the red thread: November 2010

Giveaway Winners

27 November 2010

Ladies, email me with your postal address and which additional faces you'd like (Ooshkas or Ooshka Boys) and I'll pop them in the mail to you.

Thanks everyone who entered. I'll have another giveaway next week. Happy weekend!

x
Lisa
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Winners chosen by random number generator.

Paper Wreath and Garland Tutorial

26 November 2010

You will need:

* Thin paper. I used paper squares bought from Chinatown - I love the unbleached colour of the paper with the vibrant orange and red, and the metallic gold. The photo doesn't capture the vibrancy of the paper in this wreath. It really is beautiful. Alternatively you could used pages from an old paperback book, origami paper, or even squares of tissue paper.

* Cardboard to make the backing ring. I used ivory card, but as it will be hidden you could use any light weight cardboard.

* Scissors

* Stapler

* Pencil or pen

* Bowls or plates to trace around

* Blu Tac to hang your wreath

* Optional additional decorations, embellishments, ribbon to hang the wreath.

The directions to make this wreath are the same as my Paper Doily Wreath Tutorial. For this wreath I folded most of my paper with the printed design on the inside, but for variation I made some with the colour on the outside - maybe one in every 12 or so.

Even though the method is the same, his wreath looks quite different to the one I made of doilies because the paper is rectangular instead of round. I've seen wreaths made from book pages very similar to this selling in shops for a few hundred dollars. I can't remember how much the Chinese paper is, but I would guess it would only be a few dollars for enough to make this wreath. And it's easy. Give it a go.

I hope you enjoy making it. Email me photos!

The garland is so easy it hardly needs a tutorial... but here goes.

You'll need squares/rectangles of paper, a needle and embroidery thread (or similar), decorative tape (I used Japanese washi paper tape).

Gather the paper squares from the centre like you did for the wreath. Thread the needle and pass it through the centre of a paper square.

Wrap a small piece of tape around the thread on the under side of the paper so it doesn't pull through.

Wrap a small piece of tape around the centre top of the paper so it will keep its shape.

Repeat until you have your garland to the desired length.

Easy!

Paper Doily Wreath Tutorial

Hello! I have moved my blog to a new home. You can find this tutorial at the red thread blog's new address. Just click here.

Thanks,

Lisa

Tutorials :: 3 paper wreaths and a garland

25 November 2010

A couple of weekends ago I made some paper wreaths for Christmas. They are based on the method I used for my previous paper wreath. Same same but different. They are all easy and will only cost a few dollars each to make. I'll post the tutorials separately, but in the meantime, here's a better look at them.

This wreath is made using small paper doilies from the local discount store.

And this one uses beautiful orange, red and gold paper which is readily available (and very inexpensive) from Chinatown.

Easiest of all is this mini wreath made from tissue paper and Japanese paper tape.

The garland also uses the Chinese paper and is the easiest thing you'll every make! Despite that I think it looks great in the cream, orange and gold paper.

I'm really into orange at the moment, and love how it looks with red - and aqua too. Have you started to decorate for the silly season yet? Do you have a colour scheme in mind? Or maybe you use a mixed palette?

Tutorials to follow next.
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Cartolina Goodies

Lucky me won a giveaway of beautiful Cartolina stationery on the Cafe Cartolina blog recently. Just look at all those gorgeous colours.

More goodies from Cartolina: a new iPhone app. Fiona has just released a follow up to her first sweet app - you can now send messages with a vintage inspired Christmas theme. Sweet!

Pepper Stitches

24 November 2010

I've been in love with Pepper Stitches' Antler Boys since I first saw them. And just look at those foxes! They are so quirky and adorable... not your run of the mill softies. Shaz, a.k.a. Pepper Stitches, creates her unique handmade toys and homewares here in Sydney from new, repurposed and upcycled materials.

Earlier this year Shaz took a big step and left her stressful day job and got herself a studio space in a warehouse full of other artists. I asked her to tell me some more about her self and her creations.

