying “If they don’t pay you should dock Ethan’s paycheck either way“. Trust me, I felt like verbally abusing H and dropping her in the deep fryer. I have no problem with my paycheck being docked if they didn’t pay; but either way?! Come on. I only get $7/hr and she probably gets like $12/hr.

With all anger aside, remember my post about High School Musical (here)? Well my friends and I have decided to start up a little lunchtime music group. We still have to ask the teacher if we can borrow a music room, I hope we can. Hehe.

Finally; referring to several previous posts, my BurdaStyle Sewing Club is now official! I’m just waiting for them to send projects/patterns, measurement cards, the BSC logo to put on the newsletters (email) and their Google Document template. I’ve been patient! There was only me in the group, so I made by Grandma an account and she looked around the site. She loved some of the free patterns! She is also my first un-official member. Haha! Anyways, I have to go to school now (Dad’s driving me), so I will leave you with another music video which we might be playing in our lunchtime group.

PS. I’m finally starting to sew and cut that Weighted Pincushion Organiser!

Apologies. 30 April, 2009

Well, I suppose it’s been a while since I blogged last. I think it was raving on about High School Musical and Celebrities? Hehe. Anyways, I’ve returned to school and during the holidays I got a job (which most of you already know) and I moved my workspace (aka. Sewing Space) out into our back room. The back room used to be Dad’s ‘den’ but is now the kids playroom. Mum and I are so excited as it means that the kids are stuck in the back room with their toys so we don’t step on Metal Die Cast Thomases anymore.

I have also given my schoolwork 110% lately (I know…shocking right?) and I returned to school this Tuesday and I got 50.5 out of 53 for my Genetics exam (yep. That’s 95.28301886792452830188679245283 percent).

I also looked over several of my old pictures I had bookmarked from Flickr and I found CLKL’s GTDmobile. She made some changes after she got whiplash; which seemed to make it even better. Therefore, I have decided to make one of my own to organise my room…trust me it’s looking like it needs more than that at the moment. I’ll take some photos of my new workspace and annotate it on Flickr so you can make one of your own.

Finally, I sent an e-mail to BurdaStyle; and I now own a local BSC (BurdaStyle Sewing Club). There’s only me so far, so if you live anywhere in the Hunter Valley you can send me an email (through the Contact Page) and we’ll keep in touch. Send me some emails anyway…I feel lonely, hehe.

Have a great week!
Ethan

Portrayal. 20 April, 2009

I just realised that my mental age has now dropped to about 4. LOL. It’s because I was watching High School Musical and 17 Again – and I realised that Hollywood makes these celebrities like Gods.

So, I came to the shocking conclusion that they aren’t Gods, but they are normal people just like us. They still go to the toilet, shower, eat, get dressed, wear pyjamas and buy their own clothes! That took me too long to realise. Hehe.

Anyway, in my true nerdy style; I researched Zac Efron and found out that he was brought up in a middle-class family and it wasn’t until he was about 16 (?) that he became known. OMG. I could become the new Zac Efron if I took the right paths.

Since I have all taught you a valuable lesson (LOL); I summarised it for you! Just remember that celebrities still poop and wee, shower, eat, get dressed, buy their own clothes etc.

Now – go watch some High School Musical 3. YAY.

Blog Updates. 14 April, 2009

Hi everyone!

Well, I’m still here; and you may (well, probably) have noticed that my blog looks a little different. There’s a Twitter bar over in the side, I changed some themes; and I am working on the ‘About Me’ page – because it has 128 views, more than any other page here! It’s on my priority list; followed by study and an assignment. These holidays aren’t very relaxing lately!

Anyways, if you look at Craft Blog tomorrow – my Guest Post will be there! How cool is that?! You can download the Fabric Folding Tutorial here. It’s a large file, so it took me about 2-3 minutes to load. It has heaps of pictures for you all though! I hope you like it! Comment with your thoughts (you guys never comment (19 comments on the WHOLE site)).

I heard on Saturday, at a party, that about 10 years ago (not sure if it still works today) you could get a foil lined chip packet, put it in the oven and it would shrink! The details and everything would still be there, and you can put a hole in it and wear them as earrings or on a necklace! As I said earlier, you need a foil lined packet; and put it in the oven at 175°C for 5-8 minutes. How cool is that?

Also, I just realised the other day that Etsy has recently let you favourite sold or expired items! That’s so good, because I love some items that have been sold; and now I can favourite them to look at later.

Finally, BurdaStyle is letting you start your own local BurdaStyle Sewing Club! They say you can be a ‘BurdaStyle Sewing Club President’. That sounds so cool. It’s a surprise to see if I sign up or not. I’ll let you know soon though!

Have a great day!
Ethan

PS. For some reason, I am still over-excited about the Stitches and Craft show!

Sick. 6 April, 2009

Hi everyone. I’m still here, don’t worry or anything. LOL.

So, haven’t been feeling well these past few days and when I woke up on Saturday I couldn’t swallow because it hurt so much. It’s still like that now, just a minute but better. I’ve been diagnosed with Post-Nasal Drip and Tonsilitis. Now all I have to do is take these antibiotics that are about 3cm long and 1cm thick. Yes, a horse tablet. It feels great when it goes down your throat…not.

Anyway, I didn’t go to school today because I was too sick; and I went to the Doctors. I had camp from Tuesday to Thursday, but the Doctor said that I would be too unwell for me to go. So, I suppose the holidays have come early for me!

I went to Sydney yesterday so I could see my aunt and cousin and my Mum’s aunt (or my grandmother’s sister). She was diagnosed with kidney stones and the pain got worse so we had to call and ambulance. She was taken in, and to cut a long story short; the triage nurse was that careless and unattentive that she had a heart attack while she was waiting. Stupid nurse. She’s okay now though.

Anyway, while I was there, I bought some fabric and a doona cover. I now owe Mum $117.95. I really need a job. Now I can finally make that Weighted Pincushion Organiser! I just need some white felt, a button and instead of rice – some metal pastry weights. The bugs would find the way into my rice. Maybe it’s because I live in ‘a hole’? LOL.

I hope you are all feeling better than me!
Ethan :D