home...
Reduce, reuse, recycle, retreasure!
Retreasure your home... your furniture... your clothes... your things... your family and friends... yourself... retreasure.me!
Retreasure your home... your furniture... your clothes... your things... your family and friends... yourself... retreasure.me!
Stitch Circle Resumes
posted in fabric wool buttons ribbons etc - 08-31-2011, 12:47
Getting cold? Grab some wool and have a hot cuppa with the Stitch Circle on Wednesdays from 8-9.30 starting up again this September. Contact me for further details.
posted in fabric wool buttons ribbons etc - 08-31-2011, 12:47
Getting cold? Grab some wool and have a hot cuppa with the Stitch Circle on Wednesdays from 8-9.30 starting up again this September. Contact me for further details.
Summer Time...
posted in furniture - 08-31-2011, 12:43
"Summer Time... and the living is easy"
Need some garden furniture but don't want it taking up space in the Winter? Or maybe playroom furniture you can compost when the kids grow up? How about teenagers putting their own stamp on their bedroom furniture that they can burn when they grow out of that phase?
Well maybe you'll like our idea as much as the people at IKEA did - check out page 80 of their Summer 2011 IKEA Family magazine or see our Gallery for more details.
posted in furniture - 08-31-2011, 12:43
"Summer Time... and the living is easy"
Need some garden furniture but don't want it taking up space in the Winter? Or maybe playroom furniture you can compost when the kids grow up? How about teenagers putting their own stamp on their bedroom furniture that they can burn when they grow out of that phase?
Well maybe you'll like our idea as much as the people at IKEA did - check out page 80 of their Summer 2011 IKEA Family magazine or see our Gallery for more details.
Spring Cleaning
posted in recyling - 02-07-2011, 21:36
It's February and a great time to start Spring cleaning, though to be honest it starts in our house as soon as the Christmas tree comes down and I drive everyone mad moving the furniture around to see what way we'll have it this year, or this month, or for however long it lasts before I get another bright idea. Anyway, everyone seems happy enough with the current arrangement. That space left by the tree every January just seems open to so much potential to me. I guess this is my 'problem' - the possibilities are always endless.
Having rearranged the furniture it's back to getting projects finished and starting new ones. Starting with my young girls' Saturday Stitch Circle, we got any unfinished work completed (striped phone holder pictured here) and started on a new Spring project: lavender bags, made with lavender from the garden and an old lavender gingham child's dress being put to good use. Because the fabric is squared it's also perfect for practising some cross-stitch as they all seem keen to learn to embroider on their clothes - a fancy form of graffiti and self-expression I guess.
Some of us 'older' girls are going to meet up too this month for our own Stitch Circle, so if you'd like to join us, whether it's to learn as a beginner, pick up where you left off... in primary school, or just join in with a group of like-minded stitchers (knitters, crocheters, cross-stitchers and more), just contact me.
posted in recyling - 02-07-2011, 21:36
It's February and a great time to start Spring cleaning, though to be honest it starts in our house as soon as the Christmas tree comes down and I drive everyone mad moving the furniture around to see what way we'll have it this year, or this month, or for however long it lasts before I get another bright idea. Anyway, everyone seems happy enough with the current arrangement. That space left by the tree every January just seems open to so much potential to me. I guess this is my 'problem' - the possibilities are always endless.
Having rearranged the furniture it's back to getting projects finished and starting new ones. Starting with my young girls' Saturday Stitch Circle, we got any unfinished work completed (striped phone holder pictured here) and started on a new Spring project: lavender bags, made with lavender from the garden and an old lavender gingham child's dress being put to good use. Because the fabric is squared it's also perfect for practising some cross-stitch as they all seem keen to learn to embroider on their clothes - a fancy form of graffiti and self-expression I guess.
Some of us 'older' girls are going to meet up too this month for our own Stitch Circle, so if you'd like to join us, whether it's to learn as a beginner, pick up where you left off... in primary school, or just join in with a group of like-minded stitchers (knitters, crocheters, cross-stitchers and more), just contact me.
Treasure Christmas
posted in gifts - 12-21-2010, 16:58
Merry Christmas everyone and remember...
Things to treasure at Christmas:
posted in gifts - 12-21-2010, 16:58
Merry Christmas everyone and remember...
Things to treasure at Christmas:
- curling up on the couch with loved ones by the light of the Christmas tree and fire
- being in touch with those you may not get to see or hear from much during the year
- light in the darkness from Christmas trees and decorations and even the snow which reflects light at this dark time of year
- real fires, real food, real friends
- the look on their faces when they open their presents.
- clearing out old books, CDs, DVDs, ornaments etc. and giving them to school/charity Christmas fairs
- buying wonderful gifts at these fairs (especially fun for children on a budget of pocket money)
- making presents, decorations, cards, gift-tags, Christmas crackers, etc. from things you find in the house.
- leftovers! turkey stock, turkey soup, turkey sandwiches anyone?
- before putting it all away, remember...
Passing on the art of retreasuring
posted in no category - 11-01-2010, 14:45
Retreasuring, upcycling, mending, fixing, making-do... whatever you call it, the skills needed will be lost if we don't pass them on to the next generation.
