Getting my 'make' on

I love making things. It doesn’t really matter what I’m making, I’m pretty happy as long as I’m producing a physical product at the end of it all. Quite an ironic realization that I came to just as I finished off my university degree that was based entirely on theory…

Anyway one day last week, with the rain pouring down outside in typical early Spring fashion, I decided to get my make on!

With no real will to go out in the rain to source supplies I took a quick look around the house and assessed the resources I had on offer; the tin cans in the recycling bin, and some paint I had leftover from a project years ago were the only options with any potential – and so naturally I started painting the tin cans.

I soon discovered two things;

• This was a terribly slow and dangerous operation as I had to be careful to not get paint everywhere (sounds simple but somehow I always manage to), and because I had to wait for each coat to dry (waiting is something I’m not great with either).

• They looked pretty cool even though I had no idea what I was going to do with them!

The next day I leapt out of bed energized by the prospect of my freshly painted tin cans (I’m quite easily excited), and ventured off to Bunnings Warehouse where I found that herbs were on sale - and in that moment I decided that I was creating tin can planters!

I bought basil, coriander and mint which I thought were three versatile herbs which I could get started with.

I made some mistakes along the way and learned from them as I went, but for a first attempt I think they turned out quite cute! The rustic and uneven lines were totally unintentional as I scrimped out and bought cheap masking tape which the paint leaked through… but after grouping my ‘higgalty piggalty’ bunch of cans and plants together, they’re quite sweet and seem to have a lot of character.

I’m certainly chuffed that I now have fresh herbs on demand, I get so frustrated buying expensive herbs from the supermarket only to have them wilt and die before I can use them.

Bring on the fresh spring salads, and mojito’s!