Seems kinda silly to have an "Earth Day", but I guess all honoring holidays are like that: something or someone who deserves your appreciation all the time, focused and compacted into a 24hr period. Odd.
Anyway, here we are... and really, it's a good thing. I'd rather there BE an Earth Day, than not. I wanted to come up with a little project that would be in the spirit of the day. Then all at once, I had a little lightbulb moment yesterday morning. Quite literally, as you can see!
Every time I create a charm pack of my Dogwood fabrics, I wind up with these odd strips ranging from 1"-4" wide, about 6"-10" long. Up 'til now, I've just sort of tossed them in the waste basket near my cutting table- one that is rarely emptied- with the thought lingering in the back of my head that something could possibly be done with these by some very resourceful person.
So, here's my moment of resourcefulness- this little bulb shield cover (it's half round- open in back). Simple to make- fold over the wire edge and hold in place while you hand-stitch using heavy thread with the other hand- do this on top and bottom and gather it up nice and tight. I cut the excess to about 1/2" on the inside. I've left the raw edges and it's all very spontaneous- and I found that neatness did not really count. It works. It's pretty (at least I think so!) and it fits the bill. I made this while watching Adam blow everyone else away on American Idol last night.
What's yours? If you leave me a comment with an idea for such pieces of fabric, I'll enter you to receive a little bundle of these scraps. Feel free to leave a comment anyway, though because I'd still love to hear from you whether you want them or not. Only those that give a project suggestion will be entered. If you do want 'em, though, here's the deal:
1/ tell me your idea. I won't hold you to it, I just want to hear what pops into your mind.
2/ leave me some contact info
3/ do it before tonight, 4/22/09 at 12:00am EST.
4/ doesn't matter where you live, as long as you can get mail, I'll send it.
I'll choose 3 recipients.
Good luck- happy day- happy you- happy earth! (hey, I like that! Someone should use that as a slogan! ;p )
61 comments:
great idea for an earth day giveaway!
For me personally....It screams patchwork pillow on my vintage fabric! Not the newest idea but certainly the first thing I would do with the fab little scraps...
Here's my idea:
- Sew the strips together along the long sides
- Cut across the seams so each fabric forms a small square (or rectangle)
- Rearrange the order of the new strips so matching prints don't touch
- Sew them back together
- Use the resulting patchwork piece as the outer fabric for a purse, wristlet, etc (depending on how large you make it)
I'm all over using my scraps for patchwork everything! I even use the selvages as ribbon (shameless advertising, but resourceful, heh?)
Make notecards w/ cut out hearts, etc. My logo is "Waste not. Want not". I could go on...
Not trying to win fabric, just want to say I love your shade and have 2 baskets beside your machine!
xoxo
Love your idea. I have boxes and boxes of my fabric scraps and whenever I get a moment, I patch them together, planning one day to have a whole bunch of patched things to sell. It's amazing how small a piece of fabric can be used effectively with just the help of an overlocker, some topstitching and a bit of spare time. Happy Earth Day to you!
Like it! Looks like mini-curtain for a lamp. I almost want to see if you can slide it or open it like real curtains!
No need to say that I don't have any project in mind as I'm not crafty enough :o) I mean, at least I know I CANNOT saw!
I have a friend that uses her scraps that are this size to make coffee collars/wrappers. I "think" she uses insulbright for the interior to keep it from burning your fingures and makes it into a cylindrical shape using velcro to close it.
well, this is not original by any means, but as soon as I read that you have scraps of those sizes, I immediately thought how I'd love to incorporate them into a quilt! I really am loving scrappy quilts, trying to use as many different pieces of fabric as possible - anything wider than an inch gets included! (then i sew any remaining pieces to cardstock to use as a gift tag for the quilt!)
Hy!! I love scraps, little, big, medium, any kind of scraps :))
love your lampshade!!
my cushions, a little basket made whith scraps, start a new project- a quilt, one of my brooch/pin that I do whith little scraps, and finaly I could try one lampshade not like yours, but one I have in my mind, some time now :D
hugs
Isabel
My daughter is big into putting her dolls to bed these days. I would probably sew the strips into tiny sized doll blankets. She loves the patchwork look, so they'd be perfect!