My great-grandfather, a Scottish tailor, came to Dublin from Saville Row, London in 1908. He clearly passed his skills onto my grandmother, a seamstress who helped her husband win awards for the displays in the window of his Temple Bar stationery shop and spent her days sewing, knitting, embroidering, making rugs and passing this tradition onto her seven children, including my mother. I remember summer holidays sitting in the back garden with knitting needles and wool reciting: "In the bunny hole, around the tree, out the bunny hole and off goes he..." and again... and again. In my earlier years my clothes were often made by my mother, or for special occasions my grandmother, and later I took to altering my older siblings and even father's clothes or converting ripped pink sheets to pretty dresses (sheets just aren't what they used to be!). You can see why I feel the burden to pass on what's left of the family tradition and the skills so rarely taught in school these days.
With secondary school fast approaching for my own children it was carpe diem time, so last term we held a Saturday afternoon Stitch Club in our house - and on a good day in the garden. We had four girls aged 10-11 and myself and I tried my best not to let it turn into a Stitch 'n' Bitch Club!
Here are some photos of the enthusiasts' work (everything is made from old leftover balls of wool):
A double-sided bag - young creator's own design with button bought on holidays in Italy - a little treasure!
A mobile phone holder - young creator's design including the idea to use an equally colourul old watch instead of a button, which informed the design of the strap for the holder.
More from the gallery...
posted in no category - 11-01-2010, 14:45
Retreasuring, upcycling, mending, fixing, making-do... whatever you call it, the skills needed will be lost if we don't pass them on to the next generation.
My great-grandfather, a Scottish tailor, came to Dublin from Saville Row, London in 1908. He clearly passed his skills onto my grandmother, a seamstress who helped her husband win awards for the displays in the window of his Temple Bar stationery shop and spent her days sewing, knitting, embroidering, making rugs and passing this tradition onto her seven children, including my mother. I remember summer holidays sitting in the back garden with knitting needles and wool reciting: "In the bunny hole, around the tree, out the bunny hole and off goes he..." and again... and again. In my earlier years my clothes were often made by my mother, or for special occasions my grandmother, and later I took to altering my older siblings and even father's clothes or converting ripped pink sheets to pretty dresses (sheets just aren't what they used to be!). You can see why I feel the burden to pass on what's left of the family tradition and the skills so rarely taught in school these days.
With secondary school fast approaching for my own children it was carpe diem time, so last term we held a Saturday afternoon Stitch Club in our house - and on a good day in the garden. We had four girls aged 10-11 and myself and I tried my best not to let it turn into a Stitch 'n' Bitch Club!
Here are some photos of the enthusiasts' work (everything is made from old leftover balls of wool):
A double-sided bag - young creator's own design with button bought on holidays in Italy - a little treasure!
A mobile phone holder - young creator's design including the idea to use an equally colourul old watch instead of a button, which informed the design of the strap for the holder.
More from the gallery...
'Free' Shed
posted in recyling - 10-14-2010, 14:06
It started out as an impromptu decision on the last weekend of the summer holidays to retreasure our relationship with our neighbours by inviting a few of them round for a last drink of the season. We were not long back from travelling and were about to return to the early-mornings of the school routine - to be honest I thought himself would argue that it was not the time to take on anything else, but amazingly he agreed. To heck with the recession! A few cheap bottles of plonk and snacks won't break the bank and of course everyone generously showed up with offerings to add to the occasion.
Himself did a little tour of the latest produce in the garden before the sun set and mentioned in passing the space making mess in the corner was to make way for a much-needed shed. We'd been looking at end of season sales but still couldn't justify the price. Days later our neighbour got an email - was anyone looking for a shed?! They needed to get rid of a 14 year old 10x8 shed before the builders arrived to build their extension next week. Naturally they rang us straight away!
It was free but not without cost, as we discovered. It had to be taken apart, transported by truck (thanks John) and rebuilt in our garden before we could even start to re-roof, repair and repaint it (it was a dark streaky brown). Since it was nearly twice the size we'd planned, another cost was sacrificing the plants (our first attempt at butternut squash) we trampled in an attempt to get it in. The worst part by far though was just getting each wall of the huge shed from the truck, down our back lane and either through the back gates or over the wall (the base of the shed was just never going to fit otherwise). I was just not built for this so we had to employ the help of a board with wheels and in the midst of it all (we were bound by the schedule of our helpful truck driver) our son arrived home from school and while trying to help us by keeping guard so his pet rabbit didn't escape down the lane, a gust of Irish wind whipped one of the sides of the shed down on top of him. I was in a state when I heard him cry out and then found him silent, eyes closed on the ground under a side of the shed, especially since I myself had been dodging all the nails sticking out and bits of broken wood. I was so grateful to find that none of these got him and despite a slight graze on nearly every joint he was fine, if a little shaken. A reminder that there is nothing free in this world! He was one treasure I was certainly not willing to lose for the sake of gaining one that paled in comparison.
We're all delighted with it now and the rabbit is enjoying eating what remains of the butternut squash leaves and burrowing beneath the shed to prepare for winter.
Rather than filling it with odd bits of paint, himself used a number of them up to brighten the inside and bought a nice complimentary green to cover the outside. A tester pot of a light grey was all that was needed to paint some of the framework to match the new gutters added to catch all the rainwater in a concealed water butt to the rear.
While clearing out tools from the attic and utility to put in the shed, he found some leftover lino from the utility (itself an end of roll bargain, hence the leftovers). So this now adorns most of the floor of the shed brightening it up and making it all the more cosy.
