Monday, August 25, 2014

Bags!

I started sewing a while ago and I think I'm addicted to making bags!

This is the last one I made and I'm really happy about it ^^ This one is absolutely my favorite.


Now I have to start focusing on my exam... Not in the mood and I'd rather like to sew, but it needs to be done...
After that I'll start on making a bag for a good friend of mine :)


Cheers
Mri



Wednesday, March 26, 2014

DIY Pinhole Camera with 35mm Film

Hi Folks!

A while ago I made my own pinhole camera and it actually works :D
I'll post the tutorial so if you want to you can make your own personalised camera!
Sorry there are no pictures of the making process, but I'll try to explain the steps as detailed as possible.






MATERIALS:
- Small tin box (you can find these at a craft store and they're not expensive)
- Metal spools (you can find these at hobby stores) - you'll need some thin and thicker spools and they must be hollow
- Self adhesive foam band (if you can't find these in black, you can always paint them black afterwards, like I did) - looks something like this: foam band.
- Piece of aluminium from a soda can - those are the easiest to use.
- Small needle (the smaller the better)
- 35mm film
- Tape
- Matte-black spray paint
- A drilling machine

HOW-TO:

Step 1: Take your tin box and drill a hole in the center of the back (see picture 2) - this is where the shutter is going to be (make sure the box doesn't break, so place the box on a wooden block or something else while drilling the hole) - it's important that the hole is in the exact middle. I measured from corner to corner and then marked the middle.

Step 2: Drill a hole in both corners of the box - make sure you place the lid on the box so you can make sure you've got enough space (with the lid on the box you drill the holes +/- in the middle (see picture 3) - this is where your metal spools will be placed. The holes must be as big as the metal spools, the spools have to fit snuggly (if the holes are too big, light will leak in).

Step 3: Paint the box completely black with the matte black spray paint - this is to avoid light leaking in.

Step 4: Make the interior
• Use the self adhesive foam to make the "walls" in the tin box (see picture 4) - as you can see both sides are +/- equal. Make sure they don't get loose (I used a glue pistol to secure the edges)
Make a block out of the foam band so you can place your film in the middle of the box.
Cut a 35mm film canister in 2 and make an incision in the canister so the film can go through it and place it on the foam block (make sure it's black or paint it black) (film cannister) - attach the film canister to the foam block.
• As you can see, on one side I used wider metal spools in the interior to make sure the smaller metal spool where the film is attached to, doesn't move too much. (see picture 4, on the right). I attached them with a glue pistol.
On the other side I used the smaller spool and I've made a little notch (incision) at the end of the spool so it fits in the film for rotation.
Paint everything black!

Step 5: Attach whatever you want on the metal spools for taking pictures and rewinding the film.
- I used the hello kitty to rewind my film and the cork for taking pictures.

Step 6: This step is very tricky but very important!
Take a small piece of aluminium from a soda can and polish it with abrasive paper/sandpaper so all the paint has come off and the aluminium is not too thick anymore.
Now take the smallest needle you can find - you need to create a little "bump" in the aluminium but you don't want to make a hole yet! (this is the tricky part).
The next thing you need to do is make a hole by polishing the little bump with abrasive/sandpaper so the hole will be round and nog edged (this would happen if you just punched a hole through the aluminium).
The smaller the hole the better and the sharper the photo's!!
If you want to see how big the hole is or even if there is a hole (somethimes it's not visible), turn the aluminium to the light and you'll see it.
Now glue or tape the small aluminium piece with the hole in over the hole you made in the back of your tin box. make sure it fits nice and the small hole is right in the middle of the hole of the thin box.
Cover the hole with black tape or something else that can't let light through - this is the shutter. Every time you want to take a picture, lift it up. (see picture 1).


Step 7: Place your 35mm film in the film canister and tape the beginning of the film on the small metal pole on the right side (see picture 4).