Have you thought of using them in coasters? With a bit of reinforcement and you're set. If i win that's what i will be doing with them.
Second thought is a table runner...
With four girls, we would save $$ by using the strips to make our barbie clothes. We have a fisher price sewing center, and these fabric pieces would be the perfect touch for my little fashion designers. No more buying (from any dept. store for barbie or baby doll clothes). madly59 on twitter onlyjoy1959@yahoo.com
I take and cut the fabric into even smaller pieces and make quilted ACEO's out of them ( artist trading cards ) all hand quilted, they are so fun
Sue@susiesattic.com
A rainbow of fabric strips would be perfect for those roll-up crayon or colored pencil holders. I want to make them for all my friends' kids!
cute little shade! I use scraps everyday...they're perfect for a little pop of color on one of my fascintaors or to make fabric covered buttons or to stuff plushies...so many things to do with scraps! I'm a scrap-a-holic! :)
oops! sorry for the double comment. contact info is akapler AT gmail DOT com
Also, here's an example of the crayon holders I'm talking about: http://tinyurl.com/dfn8pf
Earth Day to me means rescuing beautiful vintage buttons and cashmere sweaters from my local Goodwill store. Plus it is 25% off on Wednesdays!!!! Recycle..Repurpose...Rejoice! Happy Earth Day everyone!
I have very small dolls that I make clothing for. Thin peices are good for the tops of dress or tank tops and slightly wider ones for skirts, shorts or more complicated shorts.
I also had the idea to sew the strips into a 'rope' of sorts (rolling, knotting, braiding it with some stitching to keep everything together) and then using the rope for a funky belt or to tie back curtains or as a kitty toy or as a 'ribbon' around a gift or anyting else you could normally use ribbon or a thin scarf for.
klynnwolf at gmail.com :)
What a darling little shade, and a brilliant use of something that would otherwise go into landfill. I think I'd be making doll clothes with leftovers. They'd be little, or patchworked together for larger dolls. They'd also make great scrunchies, or I'd paint a nice little feature and turn it into a brooch. Ah ... I love fabric scraps (I still have some from the 80's, it's tragic! LOL)
I'm loving everyone's ideas so far! I like making potholders, personally, out of scraps. Or using them in a quilt, as someone else said. I've made a few mini-quilts for swaps, and then discovered CrazyMomQuilt's doll bedding tutorial, and scraps of this size would definitely make some cute pillows and pillowcases.
Loving the new fabric!
Love all the good ideas, I use my scraps to practice embroidery and then make coasters or hot pads.
I'm starting a fabric basket today, and small scraps are perfect for this project! Thanks for the giveaway!
What a great use of fabric scraps! I love to buy fabric scrap bags from JCaroline but I also save all my scraps and use them in mixed media pieces. A bit of fabric is that perfect touch to a greeting card or a collage that makes it fun to look at and touch! Great idea and happy earth day!
gina@leahey.org
itsonlythat.com
What a beautiful lamp shade and a great way to reuse scraps... though in my mind, nothing is a "scrap" ... there's a project in everything. I have a bin of leftovers that I patch together (even the 1x1-inch pieces) and use the patchwork on denim zipper pouches. I also will use larger leftovers to applique on shirts and other clothing and bags by backing it with Heat N Bond and stitching it down.
I'm enjoying reading everyone else's ideas too! You can never have too many!
I love that idea! That will be another one of my projects in the next weeks, for now I am busy studying^^
I usually make little bags out of the tiny scraps, you know, with a little bit of reinforcement they are perfect for all writing utensils, crayons or other small objects. The big scraps are naturally used for bigger bags.
Sometimes I also use them for postcards. A small band stitched at the bottom of a white piece of paper makes my letters a lot more personal without too much effort :)
Hugs, Johanna
Love it. So cute and resourceful!
I use mostly scrap fabric ends for all my kanzashi, it being salvaged silk from vintage kimonos or end pieces that you can buy from "scrap boxes" in most fabric store. For my smallest flowers the pieces of fabric is about 1 inch! The end result of my salvaging can be seen at http://anbo.etsy.com
I'd use the strips to make cute camera strap covers... :)
Love your little shade!