A couple of homeless hanging plant baskets, that never quite fit anywhere, now look made to order beneath the two windows. All that was left to do was move my precious washing line from the back to the front of the shed with a bit of camouflaging green paint to match (so much better than its previous Kelly green shade).
It's so nice to see it there now, and only just about as it is somewhat hidden by a beautiful contorted willow and the shed itself also hides the ugly metal doors in the back wall. Ah, my view has been retreasured. Thank you.
posted in recyling - 10-14-2010, 14:06
It started out as an impromptu decision on the last weekend of the summer holidays to retreasure our relationship with our neighbours by inviting a few of them round for a last drink of the season. We were not long back from travelling and were about to return to the early-mornings of the school routine - to be honest I thought himself would argue that it was not the time to take on anything else, but amazingly he agreed. To heck with the recession! A few cheap bottles of plonk and snacks won't break the bank and of course everyone generously showed up with offerings to add to the occasion.
Himself did a little tour of the latest produce in the garden before the sun set and mentioned in passing the space making mess in the corner was to make way for a much-needed shed. We'd been looking at end of season sales but still couldn't justify the price. Days later our neighbour got an email - was anyone looking for a shed?! They needed to get rid of a 14 year old 10x8 shed before the builders arrived to build their extension next week. Naturally they rang us straight away!
It was free but not without cost, as we discovered. It had to be taken apart, transported by truck (thanks John) and rebuilt in our garden before we could even start to re-roof, repair and repaint it (it was a dark streaky brown). Since it was nearly twice the size we'd planned, another cost was sacrificing the plants (our first attempt at butternut squash) we trampled in an attempt to get it in. The worst part by far though was just getting each wall of the huge shed from the truck, down our back lane and either through the back gates or over the wall (the base of the shed was just never going to fit otherwise). I was just not built for this so we had to employ the help of a board with wheels and in the midst of it all (we were bound by the schedule of our helpful truck driver) our son arrived home from school and while trying to help us by keeping guard so his pet rabbit didn't escape down the lane, a gust of Irish wind whipped one of the sides of the shed down on top of him. I was in a state when I heard him cry out and then found him silent, eyes closed on the ground under a side of the shed, especially since I myself had been dodging all the nails sticking out and bits of broken wood. I was so grateful to find that none of these got him and despite a slight graze on nearly every joint he was fine, if a little shaken. A reminder that there is nothing free in this world! He was one treasure I was certainly not willing to lose for the sake of gaining one that paled in comparison.
We're all delighted with it now and the rabbit is enjoying eating what remains of the butternut squash leaves and burrowing beneath the shed to prepare for winter.
Rather than filling it with odd bits of paint, himself used a number of them up to brighten the inside and bought a nice complimentary green to cover the outside. A tester pot of a light grey was all that was needed to paint some of the framework to match the new gutters added to catch all the rainwater in a concealed water butt to the rear.
While clearing out tools from the attic and utility to put in the shed, he found some leftover lino from the utility (itself an end of roll bargain, hence the leftovers). So this now adorns most of the floor of the shed brightening it up and making it all the more cosy.
A couple of homeless hanging plant baskets, that never quite fit anywhere, now look made to order beneath the two windows. All that was left to do was move my precious washing line from the back to the front of the shed with a bit of camouflaging green paint to match (so much better than its previous Kelly green shade).
It's so nice to see it there now, and only just about as it is somewhat hidden by a beautiful contorted willow and the shed itself also hides the ugly metal doors in the back wall. Ah, my view has been retreasured. Thank you.
La Rentrée
posted in gifts - 09-02-2010, 11:52
It's September. The kids are gone back to school. Retreasure yourself with a mug of your favourite hot drink in the early morning sun when the house is quiet again. Take time for yourself before it's eaten up and you're running around catering for after-school activities, play-dates and sleep-overs. Before you know it the days will be shorter, you'll be making halloween costumes and writing Christmas present lists - so don't go there (sorry for even mentioning it!), make the most of sunny September now and soak up as many rays like a storage heater preparing for Winter.
Now your head's in gear for thinking about yourself do you want to learn a new skill or retreasure one you learnt in school. Let me know if you're interested in a crochet class/group this Autumn in Dublin.
posted in gifts - 09-02-2010, 11:52
It's September. The kids are gone back to school. Retreasure yourself with a mug of your favourite hot drink in the early morning sun when the house is quiet again. Take time for yourself before it's eaten up and you're running around catering for after-school activities, play-dates and sleep-overs. Before you know it the days will be shorter, you'll be making halloween costumes and writing Christmas present lists - so don't go there (sorry for even mentioning it!), make the most of sunny September now and soak up as many rays like a storage heater preparing for Winter.
Now your head's in gear for thinking about yourself do you want to learn a new skill or retreasure one you learnt in school. Let me know if you're interested in a crochet class/group this Autumn in Dublin.
La Rentrée
posted in gifts - 09-02-2010, 11:52
It's September. The kids are gone back to school. Retreasure yourself with a mug of your favourite hot drink in the early morning sun when the house is quiet again. Take time for yourself before it's eaten up and you're running around catering for after-school activities, play-dates and sleep-overs. Before you know it the days will be shorter, you'll be making halloween costumes and writing Christmas present lists - so don't go there (sorry for even mentioning it!), make the most of sunny September now and soak up as many rays like a storage heater preparing for Winter.
