Extra Large 'Reptile Skin' Purse- Part 4 of 4

The finished bag embellishment.

                                                A portion of colorful 'reptile skin'...

                                                  ...and again, here, in close-up.

                                                     Using a leather punch...

                          ...I made 'stitching holes' in a handmade leather strap... 

                            ...and attached it to the purse with bright pink silk yarn.

                                  The is all that remains of my original 'grid' layout. :(

                    I used earth magnets as fasteners at the mid-point of the bag.

                                                          The finished purse...

                                                  ...being as oversized as it is...

                ...quite overwhelmed the appearance and utility of its single leather strap.

                                          To improve both looks and functionality...

                                         ...I added a second strap (in brown)...

                                        ...and fused them using knots of silk yarn.

                                           With a bit of craft glue and clamping...

                                       ...I eliminated the gaps between the knots...

                                               ...for a more streamlined look.

Knitted Bouclé Linen and Silk Washcloths...Plus New Bowls!

                            A friend of mine has been knitting cotton washcloths, lately...

                          ...so I decided to try a similar project using bouclé linen...

                                                             ...and silk yarn!

                                               I knitted them on the diagonal...

                            ...and, when done, wove the ends in as well as I could.

                    (Please remember that my knitting skills are still very rudimentary!) :)

                                 The linen bouclé one has a rough, textured surface...

                                       ...perfect for 'scrubby' use in the kitchen...

                                        ...but I'm keeping the softer, silk one...

                                                  ...for use as a face cloth!

                                       *************************************************

                                           When I was in the UK this spring...

                                ...I indulged my fairly serious 'bowl addiction'...

                          ...with these vintage, handmade and thrift shop dishes.

                                I also found a mug to add to my Moomin collection...

                                                   ...in fabulous orange!! :)

Experimental Knitted Projects

 I knitted a long rectangle...

                                                              ...from hairy synthetic yarn...

                                      

                                                  ...stitched it together at the short ends...

                                                      ...and a narrow infinity scarf was born!

                                                          Using silk yarn in two colors...                                                            

                                         ...I tried to puzzle out how to change colors, mid-project...

                                          ...but gave up when the piece was only washcloth sized!

                                              (P.S. Tying knots may not be the best route!)  :)

                                                         Using yarn made with 94% wool...

                                      ...but blended with some sort of stretchy, synthetic fibers...

                                      

                                                       ...I fashioned another infinity scarf.

                                               It won't surprise any of my regular readers...

                                       ...that the way I approach my nascent knitting projects...

                     ...is just as experimental a method as the one I used when I was a beginning feltmaker! :)

                                   Using yarns of different materials and thicknesses from my stash...

                                                       ...and using a straight 'knit' stitch...

                                     ..I'm seeing what kinds of functional objects I can make...

                                                   ...from different sized balls of yarn!

                                                      Next time: the joy of blocking. :)



                                             

Wet-Felted Compost Bin- Part 3 of 3

Laying out wool for the bin lid.



The finished compost bin with hair elastic closure loop. 

 

Adding beads for the fastener...

 

...and in close-up.

 

Lily of the valley.

 

The compost bin in situ.

 

Don't you just love this color?!?



My new compost bin, 'planted' at the site of my old one.

Luckily, my neighbor (whose garage you see)...

...is also a fan of composting!

 

I really wasn't sure how to make a hinged top...

...that would stand up to the rigors of daily use.

In the end, I fashioned a lid that had a straight edge in the back...

...and using a curved needle, hand-stitched the top to the edge of the bin...

...making sure that I sewed through the chicken wire layer, as well.

For the closure, I stitched a 'hair elastic' into the front edge of the lid...

and sewed a line of large beads together for a 'clasp'...

...stitching them to the front of the bin through the felt.

To make a rigid lid, I first tried felting around a circle of chicken wire...

...but it was awkward and 'spiky', and I gave up.

In the end, I felted around a circular resist...

...and then filled this felt 'envelope' with a layer of heavy cardboard...

...sandwiched between two layers of foam underlayment.

Many of you are curious about the bin's potential longevity...

...and, to be honest, I am, too!

Will the felt (especially the lid and hinge) withstand use...

...or will I be doing periodic repairs?

Will things compost more slowly than they did in my open-air bin (lack of oxygen?)...

...or will the added heat (from being in an enclosure) actually speed things up?

Let the experiment begin!! Giggle.

Wet-Felted Compost Bin- Part 2 of 3

The promised Nick Cave impersonation! :)



Sizing the chicken wire prior to trimming it with wire cutters... 

 

....by letting the roll expand to fit the felt cylinder.



Cutting a bottom for the bin and wiring it on... 

...and here, from another angle.

 

An 'outdoor shot' after hand stitching the felt to the top and bottom of the bin...

 

...but prior to attaching the lid.

Because I want the finished compost, as it settles, to 'return to the earth'...

...the wire bottom was not covered in felt, but left bare.

 

To give you a sense of scale for this project...

...my boyfriend was kind (silly?) enough to do his best 'Nick Cave Soundsuit dance' for you. ;)

He did all of the wire cutting and assemblage on this project, as well...

...and I am quite grateful to him for that!

We expanded the roll of chicken wire inside the felt cylinder...

...adding several inches for an overlap, prior to cutting.

After wiring it together, he cut a chicken wire circle...

...and affixed it to the bottom of the project as a base.

To make this as neat and elegant a compost bin(!) as possible...

...I hand-stitched the felt to the wire at the top and bottom with strong thread.

Next time: the lid...

...and the solution to my hinge and fastener conundrum! :)