I’ve always loved finding out things, and making things, as my mum can attest. I was forever sticking things together and sewing and wondering how things worked. We grew up without TV and with encouragement to use our imaginations and find out things for ourselves. I enjoy lots of creative outlets, but sewing has always been special to me. It’s so visceral, you can hold and hug and love handmade toys in a way that is different than drawings or painting (although I love them too). My love of op-shops, vintage fabrics, the challenge of designing and making new things out of old things, and a bit of eco-awareness has all led me to create Pepper Stitches.

I love sourcing fabrics that would otherwise be discarded or forgotten and giving them an opportunity to be appreciated again. It’s lovely to be making beautiful things and help the world a bit at the same time. I find inspiration everywhere, the fabrics I find, dusty libraries, forest walks, children’s picture books, friends and family, art. I find other bloggers and creators very inspiring too, and can *ahem* spend hours reading blogs and checking out etsy.

I’m very grateful to be able to do what I love every day, and the wonderful crafty-lovin’ community out there; the support and encouragement has been awesome. People are becoming more interested in where things come from, and the processes used to make them and I like the connectivity of creating something and telling the story of the materials it came from, and then receiving emails or notes from the recipient, of knowing some stories of where my pieces end up. I put a lot of myself and my heart into what I make, and I hope that shows.

You can read more on the Pepper Stitches blog, see more on flickr, and buy these awesome little critters on etsy, made it, and blue caravan.
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Loving :: String Gardens

22 November 2010

How gorgeous are these String Gardens.

I wonder if I could make one - I love the idea of little suspended gardens without pots. I'm also loving Sky Planters, but in comparison I'm more in favour of the aesthetics of a plant that seemingly floats without the constraints of a pot.

But before I launch myself into a project like this I really should get out and weed the garden. With our Sydney weather alternating between the first hot days of summer and big downpours the weeds are growing like... well, weeds! Everything is looking lush and beautiful. I enjoy getting out and gardening, especially on summer evenings when the days are long and the heat of the day is lingering. What about you? Do you have a garden that you like to potter about in? Or perhaps some pots of herbs? What do you love/hate about it?

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String Gardens found via Pia Jane Bijkerk.

Ooshka Boys and a Giveaway

20 November 2010

I'm happy to tell you that my Ooshka Boy Pattern Kits are now appearing in shops, are up on my website and available in my online shop. Here's a peek at one of the things that was keeping me occupied last week...

So in celebration of ticking one more thing off my list I'm giving away an Ooshka Boy Pattern Kit (which includes a printed fabric face panel) plus 2 additional faces (winner can choose Ooshka Babushka or Ooshka Boy face panels) to TWO winners who'll be picked at random from the comments on this post on Friday 26th November.

Now is a great time to start sewing some Christmas gifts!

Gifted :: 6 weeks 'til Christmas. Eeek!

10 November 2010

It's been a while... sorry to go AWOL on you like that. Things are as under control as they're going to get given that the countdown to Christmas and year end is on. And I've missed being here. I have so many things that I've been wanting to blog about too.

So this morning Roxy had my diary out counting down the weeks until her January birthday and I realised that it's only 6 weeks until Christmas. How did that happen?! Have you started any prep for the holiday season? That's not me you hear saying 'yes'. Although we did do a bit of Christmas shopping in Shanghai last month, so I'm not as behind as I could be.

I've got some Christmas craft tutorials planned... but that's all they have been for weeks now, just plans. Stay tuned next week when hopefully I'll be ready to post them here. I'm counting on you being as unprepared as I am, and willing to take on somewhat last minute decorating ideas!

Which brings me to Gifted. Have you seen it? Ez from the fab blog Creature Comforts has launched this inspirational e-zine,. Collaborating with bloggers, artists and designers she has created a wonderful resource for Christmas shopping and crafting.

Read more about Gifted here, and then have a flick through the virtual pages. It's chock full of festive goodness including cute gift tag downloads.
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