Now your head's in gear for thinking about yourself do you want to learn a new skill or retreasure one you learnt in school. Let me know if you're interested in a crochet class/group this Autumn in Dublin.
posted in gifts - 09-02-2010, 11:52
It's September. The kids are gone back to school. Retreasure yourself with a mug of your favourite hot drink in the early morning sun when the house is quiet again. Take time for yourself before it's eaten up and you're running around catering for after-school activities, play-dates and sleep-overs. Before you know it the days will be shorter, you'll be making halloween costumes and writing Christmas present lists - so don't go there (sorry for even mentioning it!), make the most of sunny September now and soak up as many rays like a storage heater preparing for Winter.
Now your head's in gear for thinking about yourself do you want to learn a new skill or retreasure one you learnt in school. Let me know if you're interested in a crochet class/group this Autumn in Dublin.
Junk into Treasure
posted in furniture - 06-22-2010, 15:00
"Junk Into Treasure" - the sign caught the corner of my eye as I nearly fell down the hill past it, into the lovable village of Enniskerry. I was on my way to collect my daughter from an eleven year old's dinner party in a restaurant around the corner - how times have changed! Thankfully for once in my life I was early and could divert my attention to something clearly right up my alley way. Had I missed the sign for the course outside Galerie Lisette that day I would certainly not have missed the brightly painted old furniture in scrumptious shades of purple, blue and pink, reminiscent of the current trend in cupcakes.
Inside I met fashion and interior designer, Aida, mother of the Lennon duo running the shop. I did not meet daughter and architect Lucina until I returned just two weeks later to attend yet another of her workshops on turning Junk Into Treasure. Both are such lovely ladies you would be only too happy to sit and chat all day in their shop and in their company, especially since they serve tea and coffee with scones and biscuits during their workshops (and don't even advertise this wonderful added bonus!).
I arrived ready, or so I thought, in my old jeans and man's old shirt, but psychologically I had not prepared myself for taking a paint brush in hand and potentially desecrating an old piece of furniture that I'm sure they hoped to sell in the shop at a later stage. They were unaware of the fact that paint and I did not get on back in college and that we hadn't spoken to each other since - well not since the yellow gouache insisted on looking like egg yolk cooked onto the page! But this was blue, pale relaxing blue, a shade of blue which Lucina herself had whipped up before our very eyes with an egg whip and soup ladle in a measuring jug - yes, this was more familiar territory... kitchen utensils - DIY for Mum! Maybe I could handle this.
Lucina timed everything nicely so that we could have layers of paint drying on furniture while we added layers of other colours and substances to boards where we tried various painting techniques to achieve an old distressed look without actually having dirty old paint peeling off the surfaces and into your food.
It was a beautiful sunny day in Enniskerry, so thankfully windows and doors could be left ajar for the air to blow through and aid the drying process whilst giving us a blast of fresh air. It also meant we could enjoy a delicious lunch al fresco at the new delicatessen. Despite the fresh air and good planning one cannot always account for how long a particular paint might take to dry or how much we ladies can talk! So give yourself a bit of extra time to play with if planning a playful, creative, instructive, enjoyable day out at Galerie Lisette!
Lucina and Aida also give courses in Curtain Making, Creative Cushions and Paint Effects and if you're not ready to try the Junk into Treasure process yourself, you can choose from a selection of their own handiwork in the shop including furniture, original paintings and other artworks for your home.
Personally my day out in Enniskerry at Galerie Lisette reminded me of a kid's play date or party and I was the kid! It would make a great day out for a group of friends or even a birthday gift.
posted in furniture - 06-22-2010, 15:00
"Junk Into Treasure" - the sign caught the corner of my eye as I nearly fell down the hill past it, into the lovable village of Enniskerry. I was on my way to collect my daughter from an eleven year old's dinner party in a restaurant around the corner - how times have changed! Thankfully for once in my life I was early and could divert my attention to something clearly right up my alley way. Had I missed the sign for the course outside Galerie Lisette that day I would certainly not have missed the brightly painted old furniture in scrumptious shades of purple, blue and pink, reminiscent of the current trend in cupcakes.
Inside I met fashion and interior designer, Aida, mother of the Lennon duo running the shop. I did not meet daughter and architect Lucina until I returned just two weeks later to attend yet another of her workshops on turning Junk Into Treasure. Both are such lovely ladies you would be only too happy to sit and chat all day in their shop and in their company, especially since they serve tea and coffee with scones and biscuits during their workshops (and don't even advertise this wonderful added bonus!).
I arrived ready, or so I thought, in my old jeans and man's old shirt, but psychologically I had not prepared myself for taking a paint brush in hand and potentially desecrating an old piece of furniture that I'm sure they hoped to sell in the shop at a later stage. They were unaware of the fact that paint and I did not get on back in college and that we hadn't spoken to each other since - well not since the yellow gouache insisted on looking like egg yolk cooked onto the page! But this was blue, pale relaxing blue, a shade of blue which Lucina herself had whipped up before our very eyes with an egg whip and soup ladle in a measuring jug - yes, this was more familiar territory... kitchen utensils - DIY for Mum! Maybe I could handle this.
