Different modes of wear - scrap fabric

The piles and bags of scrap fabric I've collected over time are getting a little out of hand, but I'm determined to use what I can to create anything new. 

The top is based on a homemade top I found second hand with an embroidered initial, and the buttons come from (sadly closed) Garniture Dressmaker's in Montreal.

But have you seen Craft en Ville?

The fabric sash is easy on the eyes (a good use of scrap fabric) and newly listed.

Posted By: Sam

Gutenacht-Geschichte

via Dispokino

(illustrations by Celestino Piatti)

Posted By: Sam

Grenfell Hooked Rugs

 

                                                                                                                             Watch Appraisal: Grenfell Missionary Rug,ca.1915 on PBS. See more from Antiques Roadshow.

            I was introduced to Grenfell hooked rugs from the above segment of Antiques Roadshow.

It was an immediate love of the colours and folk patterns, along with the story behind the women involved in the rug making.

Here are examples found on a Pinterest board:

Grenfell Rugs

and another unrelated board of photographs of women at work:

Olde Time Hooking

A very detailed blog post with many good examples of Grenfell rugs can be found here:

Paula Laverty on “Grenfell” Hooked Rugs

She is the author of a book called, Silk Stocking Mats,

and also runs her own site: Grenfell Hooked Mats

Inspired by the Grenfell rugs, I recently completed my own rug hooked wall hanging, and I actually used the legs of old stockings for the figures! (though not silk)

The background is filled in with second hand yarn, which is another reason (possibly the biggest) I love this medium - the use of scrap fabric and yarn.

See also an inspiration of mine: Suzen Green who teaches "traditional craft practices of Newfoundland and Labrador". An exceptional rug hooker and knitter.

Posted By: Sam

Collage

Collage:

Unusual designs from everyday materials

Marshall Cavendish Publications Ltd. 1976

edited by Linda Doeser

ISBN 0856851604

Posted By: Sam

Coffee Dress

I spiced up a donated dress (thanks Katie D!) with stove top coffee appliqué. 

A fun project - in fact I'm on the hunt for more basic sweaters and dresses to add to. Similar to the potholders I did a while back

Maybe a tomato soup dress next?

Posted By: Sam

Kitchen Alley

This piece is partially inspired by my kitchen window.  We live beside a small vinegar factory but I've only smelt vinegar once since we've lived here.  Lots of people stroll along our alley and I always seem to be peering out at them.

Posted by: Sara

Node

I came across this series of Nepalese made carpets on Duduá just now.

(I don't know if I ever shared these photographs of a visit to my old studio from Alicia, the owner of  Duduá)

A bit about Node

and taken from how we make our carpets :

"We produce our carpets entirely by hand using age old and natural Tibetan carpet making techniques. All our carpets are made from bales of pure Tibetan wool. It is hand spun into thread, hand dyed with natural and non-polluting dyes, and then hand-knotted on our looms into carpet. We worked with Satyendra and the design team and found a way to convert our digital designs into carpets on the loom using graphs."

Some pics of carpets and the process of creation available at the Design Museum Shop.

(the first one by Jon Klassen is my favorite)

(All photographs via Node and the Design Museum Shop)

and design your own rug?

Posted By: Sam

Construction

Completed!

12" x 15.75"

cross stitch on 14 count aida cloth

Posted By: Sam