Vintage paper leaf garlands

I have been cutting up vintage book pages(!), I know some people would say that's a crime but I'm recycling those books that even the charity shops end up reducing to move. They are going on to have new lives that even they didn't dream of! I've been using pages in my journal, cutting shapes from the pages for paper garlands and will be using the hard covers for some handmade journals, so thumbs up all round I feel. And what is even better is the price that I paid for these books in the first place, and the amount of items and enjoyment I can and will get from them (in fact already have), all for the princely sum of 20/40p per book, bargain I'd say!

pile of autumnal leaves?!

I know that there are so many shapes/images that can be cut from paper, but I have to say as well as all the intricate papercuts that are out there I do love a simple shape, cut and stitched together to create a garland. And to be honest I have hung these up across one side of my little workroom as I've completed them, and they look better the more that there are. If you've only got room for one string it would look great but a few definitely makes more of an impact.

vintage book pages and doilys, delicate combination and simple

I've strung these up with the other circle ones I made a few weeks ago. And in the morning light the other day I could envisage them working so well at a fairy tea party, ethereal and light and how perfect as a back drop or around the room for a sweet hen tea party or a reception. hmmm...something magical...

intertwining strands

I am so loving keeping it simple with these garlands at the moment too, basic black and white text, white self-patterned paper, sheets of musical songs, lace like doilies. The only touch of colour on them is the thread they are stitched together with. As you may know, as I've mentioned it before, I'm helping with the decorative bits and pieces for a friends daughters wedding next year, and I'm thinking a 'wall' or backdrop of lengths of garlands would look great, catching the breeze, rustling lightly and even working as a background for photos too. I'm really liking the ideas I've seen of enormous lengths of crepe paper fringes as decoration as well. I have such love for paper at this time!

What are you loving right now?

Paper garlands

I love garlands and enjoy making them as well. Way back when I was at art college I used to have a small washing line with inspiration pieces pegged to it, so to me a garland is almost an extension of that. Having something decorative strung about your space.

I've seen a lot of different people make simple paper circle garlands, so thought I would whip up a few myself.

old music paper + self patterned waxy paper + thread = pretty musical garlands. I think they work best when there are a few strings draped about together.
Have you made any?

The 52MMMC Week 11

Well long time no see, I've been busy with the 'day' job, my own work, life in general and of course Christmas gift shopping - like a lot of people I'm sure.

Anyhow I've posted this 'make' although it is something I have made to sell, as it was the first time I had attempted them and so I felt I was able to include them in my 'makes'!

So what do you do with these
(which I'd made and had hanging around for a while not doing anything)


and these which I bought at a flea market in France


You make these of course - wreathes!!!!!
(reverse side of wreath as it was hanging on my stall this weekend)


one pictured hung with wee fairy lights on, all aglow


and finally my third one hanging again on my stall this weekend (reverse side through my garlands streamed across my stall, making sure it was all 'decked' out for festive selling!)


Well I hope that they add some cheer to your day.
I have to say that I have two more still to make
as I made these trial three to see if they would get any interest.
Well I had my stall Saturday with all three and went home with.......................none!!!!!!
So smiles all round from customers giving homes to my handmade circles of happiness.
And smiles from me for knowing they were going home with some lovely people who will appreciate them adorning their abodes and adding splashes of colour and handmade cheer to their walls or doors.

The 52MMMC Week 2

Well tis week 2 of the 52 Marvellous Makes Madness Challenge or '52MMMC' for short!
I thought it was time to make this week - something with fabric of course being a textile bod. And as one of these creatures you will know and understand that with making items there are always a lot of left overs, lots of wee snippets of fabric kicking around that you just aren't able to part with but are perhaps not big enough to make an item with. What a to do!
Well for ages now I've had an idea of using up all my little scraps to make something to adorn and decorate so this week has prompted me to sit down, gather all my snippets and get stitching




these snippets have all been stitched together in long shabby boho colourful streamers of colour



to create garlands to decorate and adorn, I think they would look great indoors or out, especially if you are having a fabulous summer party and you have gorgeous trees to hang wee lanterns from and swing garlands through the boughs *sigh*

with this thought in mind I hope you like the 'effects' on these photos of my garlands

dreamy, whispery, faded, muted


and for me a vintage grandeur


well what fun I am having! it's going to be interesting to keep pushing myself to make something different each week, a good challenge for me as it is easy to get stuck in a rut at times. As I have many ideas running around in my head for items of handmade goodness be it food, drink, textiles, paint, etc this will be a great way of making the time to create them and 'test' them out on you!
enjoy ;0

What have you been doing lately?..........

Mostly...................... I have been making and creating ready for the upcoming fair and a few other things. So minimal words this post and more just a pics post, to show you a few of the things I've been making.

printed lavender hearts


printed lavender scented skinny leg birds


print, collage and stitch



fabric, felt balls (ooer!), bayleaves and string



new bags (bag pattern by olivetreetextiles) interpreted in my own printy, stitchy and fabric way


(this one is using the fabric I printed by hand)


new, recycled and vintage fabrics used with hand screen printing, stitchery goodness and collage by me!


Well a short but sweet post just in case you may have thought I'd fallen off the edge of the planet! I have been busy stitching away. I'm off to the Contemporary Textiles Fair 2010 this weekend at Teddington, London. Fingers crossed for it. If you're in or near the area do drop in and say hello! Hope you're all having a good week ;0 x

Goodies, garlands and journal..........

Well the snow we had here last week seems to have finally melted away and today has been blue skies and sunshine, wahoo!!! Nothing like a bit of sunshine to lift the spirits.

And talking of lifting the spirits................... look what dropped through my letterbox at the weekend.... fab goodies from the lovely Pomona of Little Cottage Comforts
I commented on a post of hers a few months back now. It was about 'Pay it Forward' which meant that she was to send something handmade to three people, who then go on to give something handmade to another three. These are my goodies from this. In turn I shall be writing my own post to pass the goodness of giving on. So watch out! I shall post end of March beginning of April so keep your eyes peeled.

Gorgeous goodies all wrapped up


beautiful handmade gloves, they are sooooo soft


scrummy goodness in the way of fabric, buttons and ribbons


a sweet needle book and pin cushion, just how pretty are they?!

As you can see who could fail to be cheered up by such gorgeous goodies. Thank you so much Pomona! X

And so to some making................
What have we here, a felt ball, needle and string, and a bay leaf, what could it mean....??


Add into the mix an enormous amount of fabric 'bits' to snip up and you have all the elements ready to get garland making

strings of colour in pink and green, blue and yellow and red and brown


its all in the details


These are bits I may have on my stand at the fair, we shall see. Also the felt balls and felt scraps I used within my garlands were from the lovely KirstyFish, check out her sidebar for links to her shops of gorgeous goodies and fab supplies.

And some more (well I did promise) pictures of my journal so far. This is being somewhat of a slower process as I have other things I have to get on making that need to take priority before this (what with the textiles fair to attend next month!)
Although I have to say there is nothing more that I would rather be doing than having an experiment and a play with fabric, needle, thread, sewing machine, paper and even paint with my journal at the moment, it will have to wait *sigh* for now. So for your viewing here's pics of my journal in the making................

front


back


spine


cover detail


you know its all about the detail!


journal tie


pages in the making



Well back to work I feel, I have a pile of printed birds and hearts that need cutting and stitching! and I don't see any magic elves around here to make them while I sleep, mores the pity!! Hope you're all having a good week ;) X