Birds, bunting and Bazaar

 

Hello, and I hope your weekend's going well.  I've got my feet up on the sofa, a cup of tea to hand and a packet of chocolate buttons, so I'm all fine 'n' dandy.  I finished the little birds I made the other day, but wasn't exactly thrilled with them.  They're okay, but not quite ... they're just 'not quite'.  So I'm giving up on making birdies for now, and these two will be wrapped in tissue paper and lobbed into the Christmas Decorations box.  They'll reappear next December and can hang on the tree, adding extra sparkle (along with the eleventy thousand baubles and shiny glittery things I already have squirrelled away.) 

I've rummaged around on my dedicated crafting space (a.k.a. the dining table) and from under mounds of creative clutter bought out the bunting I began making.  After my mini bunting turned out so well I'd decided to sew a larger version, and have three triangles already completed.  

Two more are underway.  I've used a thrifted tablecloth as a base, though I've also slid pieces of plain red cotton under the semi-sheer red Indian fabric to keep the colour vibrant.  The red/green material's from an upcycled sari, as is the peachy piece.  There's also pink Petersham ribbon and the green's from what was once a skirt or a dress, I forget which.  

The other photos I have to show you are from two scrap packs delivered yesterday.  I'd bought them from a company called Bazaar, who specialise in Indian sourced products.  They've very environmentally aware, and try to reclaim and make available for sale any and all fabric scraps from their clothes or homewares.  I'd been recommended to watch a YouTube channel by Annie Claxton, and she raves about these scrap bags.  Having resisted for as long as I could, I caved in and ordered two.  One in pink, the second in purple.  

The individual packs are inside reused plastic bags, and your whole order's inside a simple bag made from sari material.  

If you quote a code given by Annie, you receive an extra treat or two.  In my case, a length of plaited paper that'd be nice for present wrapping, plus a cluster of metallic beads.  

As well as fabric in the packs, you get odds and ends, like this white bobble trim.  

There were trimmings in the pink pack too.  I really like the little circular piece of white cotton that's got pink yarn couched in a spiral design on it.  Think Ill have a go at making a few of those.  

I definitely liked the pink selection more than the purple, which did feel a wee bit sparse.  But then again I have to consider how much I'd normally pay for a fat quarter of silk or one of these cottons.  There's always an element of chance when ordering a scrap pack as you're dependent on someone else's taste.   I'm not unhappy with what I received as there's plenty of scope to use all the individual pieces.  

As it's upcycled and reclaimed material, some of it's rather shopworn.  This embroidered panel in white is looking more off-white, even (dare I say) a tad grubby.  So I'll soak it in a mild detergent and see if it brightens up.  If not, I might dye it or maybe embroider into it with some bright colours.  

Love the patterned silk in the centre of the above photo, plus the sequinned blue in the bottom right corner.  

The funny thing in the bag looked like an old fashioned hairnet!  But it's some sort of gold coloured yarn almost felted together.  The only use I can think of for this would be in doll making, as it'd make a small doll a bonny head of hair.  I'm imagining a Sixties style bouffant that looks as if it's been laquered by noxious smelling hairspray!  

Some gorgeous fabrics here.  The pink fishy design.  The one with the sequinned trim.  The cranberry and gold patterned material.  Then there's the large panel at the top, which is begging to be made into the side of a bag.  

Well, I hope you enjoyed that round-up of my spending spree.  My bank balance won't thank me for it, but I enjoyed sorting through what goodies I'd been sent.  And if you want to discover the enthusiastic and very creative Annie Claxton, she's found via this link.  Enjoy what's left of your weekend, and let's see what delights a new week will bring.  Bye!