I've just returned from my crafting class where my learners are beginning to make decorations for Christmas. This garland was a popular Christmas project.
We used a florist's copper ring frame as the base. Afterwards we threaded small pieces of fabric, the size of two stamps side by side, onto lengths of strong cotton leaving long ends to tie up with.
Once we created a large strip of fabric strips we wrapped them around the frame and sewed a few places to make it secure. Junk shop chains, broken jewellery and brooches were used to decorate further and recycled ribbon tied on to hang it.
An inexpensive and effective object.
Today there were no copper frames to work on so someone cut out a stiff cardboard ring and tied lots of 12" x 2" strips of red cloth all the way round. It looked classy and expensive. A great low cost project with wonderful results.
www.marthastewart.com/christmas-garlands
I have always wanted to try traditional marbling, the sort you find on the inside pages old ledgers and dictionaries. I have the instructions and methods ready but have never got round to buying some of the unusual ingredients needed.
In the meantime I've tried commercial marbling kits. Small droplets of marbling ink of varying shades are dropped onto water in a shallow dish. designs are made in these inks by dragging through them with a toothpick or by lowing them.
Paper, laid carefully over the inky surface of the water, picks up the design and a new hobby is born. Paper is a good place to start. Try embossed surfaces, wallpapers, music sheets. Just as good are fabrics - plain or patterned - but you could marble shells, pegs, hollowed eggs and large pebbles. Even your fingernails.
Paper and fabric can be further embellished with stitches and can be used as pictures or motifs on cards. The design possibilities are vast.
As a tutor I've run marbling workshops for a wide range of people and found that it is universally popular. It's messy too so plastic gloves are recommended.
I used the marbling shown as a writing prompt and as a result it is to be included in a pamphlet of work to be produced by the writing group in question.
Have a go!
marbling demonstration
I first saw this bracelet in a 'how to' book. It looked fabulous and I made it immediately by threading buttons, charms and beads onto safety pins and threading them onto elastic as instructed. It was gorgeous. It was also heavy and the threaded pins slid about and the elastic on one of the bracelets unfastened. I made it again with knots, with fewer safety pins, with smaller accessories but was never full happy with the result.
Finally I threaded the safety pins onto a chain of a decent size with solid links. Then I attached fastenings and a more wearable bracelet was made. Chains come in different sizes and types. Colours range from bronze, gold, silver, black and grey as well as primary colours from some suppliers.
This is a fantastic bracelet to make. It costs about £15 if you are buying stuff, a lot less if you have the buttons and beads and bits already. It makes a great accessory for an outfit, a fantastic gift and a wonderful project to make in a class or with a family member/friend.
I have one made entirely from gold buttons, another from black and another from silver. They are eye catching and unusual. I hope you make one.
