Fabrics

Seeing my work and helping me to sell at the markets has finally inspired my friend and co-worker Natasja to get creative too. Actually being trained as a seamstress fabric seemed the most logic choice for her, except after graduating she hated clothes sewing so badly she has only worked in administration since. But now she has found joy and satisfaction in making tiny flower projects and other small things.

These bobby pins are some of her first try-outs. Not by her own design yet but that may come sooner or later too. Instead of going on spending tons of money in fabric shops I told her to wait for what might come out of my vast number of boxes with all sorts of materials.

First offer was the cut out back side of a silk blouse that a lady had just given to me. Here’s the resulting brooch with a vintage button of Natasja’s grandmother. I love that shine!

Going through my stock I found things I had forgotten I have or where they come from. Leftovers from mum or giveaways from friends, I don't know, but this selection here I’m sure I actually took straight from the curbs. Another good rescue that will soon find its way to the loving hands of a newfound creationista.

Grape Hyacinths

More bulbs from the curbs! I found this pot with soil and planted bulbs that had finished flowering last fall and just left it in a corner of the yard.

When some green sprouts started to come up I thinned them out a bit and planted some over in another pot. I was very pleased when they started budding a month ago and recognized grape hyacints. 
 

In the large pots some leftovers from my sea of rescued tulips from two years ago, already budding too.

My Laptop Cover

Castaway t-shirts come in trash bags full from the curbs. Either lightly stained or faded, once cut into t-yarn that makes no difference. But often there’s nothing wrong with them at all.

I use the yarn to make potholders, small bags or pouches and even wrist bands. My attempt to make a larger bag ended up in a drawer because I made it to wide and it turned out too heavy to properly fit handles or a shoulder sling on it.

Then I found use for it when I needed protection for my work laptop. As I bring it to the office in a bag that hangs from my bike’s luggage carrier a trolley is useless for me and the shoulder bag that came with the laptop is too large to fit in the bicycle bag.

Though a bit too wide on the sides the height is just fine. T-yarn products are very durable. I’ve used my laptop cover for almost a year now and it shows no signs of wear yet.

If you want to make one of your own all you have to do is make a swatch and crochet around a chain in the number of stitches you’ve calculated. I used double crochet for this project and you will need roughly two large t-shirts.

If you want to find more information and tutorials about bag making with t-yarn or plarn take a look at RecycleCindy’s blog. 

Fitting the zipper in my bag was a hassle and it’s also after this project that I developed my trick to make it easier. Read about that in this old post.

That Old Jug

I already showed this item in my post about ceramics in 2008. So far hadn’t found use for it. Recently I saw the young cook in a trendy food show on tv had his wooden spoons organized in this way. I thought that was quite nice and copied the idea. Besides this gives some space in my drawer.

The matching onion bowl in fact is a handmade strainer (looks kind of tribal), but it is cracked and glued together so I gave it another destination. Also the cute piggy shaped cutting board and the handy foldable dish rack (came unused) are finds from the trash.

Happy 2011!

Recently I found a thicker than usual synthetic comforter, or duvet for UK readers, just across the street (including a pretty set of covers!). As it’s an extra (I’ve found a pile already) and doesn’t fit in my washer (the standard ones usually do) I gave it to the cats for the time being until I find time or a reason to bring it to a shop. It’s in perfect condition and unstained though.

Oscar and Cézar were overjoyed when I showed it to them look here how happily they are sleeping on it!

Aren’t they cute? I wish my own two brothers were like these two. I have to admit due to an ongoing conflict between them my year’s end wasn’t so great. This also is why I still haven’t been updating this blog for a while, just too much stuff going on in my head. All the more I realize how important warmth and affection from your own blood or those you consider as close as that are.

So here and today I want to wish my readers lots of that for 2011, and – instead of buying useless new presents – just give that back as well! For me a compliment, a hug or a word of understanding from them means more than anything money could buy.

My New Coffee Table

I found this small round table a few weeks ago in front of my own door. Just perfect to use as a new coffee table, since so far I had to make do with a very tiny end table (equally curb found).

Though it’s not in perfect condition a paint job will make it look good enough for me. There are paint stains on it which I’ve hidden under my coasters for the picture. If you like those there’s still a set for sale in my shop.

I love the bottom board. Great for putting mess out of the way.

Here are the repairs done by a previous owner. Don’t you just love that?

A Late Fifties Mirror Set

I found this mirror set about a year ago at only fifty yards from my apartment, at the corner of our block. I date it late fifties early sixties. The shape of the triptych mirror panels is still quite romantic, but the formica covered tablet with its plastic gold coloured lining definitely taste early modernism. Then the back support of the mirrors and the mini compartment below are solid wood. Only the knob of the flap is modern again. It’s a wonderful mixture of two style ages and I did not have to ask myself twice if I wanted to take this piece home!

What it was designed for is I think a mini dressing table for a tiny bedroom (so common still these days in my town, Amsterdam) or a as a hallway piece for a quick check up of the face and hair. The tiny compartment could have held a comb and brush, powder box and lipstick placed on the tablet. Which would have been handy to lay a pair of gloves on as wall.

I would have loved to keep it but the problem is I have a fairly roomy bathroom with a wash stand and a wide mirror with a tablet over it. And in my bedroom I already have a pretty large circle shaped triptych mirror. Then my hallway is so narrow I feared my tall BF or visitors would have bumped into the set constantly. So…

After having used the piece to photograph my felted make-up bowls on I decided to take it to the craft fairs as a display. Threatening to get sold of course. Not the first time, but that was in June when sales were low anyway. But last Sunday within a few hours one lady already inquired if it was for sale. She told me it was for a baby bedroom, an idea I didn’t like too much so I held her off saying she could pick it up at the end of the day. I didn’t really expect her back so when later a young woman was totally in love with the mirror I sold it to her immediately at the same price I had asked the first lady, 15 Euros. With the fading silver, hang-up hooks removed and rusty hinges I thought that was a fair price for a still quite unique piece. Not bad for rescued trash, isn’t it?