Lucina timed everything nicely so that we could have layers of paint drying on furniture while we added layers of other colours and substances to boards where we tried various painting techniques to achieve an old distressed look without actually having dirty old paint peeling off the surfaces and into your food.
It was a beautiful sunny day in Enniskerry, so thankfully windows and doors could be left ajar for the air to blow through and aid the drying process whilst giving us a blast of fresh air. It also meant we could enjoy a delicious lunch al fresco at the new delicatessen. Despite the fresh air and good planning one cannot always account for how long a particular paint might take to dry or how much we ladies can talk! So give yourself a bit of extra time to play with if planning a playful, creative, instructive, enjoyable day out at Galerie Lisette!
Lucina and Aida also give courses in Curtain Making, Creative Cushions and Paint Effects and if you're not ready to try the Junk into Treasure process yourself, you can choose from a selection of their own handiwork in the shop including furniture, original paintings and other artworks for your home.
Personally my day out in Enniskerry at Galerie Lisette reminded me of a kid's play date or party and I was the kid! It would make a great day out for a group of friends or even a birthday gift.
Retreasure your work space
posted in no category - 06-21-2010, 16:29
I moved my office space out the door in front of my desk onto the deck and under a parasol so I could still see my screen. My son's just come home from school and is on another laptop beside me, so we can work and play along together in this amazing-for-Dublin sunshine! We don't always need a new office or new job... just retreasure the old one.
But on a sunny day in Winter there's nowhere better to reheat for a tea-break than in the green house!
posted in no category - 06-21-2010, 16:29
I moved my office space out the door in front of my desk onto the deck and under a parasol so I could still see my screen. My son's just come home from school and is on another laptop beside me, so we can work and play along together in this amazing-for-Dublin sunshine! We don't always need a new office or new job... just retreasure the old one.
But on a sunny day in Winter there's nowhere better to reheat for a tea-break than in the green house!
Retreasure your Garden
posted in recyling - 06-15-2010, 13:41
It's Summer and we're out in the garden enjoying the fruits of our labour... a retreasured garden (click to see photos).
We've lived here over ten years now and this is the third major change in layout we've done - but it's here to stay! It's set in stone this time, granite to be exact! A couple of years ago we built a kitchen extension, replaced a back wall and installed a cedar green-house twice the size of our old glass house. All this left us with a building site - excess soil, leftover wood, concrete blocks and rubble. We were determined to re-use whatever we could and reduce the use of skips as much as possible.
Now all we need is a good Summer and we can eat the fruits of our labour at harvest time.
posted in recyling - 06-15-2010, 13:41
It's Summer and we're out in the garden enjoying the fruits of our labour... a retreasured garden (click to see photos).
We've lived here over ten years now and this is the third major change in layout we've done - but it's here to stay! It's set in stone this time, granite to be exact! A couple of years ago we built a kitchen extension, replaced a back wall and installed a cedar green-house twice the size of our old glass house. All this left us with a building site - excess soil, leftover wood, concrete blocks and rubble. We were determined to re-use whatever we could and reduce the use of skips as much as possible.- Excess soil - used to fill raised beds all around the edge of the garden. This provides seating wherever the sun is at different times of the day, a better height to tend to vegetables, flowers, herbs, etc. and was meant to be a deterrent for our pet rabbit - but alas! she proved to be more athletic than we thought.
- Concrete blocks - these were mostly used to build the walls of the raised beds but some are also used as support for a deck built to level the ground beside the extension. Smaller pieces of rubble formed part of the foundations for the green house and paths.
- Leftover wood - various parts of the extension were delivered wrapped in wood and sitting on wood palettes. We removed as many nails and screws as we could and cut any that weren't otherwise usable down to a nice size for the fire. Leftover pieces of cedar cladding from the actual extension were used to clad the front of the raised beds.
Now all we need is a good Summer and we can eat the fruits of our labour at harvest time.
Marlay Park Summer Fair
posted in fabric wool buttons ribbons etc - 06-13-2010, 22:56
I was fortunate enough to happen upon a Summer Fair in Marlay House, Marlay Park this morning (all just thanks to the fact that I was collecting my daughter from a birthday sleepover down the road) and the rest of the family were fortunate that we were there for the early sunny part of the day as they headed off to the playground while I got lost in beauty! The house, for a start, has been magnificently restored. Visiting one of the empty rooms I overheard a little boy say "Mum, when we move house can we move here?" I couldn't help but say "Can I come too!" It has certainly been retreasured beautifully.
The fair itself was a delight of talent, beauty, craft and innovation. I wanted to share with you in particular some of the like-minded people who either retreasured materials or retreasured the art of crochet, though according to one lady apparently Ireland is lagging behind and it's all the rage in the US and Europe, which was confirmed to my by images in today's Sunday Times of the lastest collection from Chanel! (Forgive me if it is I who lag behind, I'm not a great reader of fashion magazines).
I was also happy to discover a fellow mobile-phone-holder-maker, though hers were sewn.
Keep an eye out for these innovative ladies.
posted in fabric wool buttons ribbons etc - 06-13-2010, 22:56
I was fortunate enough to happen upon a Summer Fair in Marlay House, Marlay Park this morning (all just thanks to the fact that I was collecting my daughter from a birthday sleepover down the road) and the rest of the family were fortunate that we were there for the early sunny part of the day as they headed off to the playground while I got lost in beauty! The house, for a start, has been magnificently restored. Visiting one of the empty rooms I overheard a little boy say "Mum, when we move house can we move here?" I couldn't help but say "Can I come too!" It has certainly been retreasured beautifully.