I personally have been loving fabric wall art. You can always take those scraps of fabric, sew them all together and attach them to a frame. Make sure to keep the fabric nice & tight...simply staple gun or tack to the back of a frame and voila! You can find these frames at IKEA or an arts n craft store or you could make your own. Another alternative is to just decoupage those bits of fabric right over a piece of canvas. Possibilities are endless!
Great idea for Earth day!
I'd use lil scraps of fabric as an add-on on a skirt rim. The scraps will have to be cut into triangular shape, to fit the skirt.
BM
That's so pretty! I use tiny bits for covered brooches and buttons - sometimes with embroidery added. And of course I'll patch together anything bigger than a brooch size, because I just can't bear to throw anything away.
I've thought of using patched-together strips for a bias trim, but perhaps that's too much work to be a sane idea.
Just string quilts...or some of the currently popular spiderweb blocks!
I use my scraps for little projects such as appliques and covered buttons. But my favorite use for them is to send them to my Etsy friend Tracy who uses the ones that are too small for me and creates gorgeous fabric and paper flowers that she calls Les Scraps de Fleur. It is a brilliant way to recycle. I love to see what she makes out of the tiny pieces that I mail her. Looking forward to seeing what other ideas your readers come up with!
I would like to sew the strips together in a random fashion add some embroidery and make a small summer purse from it. Oh, and a covered button too!!!
Don't ever throw any of your lovely fabric strips.
I love to make fabric frames. I rip strips of fabric to make one side frayed, then hot glue the strips to a precut matte board with the desired opening for my pic or photo. It works great to coordinate in the room where I made something from the same fabrics!
If only the scraps could help organize my brain! Totally forgot to leave the link to what TracyB makes with my little scraps. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5547753
I would use them to make cards. I like having thank you cards on hand and these would be very pretty.
I live in t-shirts, but have been thinking of ways to make my wardrobe new again. So, I would love to cut out fun shapes from your beautiful fabric and applique it onto a simple t-shirt. I think it would be beautiful along the collar. I also want to applique skirts and pillow cases.
Other ideas--I use fabric scraps in decoupage and as flower centers in crocheted brooches.
Allison L.
oh, i always save all my tiny scraps! i use them for appliques all the time, and key-chain straps in my bags...if they're big enough, a great patchwork can evolve! your fabrics are beautiful, and i love the lightbulb cover. fun and happy!
lesley.stenning [at] gmail.com
Hi! i'm thinking of a dumpling shaped purse -my current pet project - so far i have completed one out of a saved bit of scrap, old giftbag ribbon & old zipper - still rooting around for the perfect stuff to make the next one. Dogwood sounds good ;)
btw Winter Fox & Feeding the Birds is so sweet!
Meilin
oh yes, and i agree with the rest. dont throw away your scraps! = )
mei.lins@gmail.com
I save my fabric leftovers even as small as an inch by an inch to use in tons of collaging projects like my fabric ACEOs.
A good project use for your little scraps would be folded flower petals. Cut the strips into even sizes and steam on a little stabilizer to stop fraying and fold them up into a petal shape. Sew a group of petals together to make a flower. They'd make excellent accessories (brooches, hair ornaments, etc.,) Heck, you could even attach them to the tops of paper clips for some fancy organization!
I would turn them into scrap coasters. I have already made some with my scraps (see here for my examples and a link to the tutorial: http://numberseventyfive.blogspot.com/2009/04/thrifty-sewing.html) but I figure you can never have enough of these to snuggle over the bottom of wine glasses. They make a great alternative to wine charms at a party, everyone gets their own unique coaster.
The scraps would be perfect for little applique projects. Like a cute t-shirt for a child or little patches for a stain.
Since this is earth day and administrative assistants day, I'm thinking of making little sewing kits with the scraps for take along sewing emergency kits. So cute and encourages mending rather than throwing out.
