Purse revamp: book it

I was visiting a cool gallery in Wisconsin last year, the FLYING PIG, and  found these "intellectual" purses. I "booked" a ride on this craft trip, and "read" up on sewing techniques. This project might "turn a page" on your recycling urges.

You'll need:
an old book, with a cloth cover (hunt them out in thrift shops, or even your own library)
glue gun
fabric
scissors
handles (bamboo or fabric or chain)
D rings or split rings (used for key rings)
needle and thread

Now this is my idea of how this might work...

This is the view from the front. As you can see the artist used an book with a cloth cover and then a added a bamboo handle attached to the book with metal rings.

I'm thinking they used wire or key rings to attach the handles to the bag. But we can use whatever we want, as far as handles.

If you pull out all the pages and left the cover you will get the base for this purse. You would have to use a glue gun and fabric to add to the inside of this purse.
Remember, if you mess up, it's only an old book. Use a less desirable one to practice on. Then graduate up to a vintage book with a cool title or color.

This is the end view of the purse. So all you creative peeps check it out and see how you can figure this out.  This is NOT for the novice, but perhaps for the creative, "let's give it a try" and see what I CAN do crafters.
I know the shape, when the purse is open is wider at the top, to allow you to get into the purse easier.

 I, myself, could not tell you how to do this, because I have not tried. But I'm dying to. So perhaps in a future blog, I may get this down to a science.

I totally adore the idea that you can take a cigar box, or book or whatever and make it into a purse/bag. Cuz I LOVE those.  I will be searching for fun stuff to make totes and fun stuff make bags in a way we didn't expect!!!!

tip of the day:

I picked up some great veggies at the grocery the other day. But I think I might have gotten tooooo many. So to keep them the freshest I can, I placed a couple of brand new sponges into the vegetable bin to absorb the excess moisture. Be sure to check these every couple of days, and wring them out. You'll be surprised to see how much moisture is absorbed by these that would have made your food soggy.

That's all for this week...
:D

fabulous felt

Did you have a great New Year's Eve? Did you stay in and cozy up to the fire and watch the 'ball drop' then drop off to bed? Or did you party hardy wearing your best duds til the wee hours? Either way, welcome 2012. Whew, where did the time go??? It's going to take me a while to get used to putting that year on my checks. I hope one of your new year's resolutions was to craft more and recycle! If so, you came to the right place.

Today's project is:

Sweaters: felting and other stuff

You will need an old sweater (that you don't mind cutting up)
   ~if you want to felt it, it must be wool.
scissors, sewing machine, chain or leather strap (optional) and pin (optional)

One project we are going to make is a felted purse. I used a sweater I bought from the resale shop for 25 cents. What a deal. Why? Because it was scratchy wool. Not so nice to wear, but great for felting.

What is felting? When the fibers of the wool shrink, they gather together actually becoming a piece of fabric that is dense and intertwined. That is why you can cut it and it won't fray.  Some of you may have used felt squares from the craft store, so you can remember how easy they were to work with.

I washed it in HOT water a couple of times, and it shrunk up well. I then cut off the sleeves and cut a long rectangle. This will become the bag and flap.

Sew up the sides (inside out), add a strap if you wish. If not, it will be nice clutch.
Turn right side out and add a pin to the flap, if you wish. It adds weight to the flap. I used a fused glass piece my daughter Betsy made.

Another project you can make which is super easy is: a sweater vase cover.
If you have a ribbed, knit sweater (does NOT have to be wool), cut off a sleeve, slip it over a vase, measure the height and cut off. You do not have to hem it, the top will be the sleeve ribbing, and the bottom can be tucked in under next to the vase.
(Add a beautiful ribbon around it, and it makes a great winter decoration. Add some big sprigs of pyracanthas, holly, or pine)

Or...you can make a Christmas stocking from an old sweater. Again, it does NOT have to be wool for this one...
The ribbed bottom will be the top of the stocking. Cut out the general shape of a sock, and cut out, turn inside out and sew.

Turn right side out, and add a ribbon to hang it. Great way to get rid of those old Christmas sweaters. May be unstylish to wear, but cute to hang by the chimney with care.

You can use the felted sweaters as pot holders, trivets, place mats, coasters, etc. Just cut out squares or rectangles. They are so dense, they can withstand the heat from hot pots, etc.

It becomes additive, you'll be combing the thrift shops for those old wool sweaters before you know it! Now is the time to be looking, because everything is on sale.

tip of the day:  I drink tea, and my mug gets stained. Bleach is an easy way to clean, with no scrubbing. Just fill stained cup or bowl 3/4 with water, and 1/4 bleach. Let sit for several minutes. The stains disappear quickly. Wash and let air dry, and they are ready to use.  I pour the solution into one mug after the other to clean several at a time. Works on those spaghetti stains, and anything that is musty or moldy.

That's all for this week...
:D