Crisp Packets WOYWW 339

The table will be clear for most of today because I am rag rugging again today at crunch but this time using crisp wrappers for some ornaments for the tree.  So far on this one I have used the empty packet for the 6 pack of cheddars which has a silver backing unlike the individual ones. I am now adding the Hula Hoops - it takes a while to collect wrappers because I don't eat that many crisps. Just a tip if you want to have a go - no strong flavours like cheese and onion. I have done this with children and crochet hooks.


I finished my giant crochet rug - it only took a couple of nights watching TV but took up a lot of fabric. The pink rows were done from an adult full length coat (mum-in-law didn't want it anymore - honest)

Pop along and see what other crafters are doing today by clicking on Julia's link HERE and you may feel inspired to join in.

Upcycled Christmas - WOYWW

An early start this morning watching America implode and all I can say is zeitgeist. Anyway it's that time of year again where we think of a new style for the Christmas tree festival at Maxstoke Church. We are upcycling a wooden pallet so here I am making thing to hang from it which are a bit rustic. I am using old potpourri (can't throw that away either) together with stuff from my pantry e.g. cloves and cardamom, and the hessian also makes strings to hang the ornaments. What did we do before glue guns? Below are some already finished.

On Sunday I went with a couple of the 'Shedders' to the NEC for the Christmas Crafts Fair and met up with Shaz Brooks, and Doug of course, for a natter and coffee. It was great to meet one of the WOYWW crowd. I bought a giant crochet hook - I have toyed with making one from a broom handle for the last couple of years so I realised I would never get round to it - so many things to do. Here I have started a sample for a rug made from one of my old jackets - orange of course - it will be good to do in front of the tele and at least it will not have any more election stuff on it now.

Empty Tubes - WOYWW 387

Here are the empty thread tubes I was given to upcycle which I talked about last week. I am making them into Christmas treat holders for the tree - the images, printed on thin card, can be coloured by the folk at Marie Curie during one of the art sessions. Because the hanger had to be made an integral part I decided to do Nutcracker soldiers so that once I'd sprayed them black they would be hats - then I thought if I made them with animal heads they could be good tubes for cat or dog treats and I'm sure patients at the hospice have grandchildren who would like a couple of these for them to colour for pets. If you look in the corner of the picture you will see a little friend has joined me today.





And here she is - Humbug who lives a few doors down but really loves my hubby - that's his chair at the table she's lying on.

The bauble seconds I have decorated to disguise the flaws - ideas courtesy of Pinterest of course. I think the snowman will be great for the hospice - very simple using odd socks for the hats and Sharpies to add the face. The dots are just blobs of acrylic paint and the cupcake is acrylic paint 'icing' with some beads and a pompom sitting in a paper case. Just the smallerbaubles to find ideas for now.

Proggy Cushion - WOYWW 386

After missing a few weeks I'm back in the flow posting my workdesk. This is a rag rug cushion in progress made from old t-shirts that I started when I wasn't feeling too good a week ago - I hadn't got round to putting the stuff away from a demo I had done and so it was something I could do without really thinking about anything else - rag-rugging as therapy. I usually choose to hook through the hessian with long strips with my lovely Irish tool I've had for donkeys years. 

My friend Pat from Spellbound Beads in Lichfield has given us some baubles that they cannot use in their kits because they are flawed so that we can find ways of using them on our craft days at Marie Curie - and also a lot of empty thread tubes to upcycle. I have some ideas already so watch this space.....

If you want to see other crafters workdesks follow the link to our host Julia's page here

Scrappy Trees - WOYWW 381

This is my table from last night since it is totally clear this morning as I'm off to physio and then onto Crunch - Craft @ Lunch. I had been making brooches ready for Artists Open Studios at the weekend and these are made from felted jumpers - bits not used when I made the cushion few weeks ago and oddments of hand-made felt. Bits of silk were added along with cut and frayed sheer fabrics over painted paper scraps. Here are some already finished - mum-in-laws moth-eaten cardigans have gone a long way.







The  Open Studios day is really devoted to showing my paintings but I love chatting about all types of creativity. Hoping for a dry day I have even got my deckchair back out - I made this about 15 years ago now from hand-appliqued turban muslins and it had held its colour surprisingly well.

If anyone would like to check out what other crafters are doing this week follow the link to Julia's page.

Knitted Square cats - WOYWW 379

Late posting today having just been for physio on my leg. I am setting up what I will be taking along to Marie Curie for the ladies to make. I have a load of donated knitted squares (think someone thought I would make a blanket!) that I have been slowly ploughing my way through. So this week it is cats - the larger one I got from the Internet link here and is made from two squares. The tails were made from knitted i-cords with wool from unravelled squares using double pointed needles. That spool of orange ribbon must be a few years old  - it's price was £1.25 for the reel.

These are the rabbits and owls we have made in previous weeks. The rabbit is really simple so there is the link. The owls are made from one whole square and another which I cut in half diagonally for the ears and top of head. They will eventually find there way into gift boxes our church make up. Time now to finish the eyes have a coffee and check out other Wednesday desks.

The Larger Lady WOYWW 378

This is not a very interesting workdesk - These are pages, painted with emulsion, from a small catalogue (the type which is screwed at the edges) which I intend to use as a workbook for an idea I have for a group of paintings.


It was more interesting last week but my internet was down. I bought a mannequin from what was BHS a couple of weeks ago - I only wanted the torso and thought the price at £30 was too steep but behold.... Evans department in there were selling the whole mannequin for £10. I asked why it was so much cheaper and the sales girl said that no one wanted the 'larger lady'... well this one did. I have collaged it with papers and then over painted/inked it with the intention of making it into a light when I have a bit more time. It is wearing one of my knitted creations. I still have a bottom and a pair of legs to think about.

If anyone would like to join in desk hopping on a Wednesday click on this link to Julia's place.