The fair itself was a delight of talent, beauty, craft and innovation. I wanted to share with you in particular some of the like-minded people who either retreasured materials or retreasured the art of crochet, though according to one lady apparently Ireland is lagging behind and it's all the rage in the US and Europe, which was confirmed to my by images in today's Sunday Times of the lastest collection from Chanel! (Forgive me if it is I who lag behind, I'm not a great reader of fashion magazines).
- Fabula by Anka - "Accessories with a story - Repurposed, Recycled, Loved Again"
- by Yvonne - Churchtown based Yvonne uses traditonal fine crochet combin
ed with jewellery to make beautiful necklaces, hats, bags and other accessories. Contact her at yvonnebeale[at]eircom.net. - Heather Finn - although most of her work is knitted there were a few incredible crocheted dresses, one combining crochet, knitted fabric and weaved fabrics. Her home page features one entirely crocheted dress in the background.
- JT Crafts - Jurate Tiskute, a Crafts Council of Ireland competition winner who had an outstanding softly knitted wedding dress on display (featured here). I feared for what might happen to it with so many people walking around! Contact her at jthandicrafts[at]gmail.com.
I was also happy to discover a fellow mobile-phone-holder-maker, though hers were sewn.
Keep an eye out for these innovative ladies.
Sustainable Saturdays at Airfield
posted in recyling - 06-06-2010, 22:33
This week we received the seasonal brochure from Airfield and were encouraged to see that they are now celebrating sustainable living on the last Saturday of every month, including "creative ways of recycling your old treasures". Check out their Summer Programme here.
posted in recyling - 06-06-2010, 22:33
This week we received the seasonal brochure from Airfield and were encouraged to see that they are now celebrating sustainable living on the last Saturday of every month, including "creative ways of recycling your old treasures". Check out their Summer Programme here.
Junk into Treasure
posted in furniture - 06-06-2010, 22:26
We were passing through the pretty village of Enniskerry last week and were delighted to happen upon a new shop called Galerie Lisette full of retreasured furniture and fabrics and they had just held a day's course called 'Junk into Treasure' - a great name I thought and it sounded just up my street. So I entered and enjoyed the visual delight of the colourful furniture therein. Disappointed to have missed the course I promptly picked up a brochure and you can find the details too on their registration form at GalerieLisette.com.
posted in furniture - 06-06-2010, 22:26
We were passing through the pretty village of Enniskerry last week and were delighted to happen upon a new shop called Galerie Lisette full of retreasured furniture and fabrics and they had just held a day's course called 'Junk into Treasure' - a great name I thought and it sounded just up my street. So I entered and enjoyed the visual delight of the colourful furniture therein. Disappointed to have missed the course I promptly picked up a brochure and you can find the details too on their registration form at GalerieLisette.com.
Sunday Times advocates Retreasuring
posted in recyling - 03-29-2010, 15:18
"It's about learning how to treasure things again" (or Retreasure as I like to call it)
says Sarah Bagner of Supermarket Sarah. I was delighted to read this quote in an article by Fleur Britten in the Sunday Times Style magazine yesterday called Small is Beautiful. Sounds like more and more of us are on the same page.
posted in recyling - 03-29-2010, 15:18
"It's about learning how to treasure things again" (or Retreasure as I like to call it)
says Sarah Bagner of Supermarket Sarah. I was delighted to read this quote in an article by Fleur Britten in the Sunday Times Style magazine yesterday called Small is Beautiful. Sounds like more and more of us are on the same page.
Retreasure the old crafts
posted in fabric wool buttons ribbons etc - 02-19-2010, 13:58
Today is the last day of mid-term for my daughter. Yesterday we had three of her friends here to do or learn sewing, crochet and knitting. One girl impressed her friends by lounging on the rocking horse and knitting away on a project already well under-way. Given that she was the smallest in the room this was very impressive in deed and just what was needed to motivate the bigger ones to learn.
When it came to crochet we discovered that it can take up to an hour to discover how to teach little fingers to make the first stitch for the crochet hook - not very motivating Mum! - but we finally found a fool proof way which I guess I will have to video tape to demonstrate. My thinking was that if the child learnt to crochet at our house but went home and couldn't put on the first stitch then she wouldn't be able to crochet at her house. However, I learnt a good lesson from a little secret our young knitter imparted. Her Mum did 'the hard part' of casting on the stitches and doing the first row or so and then she could get on with it. So... next time I'll get the ball rolling and then let them get on with learning the business of crochet. Later they can learn the advanced part of crochet - a bit like pressing the Start button on your computer to close down.
This reminds me of my driving lessons - they teach you how to pass the driving test but NOT how to park (not in this fair Isle anyway - I'm sure, actually I know, other countries have better driving tests than we do). That would be like me teaching all the stitches but not how to put the bits together so you can finish and use what you've made!
Another little friend brought along a t-shirt with some tiny holes that she wanted to cover with a big button and then decorate around it with coloured thread, a form of embroidery I guess. I was delighted as this is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to instill in them - not only the means to make clothes from scratch but to fix, improve upon and retreasure those we already have and love.