Long skinny scrap pieces, if cut to the same width and sewn together on the short ends like bias strips, make great material for crocheted rag rugs. You can make a cute heart-shaped rug by expanding this basic pattern (http://www.netw.com/~rafter4/knitpad.htm), or if you're not ready for the commitment of an entire rug, you could make the suggested hotpad or rag basket.
Lovely shade and fun giveaway! I try and use up most of my scraps, usually in something quilted... but since it is Earth Day I will try to keep it to all recycled projects... what about constructing a long chain of the scraps and using it to trim the bottom of a denim skirt made out of a pair of old blue jeans, or to use for the strap on a purse constructed from cut-off jeans? Could also be the trim and straps for a little girl's dress made from a vintage pillow case... or maybe just use the chain to make a pretty belt... now my mind is rolling with ideas, but I will stop here! Happy Earth Day, (and yes, I agree, every day should be Earth Day.)
Nifty idea Michelle!
I've used scraps before to make an adorable Artsy Clutch from Heather Ross's Bend the Rules Sewing. I just sewed a bunch of vertical strips together for the outside and made a lining. Then sewed in a little hoop and sewed a button on it. You can view the final piece here: http://aflowerforyou.blogspot.com/2009/02/artsy-clutch-for-amy.html.
My contact info: sarahpead@yahoo.com
Happy Earth Day!
I have a pattern for a crochet basket that I love and your scraps would probably be perfect for that!
Sue Cahill (sbonetsue at yahoo dot com)
Hi Michelle,
Love, love, love the shade (you are so clever)! The first thing to come to mind is a ponytail holder (somehow wrap and sew the scrap to elastic)...just a thought.
P.S. You and Andrew look marvelous...so glad you got away...you both deserved the break. xo
Wow, your lampshade is great!!!!! I liked these colorful scraps, it would be a nice quilt out of them. Unfortunately, I have not seen such bright and rich colors of fabric here in my country, at list in my town((( Your ideas are wonderful, good-luck to you.
P.S. If I have those pieces I would sew a patchwork cover, funny napkins for forks and spoons and something interesting for the kitchen (my favorite room where I spend most of the time) - cover for the teapot of sth like that. Your blog is popular, I am from far Ukraine:) Have you heard about it?
that's adorable!
I've been toying with the idea of making some fabric flower necklaces for my friends for a while now. Or trying some simple quilted coasters.
I think your scraps want to cover some buttons at my house....or maybe be a scrappy quilt block...What do you think?
I love to use small scraps to make fabric postcards (which I have a paper pieced pattern for) or I'd make these fabric note cards. You arrange the small pieces of fabric the front of a blank white card and stitch wildly through the paper and fabric. Its a neat effect & my friends love receiving them. ~jen~
I too am learning the benefit of saving those small scraps of fabric that I use to throw away!! I love the idea of using fusible interfacing to easily adhere the scraps to a plain bed sheet and as a result, getting brand new fabric to work with! Maybe make a small coin purse or a tea trivet (fabric trivet with herbs inside to smell nice when a warm teapot is placed on top).
Rachel
preservethejourney@yahoo.com
starbrush.wordpress.com
so many good ideas, I think my next scrap project is similar the zinnia pillows from anthropologie. Each petal is a different scrap fabric...
I saw a tutorial on crocheting with fabric. You take strips and attach them together and then use them like you would yarn - with a large hook! You could make a very cute bag.
I really like your lamp idea and will try this. As for other projects for scraps, I'm keen to try a scrappy cabin quilt or a colour wheel coin quilt for the bigger scraps.
Great idea! I'm trying to recycle/remake clothing items. It's an adventure in sewing. Sometimes it works and sometimes - eh. But the scraps are still usable in quilts or pillows.
P.S. My kids grew up with Anoop. Sadly he's been eliminated.
Allergies are full blown right now with the pollen, so I am thinking one of these tissue cozies would come in handy right now.http://dontlooknow.typepad.com/photos/how_to_make_a_tissue_cozy/index.html
So, this is past your give away, but that's okay. I just found your blog and still wanted to say just how cute and fabulous your light shade is!! I love the combination of all those fabric pieces and even better that they initially would have been trash. So great that they were turned into something that could cost quite a penny! :>
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