HOW TO: LINOCUT

Using my new camera to document pretty much anything (as you may notice). I've been working on a series of 3 book covers for my favourite subject at uni (the one which I did the small square book for). I chose to do travel novels (how surprising for myself... actually, if cookbooks were an option, it would have been a close call). Linocutting is a medium I loved back in high school and thought its rawness would suit this book genre well.

NEED:

• lino
• cutting tools (sharp = good. so, so many bleeding fingers with this assignment)
• block ink (I first tried using acrylic paint but it's just not the same)
• roller
• bamboo smoother
• something to roll the ink out on (I used heavy card)
• paper

To transfer a design from paper, colour over the lines using a dark pencil (I found progresso worked the best), then put the paper face down on the lino and secure with sticky tape. Press down really hard and trace over lines with a a pen lid or similar. OH AND FOR THE LOVE OF CHE make sure you check the spelling of the text BEFORE you start cutting. I had to re do this one because I'm a Photoshop purist and refused to edit in the 'A' I missed in Guevara.

Once design is transferred, start cutting! Putting the lino in the microwave for 20 or so seconds will soften it a bit although it can still be pretty tricky and I stabbed my hand several times whilst cutting. At school they always said to put your hands behind the direction you're cutting towards but I don't see how you can have control over the lino if you do that. Live life on the edge.

I realise I missed a few steps here, but once it's cut, roll out a blob of ink on some perspex/heavy cardboard (always rolling in one direction only, not back and forth) until it becomes quite 'tacky'. Roll paint onto the lino, place paper over the top and use the bamboo tool to smooth over the paper in circular motions & carefully peel the paper off. Repeat for different layers- I really like the look of misregistered prints.

Photos taken with a Canon 600D

Make a load of prints and hope one looks good! I'll post pictures of the finished covers soon.

LUNCH FOR ONE

After stabbing my left hand way too many times today whilst linocutting, I thought it was time for some 'healthy' (get it?!) procrastination...

PEA & BACON SALAD WITH HONEY BALSAMIC REDUCTION

Use:

• Cos lettuce
• Peas
• 1-2 rashers of bacon, pan fried with a little honey
• Sliced mushrooms, pan fried
• Some thinly sliced red onion
• Pine nuts, roasted in a pan for 1-2 minutes
• Parmesan, shaved
• Tsp honey + 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, mixed then poured on a hot pan for a minute or so to reduce

Omit bacon for a vegetarian salad and leave out the parmesan/ substitute honey for brown sugar if you're vegan.

DIY: PIMP MY RIDE

How nice was the weather in Sydney today?! Was planning to do work but that idea went when I woke and saw the sunshine.

Ever since I saw a bike locked up around Ultimo with a similar bike 'basket', and ever since my back has been dying from carrying KILOS on a shoulder bag pretty much every day, I've been meaning to make a 'basket' like this for my bike. I know road bikes aren't really the type to attach baskets to so I was worried it might look a bit odd- but I'm happy with the result.

Need:

• bike
• bike rack
• milk crate (acquired, err, legally...)
• 6 cable ties
• saw

Do:

Cut half off one side of the crate + quarters off the other two adjacent sides. Milk crates are actually surprisingly easy to saw off, the only reason they seem so strong whole is because they're so cleverly designed. I had a pretty blunt saw and it worked fine. Why cut half of the crate off you ask? If you stuck the whole crate on the bike rack, it'd be too close to the seat making it near impossible to sit down/ very uncomfortable to cycle.

Attach crate to bike rack using cable ties. Since mine is a road bike, I used a special rack and had to attach it under the seat. Most most bikes however would allow normal bike racks to be attached to the wheel.

I used 6 cable ties in total (depends on the bike rack) to tie the crate to it and trimmed it after tightening.

I drilled a hole in the crate after tying it on to attach a reflector.

On ya bike! Now to dodge those pesky magpies (aka bane of my existence).

WELCOME

Taken on a Nikon D90...FOR THE LAST TIME!

Look what's arrived! The irony of not actually using my new camera to take these photos isn't lost on me, don't worry. I can now give my brother his Nikon D90 back that I've been sneakily using/ guessing how to use and learn how to properly photograph using my very own Canon!

It's surprisingly light- which is a nice surprise as I'm steadily killing my back by daily bike commutes with ridiculously heavy uni bags (on a side note, how good was Ride to Work Day yesterday?! So good to see so many cyclists in Sydney, even if my local area's bike presence is still pretty dismal & limited to older males in too tight neon lycra) (will dedicate a future post to all things cycling because these brackets are getting too long).

The cookbook shoot is wrapping up tomorrow. How sad! It was such a great experience/ learning experience. And taste bud experience. Tried THE most delicious strawberry, basil & peppercorn ice cream today- who would have thought?! It's like summer in a bowl/on a cone. Get the book when it comes out if only for this recipe (but it won't be because all the other recipes are equally delicious).

Photos with the new camera to come soon!

NOSTALGIA

I was hoping to post pictures from the NEW CANON 600D THAT I ORDERED by now, but sadly it hasn't arrived yet. So you get a cool picture taken with my iphone instead (yes it was a close call whether I even needed the 600D with an iphone camera and all). I took it on the train during one of the many weekend day trips my friends and I did around Germany over last year. I can't wait to visit these friends again next year, we're currently in the process of organising to all meet in Moscow next summer(!).

This week has been quite same old, back to uni, assessments, rainy weather, yey. This week I'm looking forward to wrapping up the cookbook shoot that I've been helping Katie from What Katie Ate with. Check out her latest, awesome post feat. yours truly doing a ridiculously cheesy pose. I know I've said it before but it's been SUCH a good experience. I can't wait for the book to come out- as well as the photos, the design & layout of the book is going to be impeccable with Katie's design background. I think it's safe to say all the recipes are also incredibly delicious (I sampled).