As for my own little Miss's project, she chose to buy a duvet cover from IKEA on special a long time ago but not to use for her bed, she liked the fabric and wanted to make something with it to wear. It sat in a cupboard for a long time till I eventually hung it up with curtain pegs on one side of her curtain rail. The fabric is thin and near see-through and doesn't look great in its current state because you see the pattern coming through, so the best thing for it was to separate the front from the back and make.... a pair of curtains! Yes, obvious of course. You may think why all this effort when you could just buy a pair of curtains or the material to make some? Well, she chose the fabric because she loved it and it only came as a quilt cover AND it only cost 5 euro and you wouldn't buy any material in this country that cheap for a set of full-length curtains.
At the end of the day the stitch ripping of the quilt-come-curtains was enjoyed by the girls more than anything else (even more than a go on the sewing machine). I think it was because they could all sit around telling each other horror stories and school gossip and still achieve something without any concern for how well it looked.
It reminded me of the film How to Make an American Quilt and I hope that as they learn the skills they can enjoy many sessions with friends making things together. They were a bit shocked when I suggested they could start a Sticth 'n' Bitch club. They had fun imagining how they would spell that on a school poster!
It was a lesson for me that it is better for the group, in terms of what they learn, what they achieve and how much they enjoy it, to work on one project together, one project at a time and one discipline (sewing OR crochet OR knitting, etc.) at a time.
To inspire your little ones and their friends:
posted in fabric wool buttons ribbons etc - 02-19-2010, 13:58
Today is the last day of mid-term for my daughter. Yesterday we had three of her friends here to do or learn sewing, crochet and knitting. One girl impressed her friends by lounging on the rocking horse and knitting away on a project already well under-way. Given that she was the smallest in the room this was very impressive in deed and just what was needed to motivate the bigger ones to learn.
When it came to crochet we discovered that it can take up to an hour to discover how to teach little fingers to make the first stitch for the crochet hook - not very motivating Mum! - but we finally found a fool proof way which I guess I will have to video tape to demonstrate. My thinking was that if the child learnt to crochet at our house but went home and couldn't put on the first stitch then she wouldn't be able to crochet at her house. However, I learnt a good lesson from a little secret our young knitter imparted. Her Mum did 'the hard part' of casting on the stitches and doing the first row or so and then she could get on with it. So... next time I'll get the ball rolling and then let them get on with learning the business of crochet. Later they can learn the advanced part of crochet - a bit like pressing the Start button on your computer to close down.
This reminds me of my driving lessons - they teach you how to pass the driving test but NOT how to park (not in this fair Isle anyway - I'm sure, actually I know, other countries have better driving tests than we do). That would be like me teaching all the stitches but not how to put the bits together so you can finish and use what you've made!
Another little friend brought along a t-shirt with some tiny holes that she wanted to cover with a big button and then decorate around it with coloured thread, a form of embroidery I guess. I was delighted as this is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to instill in them - not only the means to make clothes from scratch but to fix, improve upon and retreasure those we already have and love.
As for my own little Miss's project, she chose to buy a duvet cover from IKEA on special a long time ago but not to use for her bed, she liked the fabric and wanted to make something with it to wear. It sat in a cupboard for a long time till I eventually hung it up with curtain pegs on one side of her curtain rail. The fabric is thin and near see-through and doesn't look great in its current state because you see the pattern coming through, so the best thing for it was to separate the front from the back and make.... a pair of curtains! Yes, obvious of course. You may think why all this effort when you could just buy a pair of curtains or the material to make some? Well, she chose the fabric because she loved it and it only came as a quilt cover AND it only cost 5 euro and you wouldn't buy any material in this country that cheap for a set of full-length curtains.
At the end of the day the stitch ripping of the quilt-come-curtains was enjoyed by the girls more than anything else (even more than a go on the sewing machine). I think it was because they could all sit around telling each other horror stories and school gossip and still achieve something without any concern for how well it looked.
It reminded me of the film How to Make an American Quilt and I hope that as they learn the skills they can enjoy many sessions with friends making things together. They were a bit shocked when I suggested they could start a Sticth 'n' Bitch club. They had fun imagining how they would spell that on a school poster!
It was a lesson for me that it is better for the group, in terms of what they learn, what they achieve and how much they enjoy it, to work on one project together, one project at a time and one discipline (sewing OR crochet OR knitting, etc.) at a time.
TAKE LIFE ONE STITCH AT A TIME!
To inspire your little ones and their friends:
- put on display items made by you or relatives (I hung up a fine crocheted white top made by my Grandmother for my Mother in the 50's or 60's - for the top end of the craft - and then a top I knit as a teenager using leftover bits of wool, material, bows and buttons - for the more achievable stage - and the cushion cover which appears at the top of this page);
- if your own child is not interested, invite their friends who are to share such a day with you and they soon will be;
- don't start with the hardest bits first, help them along;
- pick one discipline/craft at a time for them to get their heads around;
- have a group project so they work together to achieve something - my daughter's curtains were worked on by everyone but she gets to keep it. Next time could be a project which one of the others goes home with;
- OR they each have the same small achievable project but in a fabric or wool of their choice;
- sit in a position where they can sit behind and beside you to see the needle(s) from your aspect.
