Up-cycling
This is when you take something old and make something new out of it. Which is the main thing that I do. Most of my material is clothes I've got bored with or scraps of material. I've seen a lot of things lately using old zips to create rings and bracelets, so I decided to have a go myself using the zips off the dresses I've used for material.
Firstly I cut the zip out of the outfit. You only need one side to make a flower so you can make 2 items out of 1 zip (very handy).
Next you need to hold one end of the zip and start twirling it round, holding it in place at the back as you. I decided to leave a little bit of the material on for a nice effect. Remember to have the zip zig-zag side of the outside.
Continue twirling the material up into a flower, altering the shape slightly where needed to make it look less like a tube of material.
When in place pin it at the back.
You can now sew it into place at the back, making sure it won't unravel. you can also put a small circle of material on the back to neaten it up before adding a ring or brooch fastening to it.
I made a few of these while trying to get them right.
While looking through my box of ribbons and materials I found a long bit of lace of which I used the same technique on.
I then added a back flower to add a little more detail.
Tea Cozy Take 2
Another thing I've been working on is a tea cozy for my mum for Christmas. It's definitely a work in progress and she might get it next Christmas at this rate.
First I cut out the material for the tea cozy (loosely using my teapot as a measurement). I also cut out the same shape in wadding.
I then used the sewing machine to sew the material and wadding in place, about 5mm from the outside.
My mum loves butterflies so I found some lovely lace butterflies in the craft shop. By themselves they didn't look like enough to me so I have decided to applique a butterfly on there myself. So far I only have it pinned down but hopefully I will get my act together and do it properly.
Cake Time
I think my main reason for not being productive is the fact I got distracted by cake, which is very easily to do. My wonderful flatmate bought me The Great British Bake-off cook book for my birthday (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-British-Bake-Off-Victoria/dp/1849902682/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320709592&sr=8-1) and I decided to make a Victoria sponge instead of sew. I added cream (which Mary Berry says is not a Victoria sponge) but it did taste nice. Tempted to spend tomorrow making Paul Hollywood's iced buns. Yummy.
