Posts belonging to Category Eco crafts

If you have followed this blog for any length of time you’ll know of my little love affair with driftood.  I adore it.

I also adore what other artists do with it!

All Washed Up - driftwood art shop

I was thrilled to come across a little shop last week on the way to our little rented beach house, selling the creations of driftwood artist David Ramsell.  Even though this was just a little shop, you really could spend hours in there.

Each piece is – of course – unique and David is generous with his time, explaining the origins of the pieces of driftwood, stone or metal – how he found them, where his ideas come from – and how he’s had to create techniques to deal with some of his raw materials.  Everything he uses is either a found object or recycled – nothing is brand new and I love that about it: everything has a story.

I adored the hooks which started life as spoons

driftwood hook rail

then spotted what he’d done with forks, which was even more amazing (I haven’t got a photo, which is very remiss of me, but if you’re interested, I’m sure David would email you photographs!).  David curls the actual prongs of the forks and they end up looking quite decorative and nothing like forks!

driftwood art

You can buy David’s creations online – but his website does only show a small fraction of what he makes.  He gets visitors who travel to north Wales especially to see him and his art, which isn’t surprising.  It’s well worth the visit.

If you’re in the area, you should make a point of travelling on the main road through Pontllyfni (it’s not far from Caernarfon) to find David’s shop.  Not too fast, though – you don’t want to miss it!

It’s not much of a secret that I love the idea of upcycling.  I love the idea of making something from nothing.  The whole thing fits in so neatly with crafting.

vintage button box

The Seventies

It started when I was a teenager in the seventies, I think, when I made skirts from my brother’s outgrown wide-legged pants and handbags from old jeans. I dabbled in machine embroidery, papier mache, applique and patchwork.  Upcycling wasn’t new then and it isn’t new now.  I still get excited by its massive potential though!

Tumble Drier Fluff (er . . . really?!)

It’s possible I may have been inspired by a mother who threw nothing away if it had any kind of potential for some sort of future use, however unlikely.

I laughed when Mum once saved all her tumble drier fluff for me, telling me it would be good for stuffing cushions.  In actual fact, tumble drier fluff is NOT at all suitable for stuffing cushions, it’s highly flammable.  But the irony is that I do save all our tumble drier fluff nowadays – I stuff it into old paper bags and use it for firelighters.  It does the job perfectly.

My Work . . .

Most of my work now isn’t recycled, but I’m drawn back to recycled handmade goodies all the time.  This post is my way of sharing some of the amazing ideas out there with you.

Pallets

I’m obviously not the only one who sees these lying around and wants to do something creative with them.

pallet bench with what must be a gorgeous view

Look at these amazing pallet projects from Bettyjoy.

It’s not just about pallets and tumble drier fluff though!  I adore . . .

Driftwood

Anyone who knows me well will know of my small obsession with driftwood.  One of my daughters in particular was very embarrassed, as a teenager, to have a mum who collected driftwood shamelessly.  Many a time she hissed into my ear: “Stop it, Mum, people are watching!“.  Later on she learned to pretend she wasn’t with me at all.

I made many mirrors with driftwood frames at one time.  I made a small one just recently

driftwood mirror

and I think maybe I’ll be making more quite soon.

This interview with Kirsty Elson had me all excited about the different design possibilities of driftwood.  After reading it, I needed to check out Kirsty’s blog and website which did not disappoint in any way.

driftwood cottage and washing line

I love her designs.  I love the recycled element, the seaside influences, the shabby but gorgeously simple beauty.

I can feel a trip to the seaside coming on.  Fish and chips and ice cream

ice cream

driftwood and pebbles!  A day or two of inspiration!

pebbles

Printed Paper

I have a love of text.  Especially text in art and craft.  Text where you don’t expect it.  Random text.  I know not everyone loves this one: I once taught a class of ladies who clearly thought I was a complete nutter.  They wanted to learn more techniques for decoupaging their handmade cards, I wanted to teach them a bit of creative recycling.  They didn’t get it.  I’ve taught other classes where they loved it.  We’re all different.

bits of old dictionary contributing to art

Texture

One of the things that is so good about old stuff is that it’s got its own set of qualities before you even start.  The raw material can even suggest the finished piece.  Old textiles, papers, wood and card all has texture, shape and a bit of personality.  Mix them up, add a few stitches, and you’ve got a fabulously tactile, individual  piece.

frayed denim

I’ve got a growing collection of old keys, fabrics, paper, pebbles and – well, just stuff.  I have to hide some of it away.  Can you imagine the reaction of Britain’s Tidiest Man (who has the misfortune of sharing a house and life with me) to my rusty musty collections?  He’s learned not to dig too deep in my studio.

pebbles

So . . .

Am I going down the wrong path at the moment?  It’s a valid question, given that the recycled element of design excites me so much but … I don’t think so. I do love the painting and lettering I do for my website customers. However, I do have a feeling I should be treading several paths at once and the driftwood, pebbles, fabrics and buttons are calling to me

I think the aim will be to bring upcycling more to the front of my work.  Watch out for fabrics, driftwood, buttons, and old maps and books.  Oh, and rusty old keys.

rusty old keys

At some point, anyway.

Do you like to recycle? Do you use the backs of old letters and scraps of used envelopes for shopping lists?  Or do you want a stylish way of doing so?

Yes?

