Recycled Wall Art project

Another UnFinishedObject has been completed.

I must admit I don't really like to rush my projects - especially the ones that I have been creating for our apartment, since these are the ones we will live with for a while. Consequently some projects can take me weeks or even months to complete. Sometimes waiting for the right fabric or buttons or even the right crafty day to come along.  This weekend was one of those days where I was feeling particularly inspired and the weather encouraged me along.  Sunday, was a grey, cool day in Sydney, a travel DVD was playing (Billy Connolly's - Journey to the Edge of the World) , and lots of tea resulted in a very productive day. 

Here is our new piece of wall art:

The inspiration for this piece was the seasons.   My little abstract interpretation of Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring which also celebrates my love for recycled fabrics.   The owlies I have been creating have produced lots of left over bits of fabric and felt which the hoarder side of me cannot bear to throw out.  So I have been collecting them all in a big container, coming in very handy for this project.

The circles measure  45cm and are made of what looks to be pressed grey felt/wool.  I bought these from Reverse Garbage at Marrickville some time last year with a big piece of wall art in mind.   Each season has been hand stitched using embroidery thread in various colours including gold.

I really love how this piece turned out.  More so, I love that I got to use up lots of my scraps of felt and fabric.

Before and After projects I am loving.....

All via Design*Sponge

Repurpose project - Doily becomes a brooch

One of the good things about sharing with people your love for all things recycle/re-purpose/re-use, is that often, they will think of you when they come across something a little too special to throw out. So although they may no longer want or need the item their little thought bubble has your face in it! Case in point - this little doily.

I am loving doilies at the moment.  Using them to give the owlies a little feminine vintage flair.  However this doily, was a little too colourful for that.  So I gathered my supplies:

doily, scissors, thread,needle, random glass bead, felt scrap, brooch backing

I cut 2 pieces of felt from a scrappy piece. Using some embroidery thread I sewed on the brooch backing  to one piece then joined both pieces together with some decorative blanket stitching (which I am slowly getting better at)

I decided to sew a little glass bead I had in my jewelry stash to the centre of the doily.  This helped to hide all the stitching as well as give it some weight to help it look more like a flower.

Here is the finished product.   A fun project which even if you only have very basic sewing skills can be done in less than 30 minutes.  The doilies can be folded or scrolled or left flat even.  Your creation, your way.

5 Minute repurpose project - Calendar becomes gift tags

Really Claudes? Yes! I know...its probably more like 1 minute.  I am prone to a little hoarding, especially when it comes to pretty cards and calendars. So on a recent declutter session of the crafty studio I decided to get my creative-on and save some trees at the same time.  You can too!

So take some old birthday/Christmas/wedding cards, calenders, post cards, recipe cards, etc.  Some scissors (or guillotine if that way inclined) and a hole punch....

If you have it, also some matching ribbon or twine saved from all those birthday/Christmas/wedding presents and hey presto....a new card ready for gifting!  These also make pretty cool book marks.   Easy peasy  - green and clean!

5 minute repurpose project - New dishwashing liquid decanter

Take 1 old Scotch Whisky glass bottle.  Remove the label with warm soapy water.  Replace the cap with an oil pouring spout and....

VOILA!!   A new glass (my fave) decanter for our dish washing liquid!   Stylish and Green (or brown)

Now to replace the hand wash and hand creme bottles  from plastic to glass......

 oh and I could not resist.....here is our little apartment all dolly sized!   Playing with our new camera before the trip and I simply love how teeny tiny our little place looks.  

don't mind the mess....and the brown chair awaiting its makeover!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

xox
claudes

Repurpose project - Embroidery thread tin and Sewing Machine cover

Keeping my crafty eyes out for old tins and jars lately. I am organizing my craft space so they come in very handy.  Today at work, this very big chocolate tin caught my eye.

Sadly, there were no chocolates left for me to sample however I claimed the tin and bought it home.

Gathering my supplies - fabric, scissors, spray adhesive - i made this

 Perfect little storage for my embroidery threads which were starting to get all tangled and messy.

I then decided to make a cover for my sewing machine out of this very long table runner from Crate & Barrel which we bought 6 years ago and was no longer being used.  A few measurements and some sewing later --- a new cover for the machine!

A very productive crafty evening with two less pieces of landfill makes me very happy :-)