Monday
Feb202012
live the repuposed life: beautiful reinventions
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 8:20PM
{Creativity is allowing yourself tomake mistakes. Art is knowingwhich ones to keep. ~Scott Adams}
I have long since learned that this
is the beauty of {ART}. There is
no right or wrong. No proverbial
black or white. We, as creators
of art, are free to claim our
mistakes as much more. We are free to scoop them up, recycle them, re-purpose them,
reinvent them ... make them into something beautiful once more.
... but first let me take you back a bit ...
I have long since been a lover of the primitive arts. Years ago I bought a simple set of
directions, a rug hooking frame and some scraps of wool. I was literally {hooked} if
you will! Armed with a new cutter and a notebook full of designs I began creating rugs.
They took hours and hours and hours and hours to make, but they were {real}. They
were going to last a lifetime. A craft of the past. When someone ordered a custom
designed rug they were in fact getting an heirloom.
... fast forward ...
I recently started what was to be a miniature {rug} for a wall hanging. Somewhere
along the way it dissolved into something smaller than miniature. A mistake. {or so I
thought}. So I tucked it away for another day ... after all, the wool had been dyed,
stripped and partially hooked. I could abandon it, but I have never had to heart to
take a rug apart ... and so that day came. Last week, as I rooted through a cupboard
I stumbled across the partially finished {miniature rug}. The colors were wonderful
and since I have been a fanatic crazy woman making bags left and right, around here
I decided then and there it might not be a rug, but it could certainly be a bright and
cheery panel on a bag.
... and so it was ...
I remounted it on the frame and finished the hooking. It was satisfying to be holding
the hook again. Once it was complete I sewed it to one of the panels of a duck cloth
tote bag I was working on ...
... a fresh and funky design. Birds, hearts, arrows, scallops, flowers ...
... as I am huge into {re-purposing} these days as well, I gathered up some cool
vintage fabric my sweet, sweet neighbor gave me and used it as a liner for the
tote bag. Some canvas straps, a shabby muslin ruffle and of course, a {great big
huge ruffly silky flower}. I even threw in a hand dyed velvet center for the flower ...
...the reverse side of the tote is embellished with a tiny felted heart with wings ...
... and so there are no mistakes.
Just {beautiful reinventions} ...
... and always a reason to {CREATE} !
tagged bag, felted wool, hand dyed, muslin, r, ruffles, rug hooking, sewing | in live the repurposed life | Email Article | Permalink
bag, felted wool, hand dyed, muslin, r, ruffles, rug hooking, sewing | in live the repurposed life | Email Article | Permalink 
Reader Comments (6)
What a wonderful idea and you don't have to keep stashing away your hard work. Love the bag!
XO,
Jane
That bag has my name all over it!!!
No "mistakes" indeed! That piece was MEANT to be a magnificent tote! It came to life in your hands and creative heart and I love it!! ;)
Rae! Im seeing some beautiful bags on your blog! Please keep in mind the Haute Handbags deadline: May 15. I'd love to work with you again : )
Hi Rae! You don't know me but I am your newest follower. I found you through Romantic Homes and just so you know I am doing a little blurb on you on my blog tomorrow. Kind of a congratulations for being featured in Romantic Homes. Maybe you'll get some new followers. Hope you have a wonderful Sunday! xo Diana
What a delightful way to 'save' your rug hooking project! I'm a hooker too and would love to see more of your rugs - have you shared them here on your blog? I found you from your lovely apron featured in Apronology and have really enjoyed looking around.