Step 8: Start taking pictures! :D
- first of all, test your camera with a failed film roll to see how much times you have to turn the spool in order to make a new picture without overlapping another picture or having too much space left. (this is why it's important to have something glued onto the metal poles like the cork or the Hello Kitty so you can see how many times you have to turn).
- With this camera (the one I made) I have to turn for about 1,5 to 2 times.
- You'll need to find out how long you have to open the shutter in order to make a good picture. 
(when there's a lot of light, it won't take long; sometimes seconds, sometimes hours ...)

TIPS
- You can make sure there are no light leaks by using black felt tape you glue around the drilled holes.
- I used self adhesive foam instead of wood to avoid getting the film damaged. Foam won't scratch the     film.
- Glue black felt tape around the half film canister to the canister won't damage or scratch the film!



ENJOY!
And don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions! ;)

x Mri
           



Tuesday, March 25, 2014

First time using a sewing machine

A few months ago I bought a the book "De Poppen van Tante Hilde", its a book for making dolls. 
I love sewing and I really wanted to test out a sewing machine so searched for one on the attic. Apparently my dad had a cheap one lying around somewhere.
So I started sewing and this is my first creation with the sewing machine: 




I installed a little corner in my room with all my sewing materials and I made this doll. 
I decorated the hair with stitches by hand and I made some matching clothes with spare fabric I had lying around.
I'm now working at a second doll for my little nephew and in about 2 weeks I'll follow some sewing classes :)
I also ordered a new sewing machine, hope it'll arrive soon :D 
It's a much better machine than this one and I'll be able to sew jeans and other materials. :)


x Mri

Monday, January 13, 2014

Go Radio

I discovered Go Radio this month, and I must admit I really love it. 
I like the music and his voice so much ^^


                                                      Go Radio - Any Other Heart


And this is my last remaining filter
On my last remaining words
It's leaving the taste
Of something bitter on my tongue

I'm leaving a letter full of reasons
Along with a line that starts to blur
Into a page that says
You faded way too young

'Cause you're leaving something
Short of innocent
I'm still thinking of the times
We should have spent

It's as if this form of treason
Crawled up deep inside your head
And left you notes
On how to keep your insides dead

If I had any other heart
If any other piece spoke louder
If I had any other hands
I wouldn't need the voice to tell
The world about the coward

That refuses to stand
And claim the blood on your hands
If I had any other heart beside my own
We might have left you cold

I'm handed a book about instructions
On when I should know to go
And tracing my fingers
Down the binding I get cold

'Cause I've been this awful shade of lonely
Since your reasons left the room
And I'd see everything get warmer
If you decide to follow suit

If I could paint the town
With all your good intent
I'd leave these walls
As red as my eyes could have been

While picking comfort for my father
For a place to rest his head
Well, Tallahassee will stay gray outside instead

If I had any other heart
If any other piece spoke louder
If I had any other hands
I wouldn't need the voice to tell
The world about the coward

That refuses to stand
And claim the blood on your hands
If I had any other heart
If I had any other heart beside my own

If I were king of the world
And I could build you a day
I'd smile just to rip it all away
I would to blaze a memory in your head
That screams about regret

If I had any other heart
If any other piece spoke louder
If I had any other hands
If I had any other hands

Oh God, if I had any other hands
God, if I had any other hands
And you're still refusing to stand
And claim the blood on your hands
If I had any other word
If I had any other way




Go Radio - Goodnight Moon


Don't go to bed yet, love, I think it's too early
And we just need a little time to ourselves
If my wall clock tells me
That it's four in the morning I'll give it hell

'Cause I've been trying way too long
To try and be the perfect song
When our hearts are heavy burdens
We shouldn't have to bear alone

So goodnight moon and goodnight you
When you're all that I think about
All that I dream about
How'd I ever breathe without

A goodnight kiss from goodnight you
The kind of hope they all talk about
The kind of feeling we sing about
Sit in our bedroom and read aloud
Like a passage from goodnight moon

And sing for me softly, love
Your song for tomorrow
And tell me my name's the one
That's hidden in there somewhere

And dream for me anything
But dream it in color
About we know the sun's still rising
And we don't care

