on the worktable: hooked on scraps

I know I have posted several times on the love of using scraps of fabric but here I am again. I just can't bear to part with them. Just because they are small doesn't mean they aren't beautiful or useful - right? This time I paired that love with another favorite of mine. Rug hooking. What I got was an unexpected surprise.

Using a blend of fibers, hand dyed cottons, wool, tulle and more this bag turned out to be a textile lover's dream come true. Chunky, lofty, and just plain yummy. In rug hooking I take special care to vary the loft of the project, giving it added depth. I did the same here and this created the added bonus of shading- bringing out the vibrant color of the bag.

A reclaimed quilt block and vintage style spray made a perfect closure for the bag. I love the charm of the floral and tulle - a throwback addition to the funkiness of the modern hooked look. Touching this bag is wonderful!

Now can you see why I can't throw all those scraps away?

live the repurposed life: dental floss cord dispenser

Okay so this GOING GREEN thing has really made me look at everything differently. You know it is addictive when you can't throw away your empty dental floss container. After a closer look inside I realized I could recycle the container by rewinding thin cord, baker's twine or waxed thread around the existing core. It turned out like this --->

It was super easy if you want to give it a whirl. Easy step by step directions follow. Enjoy!

I love it! Easy. Portable. Re-purposed & Recycled. Just my style! I think I will make one for all the colors of cord I have on hand. Better start flossing sixteen times a day! Here are the links for the glue dots and cording that I like to use in my projects! SULYN CLUBHOUSE CRAFTS ELASTIC CORD and GLUE DOTS BRAND GLUE DOTS.

I use these products because I like them. I was not reimbursed in any way for promoting them on my website.

sneak peek: go green workshop

Here is another sneak peek at the ALL NEW GO GREEN WORKSHOP! Part of the 2013 21 Secrets Workshop! In just a few weeks all 21 workshops will go live and I am super excited to begin creating alongside of all of you! Read all about it here, and REGISTER HERE!

***PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL INSTRUCTORS OF 21 SECRETS HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN INDIVIDUAL AFFILIATE CODE FOR REGISTRATION. IF YOU REGISTER THROUGH MY CODE I WILL GET CREDIT AND PAYMENT FOR THE WORKSHOP! I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS ENDEAVOR!***

MY REGISTRATION LINK IS HERE!

sneak peek 4 & 5: 21 secrets

It's almost time to begin this SIMPLE and FUN workshop and I am super excited to share the final sneak peeks with you! GO GREEN is sure to change the way you look at your recyclables! READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE! Then join me in creating something beautiful - REGISTER WITH  ME HERE!

 

***PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL INSTRUCTORS OF 21 SECRETS HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN INDIVIDUAL AFFILIATE CODE FOR REGISTRATION. IF YOU REGISTER THROUGH MY CODE I WILL GET CREDIT AND PAYMENT FOR THE WORKSHOP! I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS ENDEAVOR!***

MY REGISTRATION LINK IS HERE!

workshops: artful handbag shared

I love it when someone takes one of my workshops and shares their creative beauty - like this BEAUTIFUL ARTFUL HANDBAG created by Monique, in France.

I was thrilled when Monique agreed to let me share her pretty project!

What a wonderfully talented artist she is! Thank you for sharing Monique!

If you are interested in creating the ARTFUL HANDBAG, please learn more about here or click on the WORKSHOPS tab at the top of this page to read about my CHUNKY IDEA KEEPER WORKSHOP that was featured this month in GREENCRAFT Magazine!

Live the repurposed life: flowers & zippers

It is no secret i like to repurpose anything I can get my hands on....well -

a while back I was gifted these tiny paper flowers....
and more recently these cool vintage zippers.....

I wonder what their new lease on life will be?

Live the Repurposed Life: Vintage Blouse

What do you do when your favorite vintage silk blouse has aged enough to tear?

How about some lovely dip dyeing ?

Maybe this scrumptious piece of fabric will find it's way onto a new apron???

Storage Worth Stealing: Packaging/Wrapping Station

I am a big fan of stations in my art studio. All my needed supplies and tools for a task are organized together. Because I love pretty things that make me smile to look at them, I try to surround myself with beautiful things.

I use this station for packaging all of my orders. It could easily double as a mini and portable gift wrapping station. I store scissors in an antique flower frog...twine in a vintage sugar dispenser...a metal tin holds business cards...note cards, tags and labels for wrapping the parcels are stored in vintage glass jars.

I use two antique textile spools to hold a roll of brown paper. These rest on the edges of a vintage wire file bin. Portable and so pretty!

newsworthy: somerset home

I T  I S  T O U G H  T O  P A R T  W I T H  E V E N  S M A L L  S C R A P S  O F  L O V E

Hundreds of tiny scraps of love. Scraps that were left over from each and every project that I had created in the years past. Outdated and too small to matter I was faced with tossing a jar full of memories. As I sifted through the proverbial refuse of project after project, I found myself smiling at the  flashbacks that these tiny bits of cloth held for me. In the end I could not put them in the trash. Instead, they found a new home that I could love. Unhemmed and scattered - a swirling ball of sweet recollections.

A pillow of reflection.

A N D   E V E R Y   M E M O R Y   W A S   W O R T H   K E E P I N G !

live the repurposed life: recycled ruffles

R E C Y C L E D  +   R U F F L E S  =  B E A U T I F U L  C A R D S.

Now available in sets of FOUR in my Etsy Shoppe.