Then this just might be right up your street!

a memo pad holder that uses scrap paper

Introducing a new addition to my range of hand painted gifts – this is a gorgeous, chunky, wooden plaque which hangs in your kitchen, office, hallway, etc., and you fill it up with recycled paper from your old envelopes, letters, etc.

memo pad holder

Finished in an adorable shabby-chic off-white paint with distressed and sanded corners, it’s ideal for phone messages, shopping lists or to-do lists.  Of course, it’s made from FSC sourced wood and completely hand finished in my small studio using environmentally responsible methods.  Even the pens are reused from what would have gone to landfill (they’re new but were languishing in a small box in a redundant bookie’s shop just begging to be rescued ).

sanded corners on eco memo holder

There’s a subtly distressed spotty heart with a sturdy wooden peg behind it to hold all those notes safely

eco memo pad with red heart

and of course this little pen for all those important impromptu scribblings

memo pad pen in curled wire holder

and it’s now available right here.  It makes an ideal gift too!

eco friendly memo pad

While my little painting on wood

painting inspired by beaumaris

may not actually look a lot like the houses on the front at Beaumaris on Anglesey (an island in North Wales for those who may not know it)

Houses at Beaumaris

they are what inpired it

Beaumaris

We were driving there one day when I suddenly wanted to stop the car.  When this happens, it’s not because I want to go shopping, stretch my legs or even use a loo – it’s usually because something has inspired me and I want to take a photo (or several )

beaumaris

I knew I wanted to paint a scene with pretty differently-coloured Victorian villas on the sea front and Beaumaris was it!

Beaumaris

It took a while before I printed off a photo, created a quick sketch and found something to paint on.

Making a start

This was a piece of wood which had been designated for painting plaques

split wood

but then it split.  It was going to be put with the logs for the woodburner

woodburner

but I loved its shape and rescued it.  Lots of sanding later and it was ready to paint!

painting the houses

I used quite a bit of artistic licence on this one

the colours are mostly in the right places now

so anyone who knows Beaumaris well may not recongnise it as my inspiration.  I like to simplify, exaggerate some elements and discard others and create something that is just my own.  It definitely has its heart in Beaumaris though!

nearly done

It’s very definitely a one-off: its shape was dictated by the way the wood split . . . and the houses, although inspired by Beaumaris, are really in a little world of their own!  I loved doing this and plan to do similar paintings – but they won’t be too similar.

inspired by beaumaris

I usually just make these hearts for special occasions – they are lovely for a baby’s first Christmas.  And for Valentine’s Day, I personalised quite a few of them with messages.

this kitchen is the heart of our home

But a recent request at a craft fair got me thinking: they would make lovely hanging decorations at any time of the year.  This was one I personalised with: this kitchen is the heart of our home.

I have quite a large supply of the vintage black metal trouser buttons I use on the hearts – I managed to get hold of three boxes of them

vintage button boxes

and remember being so excited when I did (OK, I know I need to get out more . . .).  A few other buttons managed to make their way into the above photo – the button at the top right is one of the vintage metal trouser buttons.

So they’re on a few things now: chalkboards and hanging plaques as well as the above heart.  You’ll find them all on www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk including this button plaque for button and craft enthusiasts (one of which is being finished and posted tomorrow):

WARNING! this room may contain buttons - hanging plaque

This plaque was one of those I wasn’t sure people would “get” although it seems that those it applies to definitely do!  It’s been the subject of much laughter and exclamations of “WOW!” at fairs, and people have bought several variations on it too (beads, books – anything else?)

I now need to update the website with some hanging hearts (and stars).  Painting is the easy part!

Catch up with more makes in more creative spaces over at http://www.kootoyoo.com/2011/02/my-creative-space-4.html

There’s been some painting going on in the studio that hasn’t been for work.

This neglected, unloved and – dare I say it - ugly sideboard/dresser was rescued from landfill by my son, who then didn’t know what to do with it!

neglected sideboard

Cue me and my paintbrush.  I took the top half off (it was neither useful nor pretty) and found a fairly sound base which only needed a bit of filler, a couple of coats of paint and a few minutes with a sander to create a lovely . . .

. . . shabby chic finish

sideboard

Ta-da!!

the finished article

It now fits very nicely in our living room, alongside some shelving that’s already there.  Its cavernous cupboards should help swallow some of my studio/office overspill and help stop the house looking like a workshop.  Well, a girl can hope!

I love the shabby chic finish – very a la Country Living, I feel – and already have my eye on another couple of pieces of old furniture!

I’ve been doing a bit of blog-hopping this morning, and I found this: http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/

I love upcycled crafts – it’s just amazing to make something from things which would otherwise been thrown away.  The gift bows from magazine pages are just incredible!!  There is a very clear tutorial, so if you are even halfway interested, do get yourself down to http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2009/10/make-gift-bow-from-magazine-page.html

Once in a while, you come across a brilliant idea.  If you are a crafter or artist you may like this too. Have a look: www.madlyswaps.blogspot.com

It’s a new site, with the idea that people who’ve made something can offer it as a swap – and can maybe pick and choose what they’d like from the replies?  A great credit crunch way of getting new stuff!!

I think I shall be checking back often.

I was really impressed with this tutorial: http://deezkatz.blogspot.com/2009/01/paper-bags.html which shows you how to make a little album from paper bags.  I am interested in eco-crafting, and this one fits the bill very nicely!  There could be so many variations on this one…