Author Archives: lucy

Christmas Crafts 1

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This year was quite prolific for homemade Christmas presents, and as promised, i am going to do a little series on the projects and how they came together. Having always been someone who can’t understand those who start doing christmas shopping in the summer, i rather surprised myself by starting some of these projects in October. Our holiday in Skye in November also featured quite significant sewing productivity.

These little make-up bags were my first projects whilst there, which were made for salvage sis Gemma and my sister-in-law Marianne. The red cord was a charity shop remnant, and the lining a very thrifty find indeed – 3 metres of Liberty fabric for a few pounds, same source. The bunting is composed of various scraps and off-cuts.

Christmas Present-ation

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I was inspired to write a post about christmas presents having received this beautifully wrapped gift from my friend Julie.

I love receiving a well wrapped gift, especially with consideration given to detail and use of simple materials. Forget fancy ribbons and expensive print, the best materials can be found all year round (as above; baker’s twine and plain brown paper), which are then adorned with festive details (red bead, handmade leaf and painted card). However, there are a host of inventive papers to use as your starting point. For me, any brown paper based wrapping is an essential. This year i was most impressed by this print from Paperchase, with lots of fun illustrations and unusual (ie non-christmas) colours. However there are other paper sources to consider – one year salvage sis gemma wrapped everything in Financial Times paper (tinged a delicate pink), with thick black ribbon. Can’t remember what the present was, its the wrapping that stood out!!

Here are just a few fine examples…

Don’t stop with just presentation of presents. We were given this Panettone which was served at our christmas bonanza, and with a few extra trimmings, it looks tremendously decadent.

Oh Brother

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I have been pondering a new sewing machine for a few months now, since my £100 friend purchased about 8 years ago started to show signs of tiring. The thing about sewing machines is that you can a decent model quite cheaply, but the servicing will often cost 3/4 of the initial value, and if, like me, you put it through its paces, you will probably need to service it every year. So, after extensive on-line research, i took a trip to David Drummond, possibly the best sewing shop in the world, ever. This guy excels in 2 things – machine knowledge, and customer service. I had a fair idea of my requirements, which happened to match exactly this little gem:

(If you are bored already by this post, things are about to get a lot worse…)

It features 40 stitches including overlocking and 5 1 step button holes, top loading bobbin, automatic needle threader, and, my favourite part, a funky feature which stops the needle either always up or down once you stop sewing. Granted, if your not a sewer, this will seem like a fairly meek offering, but to me, its magic! It also comes with lots of fancy accoutrements, many of which i am yet to identify:

Best of all, it has an ace freehand embroidery function, something i have featured on most of my christmas presents this year (see posts in the New Year.) Buying the machine from a specialist shop got me thinking about the lost value of face-to-face trading. I got an amazing deal involving lots of freebies, including a free servicing of my old machine so i can sell it and make up some of the cost. I honestly came away wondering what the sales guy could have possibly got out of the deal, such were the numerous perks showered upon me. I went home and convinced myself that i couldn’t have found a better deal online, plus the added bonus of doing business with the most tanned, gold-clad man i have come across all winter.

My plans for a manic sewing day today have been laid to rest by an unfortunate slip down the stairs this morning, leaving me less than dexterous. Not to worry though – i have all of the Christmas holidays to put this baby to the test!

Eco-decor

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I took the opportunity to forage for some Christmas decorating resources today, now that the snow has finally relieved branches and foliage of their heavy load. Thanks to abundant supplies on Blackford Hill, i was able to gather enough for a few projects.

My main aim was to create a wreath for the front door. Starting with a wire coat hanger manouvered into a circle, attach some evergreen as a base using gardeners wire, then build up holly and berries in an ever-widening circle. I dried some orange slices for 2 weeks in the boiler cupboard, and fashioned a basic bow from red ribbon. A welcoming sight for any passer-by or visitor!

Things got a bit more freestyle when it came to the mantlepiece. Lots of greenery piled up, flanked with candles and a few twinkling LED lights, and a felt garland hung below.

With the leftovers, i created a centre-piece using the same haphazard method.

Using fresh foliage creates such a vibrant, authentic display, and costs zero other than your time and energy.     As it happens, i wasn’t the only one feeling festive this weekend. Malcolm and his capable little helper created these delicious home-made mince pies, complete with brandy butter. Now all we need are some festive visitors to come and enjoy the proceeds!

Made for each other

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If you ask me, display/storage options for technological gadgetry in the living room are often hard to make pretty. i have been keeping an eye on gumtree for something to house our E-normous tv and accompaniments – to no avail. So when kath and i fashioned this arrangement today, i was really quite pleased.

The white table was found on the street by colin, abandoned by its owners and to make matters worse, 2 legs were twice the length of the others. After some very interesting measuring techniques, he made the legs equal (almost), and it sat quietly outside awaiting its destiny. It has been painted white but chipped over time which i think adds to the look. The footstool underneath had been residing in the guest room, posing unsuccessfully as a sort of ottoman, so i was delighted to discover it fitted neatly underneath the table, and not only that, the bottom rungs were perfectly sized for the amplifier. This is a micro-example of something i often find happening in my home-perfecting moments: things you already have can often be rediscovered and reincarnated into a happy new life. As long as you can avoid going to ikea in the meantime…..

Cushion Couture

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I remember my Granny commenting years ago when Gemma & I were fledgling salvagers that we were obsessed with buying cushions. This was probably true. When you are working under fairly limited budget constraints, without opportunity for upgrading things like sofas, a few scatter cushions can cover a multitude of sins. You can use them to highlight bits of your color scheme, make a style statement or instantly cosy up a bare space. This tendency to over-cushion has persisted, though a few years ago it became apparent that running them up on the sewing machine is incredibly easy. I advise any sewing beginners to start with some simple cushions. The other great thing is that you only need a small amount of fabric, so remnants are ideal.

