Random Salvage Spring Pieces

Oh, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and it makes me want to get up and do things!

How was your Easter?

Is everyone exhausted from all the planning, shopping, running around, cooking and cleaning up?

I figured after all of that, I deserved a break, so I took some time to make myself a few new pieces of jewelry.

These hammered copper earrings were made from salvaged bits of wire left over from the work we are having done on the house.

These were very therapeutic to make. All the pounding and bending of metal was just what I needed.

I love the rustic quality of these and I was very excited to have finally made some of my own findings.

 These ones were simple to do as they didn't require anything but to choose the parts and put them together. Everyone likes a little bling now and then.

 I love the rustic clay beads on this pair.

They are from an old necklace that I found on one of my junkin trips.

It's always fun to recycle something old and ugly into something that you love.

 Another pair of put togethers.

Some of the parts were ordered from Etsy and others were from Michael's.

No matter...These will be great for Spring and Summer.

I hope you take some time out to do something nice for yourself this week.

Hugs!

karen

Meditative Stitches

No patterns or rules...

just stitches...

and texture...

and me.

karen

"I Can Make That Myself"

If you're a crafter like me, perhaps you think like I do.

When I'm shopping and see something I want, I look at the price and say to myself, "I can make that myself for a lot less".

Then I purchase the materials to make the item and never get around to actually making it.

Well, I finally did.

I made ruffles. Ruffled pillows and ruffled sheets.

The one on top is a thrifted find and is made of cotton and is embroidered in the corner.

I made the white linen ones.

There are two with ruffles around the edges and one with ruffles covering the entire front of the pillow.

I also made two for my chairs.

They are beige with blue flowers.

I added a big ruffle to the top of the sheet too.

I repurposed a tattered old tablecloth to make these lavender sachets to hang from the bed post.

You can never have too many pillows or lavender sachets.

I think it's time for me to nap now.

See ya soon.

Karen

Unconventional Crochet

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've been playing around with some new crochet techniques.

Here are a few designs I've come up with using some antlers and jute.

I always prefer working with natural materials rather than synthetic.

I like working with vintage materials as well and these antlers are vintage, if there is such a thing as vintage antlers.

I found a box filled with antlers in my mother's basement.

My father was a hunter and these are the remains of his younger years as an outdoorsman.

Although I've never been a fan of hunting, I thought I might as well make use of these.

I had them cut to size and holes drilled, then bleached  them and stitched them to crocheted jute baskets.

I sort of like the way they turned out.

They seem appropriate for this time of year.

My father passed away in October 2000.

These are for you DAD.

Karen

Paper Roses

I just love things made from vintage sheet music.

A few months ago I was lucky enough to find some for next to nothing at a garage sale.

I followed the instructions from a tutorial I found HERE and made these sweet paper roses.

I dry brushed some seed starter pots with white paint and filled them with styrofoam and moss.

I tore strips of cotton gauze fabric and glued them around the pots.

I added a torn bit of gauze,

a bow,

a flower cut from some old lace,

and a pearl.

This vintage wire basket seemed like the perfect place for them.

Thanks for stopping by.

Karen

Learning New Crochet Techniques

Over the weekend the weather here was awful.

Nonstop rain and even some snow mixed in.

I jokingly told my husband that I was taking a snow day on Sunday and spent the day playing with a new crochet technique. This is the first thing that I made.

I've made crocheted pod containers before, but not like this one.

This one is wool over rope.

I used the technique from the book "unexpected CROCHET for the HOME", by LENA MAIKON.

I also made a flower using this awesome technique.

The book is filled with really cool, unconventional crochet patterns.

I highly recommend it if you are bored with all the usual crochet ideas out there.

I bought this one at my local craft store (Michael's), but you can order it from Amazon as well.

Here is a close up of another pod that I have started.

Although my items are similar to some of those in the book, I did not use the patterns, only the technique.

I did notice that the author also has an Etsy shop where she sells some of the items from the book already made. I'm sorry I don't have a link for you.

Have you tried anything new lately?

Karen



Candy Corn

Sweet candy corn, but not for eating.

These cute little plushies were crocheted with cotton and stuffed with polyfill.

They're about 3 inches tall and the perfect addition to my whimsical Fall decor.

Happy Fall!

Karen



Handmade Velvet Pumpkins

Tis the season for making pumpkins.

I made these using recycled materials.

The velvet was from an antique bed jacket and the lace and ribbon are old and recycled too.

The pedestals were once candle holders.

I made a few dark orange velvet ones and the witches hat with a mix of new and recycled materials.

The old velvet album and the antique shoes were fleamarket finds and remind me of a witches shoes and her book of spells.

Each year at this time I make new pumpkins.

I think these are my favorite so far.

Happy Fall Everyone!

Karen



Crocheted Brooches With Vintage Buttons

These are not the, over the top, unusual,  accessories that I typically make.

They are simple crocheted flower brooches embellished with vintage buttons.

Something that anyone could feel comfortable wearing.

I think they might look nice to dress up a jacket or maybe pin one on a cool weather scarf.

All were crocheted with lovely wool yarn and backed with recycled wool felt.

I love the antique glass button on this ivory one.

I think most of these will end up as gifts, but I'll probably keep at least one for myself .

I made a simple necklace as well.

I felted the wool beads myself. First I needle felted them and then followed that up with some wet felting.

There is a glass bead between each of the felted ones and the clasp is copper.

Once again, not my usual, over the top, kind of thing.

Perfect for Fall, don't you think?

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Country Mouse

A mouse in your house is not such a good thing, but these little guys can stay.

I whipped up these little crocheted mice while watching T.V. last night.

They are made of wool and have glass eyes.

I think if you stuffed them with catnip, they'd make a great little toy for your cat.

I found the pattern for these HERE.

Okay, I'm off to thank the creator of this sweet pattern and to follow her blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen



Gathering & Making Supplies

All summer long I've been gathering supplies for creating and decorating.

Winter seems to last forever here and I wanted to make sure I have enough things to keep myself busy without having to venture out into the cold and snow.

I'm always inspired by antique lace and happened to find a real bargain on this bunch while in New England last week.

I'm always looking for unique buttons and beads for my projects and handmade ones are my favorite.

My brother had given me a box of antlers a few months ago and my sweet son-in-law was kind enough to turn them into buttons and beads for me. Some of them were made into handles for my jute baskets as well.

I've been crocheting flowers to use in some projects too.

These ones are quite large and are made from cotton and jute.

In the upcoming weeks you will see these supplies again in finished projects.

I am so inspired by the blogs I visit and I'm always searching for more.

I hope some of my ideas will inspire you as well.

Have a wonderful day.

Karen

Acorns, Pears & Pods

Just in case you're wondering, I haven't given up on my thread therapy.

I'm still crocheting almost every evening, just haven't taken time out lately to photograph the results.

Here are a few of my most recent projects.

ACORNS

The caps are made of jute and the bottoms are cotton.

PEARS

The pears are made of cotton.

POD

The pod container was crocheted with wool and then felted.

The beautiful quilt was a $15.00 thrifted find.

Thanks for stopping by.

Karen