Retreasure for next Christmas
posted in recyling - 01-06-2010, 20:16
Time to retreasure for next Christmas. It's January 6th and all the trees and decorations are coming down. Before you throw out all the Christmas cards received for 2009, cut out all the little parts of the cards that would be suitable for gift tags for next year and pop them in the attic along with the left over wrapping paper and cards. Be creative - gift tags don't have to be square or rectangular. You can use a hole punch to put a hole in an appropriate spot on each one. Craft shops even sell decorative hole punches. We have one that's an elephant! A nice bit of gift wrapping string or bow then and you're all set for next year.
posted in recyling - 01-06-2010, 20:16
Time to retreasure for next Christmas. It's January 6th and all the trees and decorations are coming down. Before you throw out all the Christmas cards received for 2009, cut out all the little parts of the cards that would be suitable for gift tags for next year and pop them in the attic along with the left over wrapping paper and cards. Be creative - gift tags don't have to be square or rectangular. You can use a hole punch to put a hole in an appropriate spot on each one. Craft shops even sell decorative hole punches. We have one that's an elephant! A nice bit of gift wrapping string or bow then and you're all set for next year.
The birth of the mobile phone holder
posted in fabric wool buttons ribbons etc - 12-15-2009, 14:23
One of my earliest memories is of me playing with my Mother's button box. I loved to empty it on the floor and then sort the contents by colour, or by size, or by colour and size or by another permutation. The button box itself was a retreasured item. It was made sometime between the 1940s and 1960s from post cards covered in plastic that were then sewn together into a box and given to my Mother as a present. I only ever knew one other person with a similar box and she sat beside me in home-economics class. Coincidentally she was called Ida, just like my Mother!
When my Mother passed on I laid claim to the button box and have it to this day. Since my sisters lived abroad at the time I also ended up inheriting the contents of the attic relating to knitting and sewing: boxes and bags of wool and fabric. Some items were my own unfinished compositions from years back.
Then after our second house, second child, second car, second kitchen in our second house and umpteenth mess it was time for a massive clear out. It was time to do or die. I went up to the attic to get the wool and buttons and they were just about to 'die' and be buried along with my guilt for throwing awaying something that could've been put to good use, when I took one favourite ball of wool (the leftovers from the last jumper Mum knit me) and a unique button that matched and sat down in front of the telly with a crochet hook, my mobile phone and a vague image in my head from something I'd seen in a knitting magazine in the guest house we'd stayed at the previous Summer in the Isle of Man... and my first Mobile Phone Holder was born.
posted in fabric wool buttons ribbons etc - 12-15-2009, 14:23
One of my earliest memories is of me playing with my Mother's button box. I loved to empty it on the floor and then sort the contents by colour, or by size, or by colour and size or by another permutation. The button box itself was a retreasured item. It was made sometime between the 1940s and 1960s from post cards covered in plastic that were then sewn together into a box and given to my Mother as a present. I only ever knew one other person with a similar box and she sat beside me in home-economics class. Coincidentally she was called Ida, just like my Mother!When my Mother passed on I laid claim to the button box and have it to this day. Since my sisters lived abroad at the time I also ended up inheriting the contents of the attic relating to knitting and sewing: boxes and bags of wool and fabric. Some items were my own unfinished compositions from years back.
Then after our second house, second child, second car, second kitchen in our second house and umpteenth mess it was time for a massive clear out. It was time to do or die. I went up to the attic to get the wool and buttons and they were just about to 'die' and be buried along with my guilt for throwing awaying something that could've been put to good use, when I took one favourite ball of wool (the leftovers from the last jumper Mum knit me) and a unique button that matched and sat down in front of the telly with a crochet hook, my mobile phone and a vague image in my head from something I'd seen in a knitting magazine in the guest house we'd stayed at the previous Summer in the Isle of Man... and my first Mobile Phone Holder was born.
Retreasure your furniture
posted in furniture - 12-14-2009, 13:54
I've uploaded images of furniture (mostly originally in my grandparents house) that I have retreasured over the years. These are just ideas for an alternative to the skip. Unfortunately I cannot offer any upholstery service or even recommend any as I have never used a professional upholsterer. If you have had good experience of an upholsterer, please feel free to share the information here.
Old furniture is often better made than modern furniture with proper attention given to anthropometrics and it can be worth covering it or sometimes all it needs is cleaning, a throw, new cushions or a little love. I find some modern couches annoying as I (and the cushions) slide forward when there should be an angle for people and cushions to slide back into the chair. I learnt this in my first year of college - a lot of companies who mass produce furniture seemed to have missed this class! Bear in mind when buying a new couch that cost will not guarantee good design, sit in it for as long as you can before purchasing.
posted in furniture - 12-14-2009, 13:54
I've uploaded images of furniture (mostly originally in my grandparents house) that I have retreasured over the years. These are just ideas for an alternative to the skip. Unfortunately I cannot offer any upholstery service or even recommend any as I have never used a professional upholsterer. If you have had good experience of an upholsterer, please feel free to share the information here.
Old furniture is often better made than modern furniture with proper attention given to anthropometrics and it can be worth covering it or sometimes all it needs is cleaning, a throw, new cushions or a little love. I find some modern couches annoying as I (and the cushions) slide forward when there should be an angle for people and cushions to slide back into the chair. I learnt this in my first year of college - a lot of companies who mass produce furniture seemed to have missed this class! Bear in mind when buying a new couch that cost will not guarantee good design, sit in it for as long as you can before purchasing.
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