Let There Be Light

I've wanted a new lampshade for the sitting room for a long time and had my eye on a large drum shade covered with vintage fabric - quite a few of these are being sold online currently but I thought it best to make my own as it would work out cheaper.

But what could be cheaper than free?

Look what the Gods of Craft and Upcycling had in store for me - I stumbled across a dumped lampshade on the corner of my street one evening, but wasn't overly impressed with the colour.
The very next day I came across a bin bag of discarded curtains on another street corner, with this beauty of barkcloth lying on top!

It was a project crying out to be made - so I went right ahead.

I am posting this on the Handmade Monday linky party - pop over and see what other people are making this week.

Now I was glad to able to re-purpose unwanted bric-a-brac dumped in my neighbourhood, but honesty fly tipping makes my area grim, unloved and leaves me depressed.

It just takes one call to our council to arrange collection of unwanted stuff, or it can be done online - surely that's easier than driving out to someone else's manor with car load of rubbish and dumping it under cover of night.

Pisses me right off.

Les Soeurs Anglaises

A couple of months ago I had the good fortune to be invited to an event held in the fabulous haberdashers that is Raystitch on behalf of Les Soeurs Anglaises, an outfit who run high end textile workshops in a stunning location in France.

I drooled over their workshop programme and accommodation set out in their lovely brochure and chatted with fellow crafters. I met the lovely Lottie from Lotts and Lots who wore an amazing necklace she'd crafted herself - do hop over to her blog to get an eyeful of handmade jewellery loveliness. 

LSA were also hosting a Textile Jigsaw of Words competition: the brief was to embellish a piece of fabric in the shape of a jigsaw with a quote of your choice. LSA would then combine all the pieces into a quilt which would be auctioned off for the Cambodian Children's Fund.

I'm always up for a challenge and as the prize was a place on one of their wonderful workshops abroad, I set to work ...

My jigsaw was one of many entries that day and the standard was awesome ...

Sadly I didn't win, but my piece did get a 'best of the rest' mention on Les Soeurs Anglaises website later that month. Here's the winning piece crafted by Claire Sounes -

Wonderful.

Easter Wreath

Spring has Sprung!

Here's a quick and simple make to brighten up your Easter.

I used a raffia base from Hobbycraft. I did consider making my own, but it was cost effective to but a readymade.

Chicks and eggs from John Lewis, cheap (Ha!) and cheerful. 

I made the fabric flowers in a few minutes ...

... and glued the whole lot together with my trusty glue gun.

Ta da!