'Cause I've been trying way too long
To try and be the perfect song
When our hearts are heavy burdens
We shouldn't have to bear alone

So goodnight you and goodnight moon
When you're all that I think about
All that I dream about
How'd I ever breathe without

A goodnight kiss from goodnight you
The kind of hope they all talk about
The kind of feelings we sing about
[- From: http://www.elyrics.net -]

Sit in our bedrooms and read aloud
Like a passage from goodnight moon
From goodnight moon

And there you were
And I saw my Juliet come gracefully down the stairs
It's hard to miss the way her eyes light up the room
And steal the air

Just feel her lips lock onto every breath I take
And breathe it in
And do you feel us falling 'cause I feel us falling

So goodnight you and goodnight moon
When you're all that I think about
All that I dream about
How'd I ever breathe without

A goodnight kiss from goodnight you
The kind of hope they all talk about
The kind of feeling we sing about
Sit in our bedrooms and read aloud
Like a passage from goodnight moon, oh
Oh, goodnight moon, woah, woah

And there you were
And I saw my Juliet come gracefully down the stairs
It's hard to miss the way her eyes light up the room
And steal the air

Do you feel us falling 'cause I can feel us falling
Do you feel us falling 'cause I can feel us falling
Do you feel us falling 'cause I can feel us falling
Do you feel us falling 'cause I can feel us falling

Do you feel us falling 'cause I can feel us falling
Do you feel us falling 'cause I can feel us falling



Changes

Long time no see everyone!

First of all, HAPPY NEWYEAR!!!
I hope this year will be a great one for everybody.
I've had quiet a difficult year... I decided to quit my photography studies and to go study nursing.
I'm glad I made the decision, but it wasn't easy. Photography is still a passion and I'll never stop doing it, but school made it feel like a job and not fun anymore. I just felt unhappy...
The fact that I'm going to study nursing means I've got a lot more free time in the weekends to sew and craft things (which I love but never had the time for). I recently made a ragdoll (my first sewing project ever!) and I'm gonna try to make a cute doll for my boyfriends nephew too ^^. I'm really glad I've got more time to work at that sort of things, to work in my art journal and to write.

The past year was hectic and full of surprises. How was your past year??

Lots of Love,
Mri

Thursday, July 18, 2013

I'm a fan!

Today I was again surprised about the few people that know Alexz Johnson here in Belgium. She is a great singer.
I just love her music, and therefore I'll add a link to one of her songs. But first a picture and a very short biography about her :).



Alexz Johnson is a Canadian teen pop singer and actress who rose to international fame on the music-themed teen drama series Instant Star and its series of soundtrack albums. Born Alexzandra Johnson on November 4, 1986, in New Westminster, British Columbia, she began studying music at a young age and ultimately got into acting as well. Her big break into show business came in 2000 when she was cast as Annie Thelan, the lead role in the Disney television series So Weird during its third season. A few years later in 2004 she was cast as Jude Harrison, the lead role in Instant Star, a CTV teen drama about an adolescent music star on the rise who must deal with overnight fame as well as personal drama. Underneath you can find a song from the serie. I hope you enjoy it! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ2RdjSL4NQ

Cindy Olbrechts

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Spending my free time reading

Now that the exams are over, I finally have the time to read books again.
The awesome thing about reading is that you can do this in your bed, on the bus, in your garden, and so on. But I enjoy reading most when I'm at the beach. The sound of the sea and he seagulls and the warmth of the sun makes it so relaxing while you are concentrating on a good novel.
The book I'm reading at the moment is "De trage wals van de schildpadden", written by Katherine Pancol. She is a French novelist and the book I mentioned is the second one of her three-volume saga.
The title in French is: La Valse lente des tortues. Usually I read in Dutch, but there are several books I have read in English.
I think Katharine Pancol is an excellent writer. She makes her characters so interesting and I could identify in a way with some of them. Although not every situation created in the book is completely realistic, I just wanted to continue reading until it was finished. This novel is very relaxing and there is much humour in it, so I really recommend this book to people who like reading.

Cindy