Recycled Fabric Scrap Earrings

I've been meaning for ages to make some more cover button earrings but just keep forgettting to go actually pick up some cover buttons whenever I'm at the habberdashery shop. So instead I decided to get my recycling hat on and made a few using some cardboard and small scrappy bits of felt and fabric I had lying round.

I started off by cutting out a pile of cardboard disks and then sticking a disk of felt to one side of it to give them a plusher feel.

I dug out my enourmous bag of scraps and found a few different fabrics that had sweet small patterns on them, there's no point using anything with too large a print as it will just get lost. I drew around the disks and added an extra cm to the radius so the fabric disks were about twice the size of the cardboard.

Then using a running stitch I gathered up the fabric and popped the cardboard disk inside.

Hmm not so impressed with the neatness of my felt cutting here, think its time for some new sharp little scissors! As you can probably tell, I've glued down a disk of felt to hold the gathered fabric in place and then another to hold the earring post in place too.
 

I do think they work quite well as a cover button substitute, and will definitely be trying some more - maybe even some different shapes.What do you all think then??

Sticky Image

I found a pile of mirrors with really wide frames at the charity shop this week. I prefer the aesthetic of a wider frame for decoupaging piece of comic books onto them as you can still follow the story. 

A pot of ModPodge and a pile of old annuals later...

I also picked up a few picture frames so have worked some revamp magic with those too. The foxes come from a Dandy annual but I used a few sheets of origami paper to create the patchwork effect. I love the combination on the patterns and colours.

Have HeART Workshop

On Thursday morning I ran a workshop as part of the Have HeART project, they are putting on a series of fashion and craft based lessons over the next few weeks in a high school in the Splott area of Cardiff. Have HeART are a Cardiff based non- profit social enterprise that aim to unleash the power of art for positive social change. 

The project is run by an awesome lady called Nia, who asked if I wouldn't mind showing the kids how to weave some paper wallets.

We started off the morning by looking at a few examples of different types of recycled wallets and bags and then the kids started designing their own shapes and styles.

Once the kids had decided on the different structures and colours they wanted to use, we started choosing different pieces of paper from old magazines and comics and I showed them how to create a plain weave. It's a super easy technique but gives a great effect with lots of different patterns and colours showing through.

We used gaffer tape and old zips that I'd picked up at ReCreate the children's play resource centre in Ely to bring their designs together. As well as sticky back Velcro for the closures. Everyone had a wallet to take home with them and a fun morning was had by all ;)

I can't wait to get involved with more Have HeART workshops. They've actually got a tshirt design competition running at the moment, which you can take a look at here. Also find out more about what they do on their Facebook page.

Sew Along!

So on a Monday night I run a sewing group at the PrintHaus guiding beginner seamstresses through the steps of how to make items of clothing from paper dressmaking patterns. It's a 5 week course made up of 2 hour sessions and is quite informal and fun. We've just come to the end of the latest block and I always feel a little sad but eager to sign up another bunch of lovely people to come learn a new skill.

Its definitely a great sense of achievement to be able to make and wear your own clothes especially when you get positive comments on them! I have a couple of people who keep coming back to the class which is great as I get to see their progression and how well I'm doing with my skill sharing too!

So if you live in Cardiff, have a sewing machine you're intimidated by and can commit to 5 Monday nights at a reasonable price send me an email for more details!

helensmith123@gmail.com

Sewing Cards

As it's Mothering Sunday this week I thought I would have a manic card making session! I've been making greetings cards for a while, I used to sell them to a gift shop in Cardiff but now just stock them in my own shop :)

I wanted to get into the habit of not throwing things away unnecessarily so started collecting all my scraps of fabric in a big bag. Not the tidiest way of storing them but my craft room is a chaotic mess at the moment.

I also incorporated a few bits of lace from the giant suitcase of bits and bobs!

They did come together in a joyous collaboration and I've spent the morning stitching them onto card and blunting my needle! Here are a few of my favourites.