Wallpaper Bags - WOYWW 364

Today I've been sorting the stuff to take to demonstrate gift bag making using wallpaper. There are some really nice wallpapers about at the moment and I just had to take some test samples to try at home. You can see how to make these from the Crafty Beggars video (2 minutes in) I have made some cords from threads I have (hence the drill with a hook) or they are recycled ones.

The flower wall - hanging I showed in my blog (link here) is finished and we took it to the Gallery on Friday for the official opening by the mayor of the Core Theatre. The mayoress was incredibly impressed. It took me and my mate Steph ages deciding on it's final configuration but in the end we decided to mount with a frame - donated from my stash. All the ladies who made flowers haven't seen it yet but it will be put up properly in a couple of weeks - I had to grab a bit of wall on the day and re-figure a bit of metal on the wall with duck tape.

Off to do some desk-hopping now with a coffee and if you want to join in follow the link  for the WOYWW 7th anniversary.

Jackie x

Felt and Feathers WOYWW 362

This is my table as I left it last night - I packed in when the bobbin ran out. I am using up some old pieces of handmade felt (done as a demo 20 years ago probably) and some 'feathers' I made for a wall hanging which are about the same age.

The leaf brooch was the first one made because I wanted to give something to a friend for her birthday and obviously whist I had all the stuff there I have to use up the felt. In the light of day I realise I have to get more machine threads out - the industrial cops (have about 60 of those in drawers in the garage. The other material on there is viscose/silk velvet so colour looks odd on camera. 

So I will have a peek at some desks before I do more machining this morning then I can do the hand stitching bits at the lunch craft group - although I may not get to do this since Monday morning I received a bag of zips from the wonderful Chris Dann for the group to play with. There is a big zip in there which I am claiming - it says 'necklace' to me.

Jackie x

Brooches WOYWW 361

After  missing a couple of weeks I am back on the blog. Today I'm just adding the brooch backs to zip brooches and the felted knitting flowerbrooches made using oddments of wool from the stash. A couple of weeks ago someone at the Wednesday Crunch group asked if I could do anything with old zips - and thanks to pinterest I have been able to oblige. Fortunately a friend had got some old zips so I did not have to buy anything I have added fabric to three and the fourth has needle-felting. I prefer the look of the metal zips so I will be on the scrounge for those methinks.

Another friend also gave me the challenge of making something using her medicine dosage cups ( on the right) and here is the result which I will show her later today - it is a pincushion using a couple of old socks. The ribbing was glued in place with a hot glue gun as were the socks which were rolled together (minimal sewing required) and cut to a depth to fit the cup. The plastic headed pins look like 100s and 1000s - not bad for only about 10mins work.

Happy upcycling - I'm now checking other folks desks now so if you want join us click on the link for Julia's blog here.

Jackie