With the opening of the shop getting closer, I have been concentrating my creativity on making examples of what it’s possible to do with scraps. As I’ve mentioned previously, our first window display is going to be “ScrapHappy”. One of my aims is to demonstrate how beautiful the things we make from scraps can be – even if our starting point is less than inspiring.
When we moved into the shop we found three plastic packets, each containing a polycotton pillow case. Two were cream coloured and one was an uninspiring brown. In all cases, the fabric did not feel very nice and so I had no desire to use them as pillow cases, and the brown one had a frill around it, which did absolutely nothing to make is any less unattractive. I spent quite some time, therefore, deconstructing all three and this yielded quite a lot of fabric. I had a plan for the cream material (that’s coming in a later post), but it wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago that inspiration struck about the brown. You may remember that some time ago I made a wreath from scraps, which was mounted on a polystyrene ring that I had been given. Having just acquired a lovely book by Kate Eastwood about crocheting garlands and wreaths, I was in the mood for another wreath. However, I was determined to make the base from something better than polystyrene. I hate weaving willow, so that was out and so I turned to that brown pillowcase. I made three long sausages, which I stuffed with tiny scraps of yarn and fabric that I had put aside for just such a purpose. I experimented with plaiting these and found that they made a very acceptable, but floppy ring. So, I started again and intertwined the plait around a metal hoop that I had salvaged from a lampshade that my mum was throwing out. The result was absolutely perfect.
Then, I fished around for some suitable yarn scraps and set about making a toadstool wreath because I had suitable colours. In the book, the author suggests attaching the crocheted leaves, acorns and toadstools onto a willow wreath base using a hot glue gun, but because my base was stuffed fabric, I was able to stitch them on.
Apart from the thread, this creation is 100% scrap, and I am very happy with the result. It’s not quite the season for it right now, but I don’t think that matters.
-oOo-
I’ve been inspired to write this (and future) ScrapHappy posts by Kate, Tall Tales from Chiconia. On the fifteenth of every month lots of folk often publish a ScrapHappy post, do check them out:
Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynn, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan (me), Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Bekki, Sue L, Sunny, Kjerstin, Vera, Nanette, Ann, Dawn 2 , Bear, Noreen, Preeti, Edith and Jule
If you fancy joining, contact Kate and she’ll add you to the list. It would be lovely to see more non-sewing posts, but any use of scraps is welcome.
The Snail of Happiness 
katechiconi
/ February 15, 2022What a very nasty brown that fabric was, and what an absolute renaissance you’ve devised for it! I adore your toadstool wreath and hope you’ll be inspired to produce a whole load more of them.
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2022There’s already a more summery one in the pipeline!
LikeLike
katechiconi
/ February 15, 2022Oooh, lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
nanacathy2
/ February 15, 2022Wow, stunning. Hope my parcel has arrived.
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2022Yes – the parcel came the other day – I did leave a message for you, but maybe it disappeared into the ether, sorry about that. Your box is lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
DawnGillDesigns
/ February 15, 2022That is brilliant.
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2022Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Over Soil
/ February 15, 2022You can’t beat the beauty of the bright red fungi fly agaric (Amanita muscaria). 🍄
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2022And these really aren’t edible, so we are safe!
LikeLike
Rainbow Junkie
/ February 15, 2022What a wonderful make from scraps – so clever!
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2022Thank you – it turned out even better than I had hoped
LikeLiked by 1 person
Going Batty in Wales
/ February 15, 2022It looks even better than I thought it would when you described it! Now you just need a lot of horrible pillow cases and tatty lampshades for all the other seasons!
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2022I have one more lampshade (it was one of a pair) but the source of pillowcases has dried up! Still, I’m sure there’s more horrid fabric somewhere.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seasons to Celebrate
/ February 15, 2022Wow -this is just gorgeous and SO inspiring! I love hearing about the whole process from ugly plasticy pillowcase that you didn’t know what to do with (this is where I usually give up 😬) all the way to the stunning finished item…just perfect.
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2022I have to say that I often need to think about something for quite a while before I can see how to make use of it… in this case it took about 3 months before I saw the light!
LikeLike
Quimper Hitty
/ February 15, 2022I love the horrid brown transformation! A beautiful autumn wreath covered in fungi is a very appropriate metamorphosis for something so blah and I liked your comment about the lace not making it any less unattractive ha ha!
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2022I certainly like it much better this way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Luanne
/ February 15, 2022I’m obsessed with scraps, both fabric and paper.
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2022I try with the paper, but always come back to the fabric!
LikeLiked by 1 person
onesmallstitch
/ February 15, 2022the idea of making sausages to weave into a wreath is brilliant. Love the colourful finished wreath and the mushrooms. Good luck with the shop, wish I lived close enough to visit.
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2022I wish you did too
LikeLike
arlingwoman
/ February 16, 2022That wreath is magical and genius.
LikeLike
cedar51
/ February 17, 2022Oh my…awesome reuse of an object…
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ February 17, 2022Thank you very much
LikeLike
quietwatercraft
/ March 5, 2022It’s amazing that something so wonderful can come from a boring old pillowcase!
LikeLike