Here are some recent additions to my growing collection. The first were made from a patchwork Accessorize scarf, simply cut in 4 with 2 pieces sewn side by side. The next 2 were made from fabric remnants picked up at charity shops. The floral one is a Sanderson print for which i paid 50p.

A few pointers on cushion making. 50 x 50cm is a standard size, and the first step is to cut your front piece slightly larger than this to allow for seams. Then cut 2 more pieces each approx. 2/3 as wide and of similar length to the front. These will overlap at the back, so you will need to hem them both. Then place all your pieces facing inwards, sew, turn inside out and hey presto! Once you have mastered that, you can get fancy with things like piping (a worthy education), buttons, zips etc, but for now, this will provide you with a basic, no-fuss cushion. Finally, it really does make a difference if you fill them with a feather liner, but to keep costs down, once again our faithful charity shops have ugly cushions permanently on display, so you can do them a favour by hiding them inside your beautiful handmade treasure!

Open Glass Doors

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Allow me a little plug for the Art Exhibition I have been involved in organising over the past few months. The team have been busy since July putting together this professional and vibrant collection of art, sculpture and craft from those within and connected to our church (Community Church Edinburgh). This is the 3rd year we have run the event, and thanks to the hard work of the publicity component of the team, we have had more punters this year than ever before. Hannah and Naomi are hosting a superb cafe, with a variety of home-made buns and cakes unrivaled city-wide!

Sunday 7th is the last day, from 11-5 at The Kings Hall, Newington. Its well worth a visit….

Some shots from the Preview Night

Back to our roots

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Many moons ago, Gemma and i undoubtedly committed a multitude of style sins during our 2-year experiment on Dad’s old farmhouse during our last years at school. Take, for example, the lime green conservatory. Or the ‘Mexican’ theme sitting room – orange brush-effect walls, red velvet curtains adorned with multi-colour beads , blue window and door trims, gold stars suspended from the ceiling, a £10 salvaged red velvet sofa. Hopefully, our tastes have softened somewhat since then, but those were the days that nurtured and shaped our creative longings. Perhaps as a form of penance for our unfettered interior experimentation, we started the big clear out of Tullyroan House last weekend, making room for a new era in its long Dalzell history.

Work began under rather sodden conditions, but relics of salvage sister history soon made for cheering moments. This table was my first furniture project at age 13. The driftwood piece posed as a light for many happy years on the psychedelic wall.

This vintage bistro chair was restored from the brink with copper paint and a blue paint wash.

With creative confidence setting in at 17, i revived this dresser from its previous life as a paint-pot graveyard, making the doors and adding a chicken wire/material frontage. The paint stains were covered up using white paint and a wood-effect tool. I think i was aiming for a bleached wood look.

But no time for nostalgic loitering, the salvage sisters turn to seeking out opportunities anew amidst their car-crash teen craft projects. Enter the complementary skills of the self-proclaimed Burn Brother Ryan! Unfortunately, some things just can’t or won’t be reincarnated… These sofas have seen many a party, but their final destination in the great Tullyroan Sofa Heaven has come, via the pearly gates of the holy bonfire.

Good job we had plenty of help from the next generation in making all these tough decisions, and a steady hand to stay the course on the way up to the bonfire pile.

And for another day, when sources of plant pots, wobbly stools and rusty lamp stands have run dry, we can always return to this pile of salvaged goods and start all over again!

Stitch ‘n’ Bitch

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This week we hosted our 2nd stitch night, following on from the positive feedback from our fledgling venture a few months back. The idea stemmed from our desire to see skill-rich and time-short people find some space to be creative, and share ideas and inspiration. In the process, we drink tea, eat cake, and chat. I am pleased to say the latter often flows into swapping tips, knowledge and local resources.  Top purse-maker lora-twinkle was spreading the word about her stall at the up-coming Morningside Makers Market this weekend.

A few snaps of our make-do-and-mend heaven….

Autumn’s fecundity

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Summer is a bountiful time of year, when gardeners, especially first time ones like me, get to relish their hard earned produce as it arrives wonderfully fresh and personal on their kitchen table. However, autumn’s fecundity is arguably a much more pleasurable reality, as nature quietly conjures up all manner of freely available, edible delights for anyone who might be interested. I have been reclaiming my origins as hunter-gatherer this month (even forgoing tesco for most of it) by foraging for a variety of chutney, pie and jam ingredients. One would expect this to be impossible in the city, but Edinburgh is full of hidden treasures, should you know where to find them. Anything that can’t be found, i have tried to source through work colleagues in the Borders. Thus i am to be found most Saturdays this month tending an enormous bubbling pot of jam or chutney whilst counting my good fortune that my genetic hard wiring appears to include a strong coding for creating food for free.

Number one on the list is blackberries. Widely available on Blackford Hill, i have gathered up around 3 kilos, with a little bit of help from those with a vested interest in the proceeds! These include blackberry wine, apple and berry crumble, and hedgerow jam. Elderberries can be found everywhere, and make a rich wine (that is, if you like tannin, and are prepared to wait at least 3 years).

This is the first year i have tried making rose-hip syrup, which reputedly is good on pancakes and in cocktails. After my first attempt, i am wondering if it is an acquired taste….

Bramley apples can be transformed into a vast array of hearty fodder. This lot ended up in a few apple pies, the aforementioned hedgerow jam, and sage and apple jelly – verdict on the latter awaited whilst it still contemplates setting.

Still to be sourced this season are sloes, crab apples and plums. Any tips, Edinburgh readers?