Re Purpose and Dyeing Stuff!

I have been busy! What news right? Real winter is settling-in here in Melbourne. Winter is late this year. I felt that it might never come. Cold weather is good to snuggle in and work on something soft and woolly. I have done a lot of things lately, but today I'm only going to show you my latest project made from a woollen baby blanket. 

I have been busy dyeing weird and wonderful stuff. When I spotted a brand new woollen baby blanket at my local op-shop for only $8.25 I had to have it! I know that wool dyes like a dream!

For dyeing I cut the blanket into sections small enough to roll in bundles. I stuffed eucalyptus leaves inside each piece. Rolled and steamed. I love and treasure this blanket, and now I can share what I made from it with my stitching friends to love and use for years to come. 

Cut and ready to dye.

Wonderful result with rust objects
to add extra dimension.

Trimmed to size and added blanket stitches.
Very simple!

Added wool felt dyed previously on the inside.
I've left a small opening to keep thread.

Feeling very pleased with myself after the fourth roll. I made the cords using dyed threads. The buttons are vintage ones from my button tins. I posted them up today on my Instagram feed and I was asked if they are for sale! I will continue making them until I use up all of the blanket. I love the mass production process with whatever I'm making. It's the quilter in me coming out! 

Until next time

Nat

London & Wales

Continue from the last blog post. We have left the UK and are now in Greece. Here are the photos from our visit to the UK. We spent 2 weeks in London staying at my sister's apartment in Chelsea. We didn't spent the whole two weeks just in London. We took 5 days of to West Wales. A mini holiday from a big holiday, if you get what I meant! Having visited and lived in London on many occasions we are familiar with the city. We used London's public transports both buses and underground. 

We visited our favourites places, galleries and museums and shops we like as well. A visit to Liberty House in Regent St. is a must! Also went to the Cloth House the shop I found on Instagram and met both Jay and Niki the owners of the shop. 

Dyeing was also part of London's visit. I ran into a Eucalyptus tree, surprise surprise! It was my lucky day that a large branch was on the ground. I gathered some and wrapped with the silk I took with me. You can see the results from photos below: 

I continue with my stitching and started another section in London and have completed it as well. Scroll down to the second part of this blog to read about West Wales: 

Red telephone booths are the icons of London. Today some
of them provide free WIFI for emergency use.

A Chelsea Pensioner Bench, very famous! 

Celtic design on a side walk. Only about 8x8". It's cute!

Faces of London found their way into my journal page

The Liberty House, London

Cloth House with  warm greeting from Jay

Gorgeous fabric collection at Cloth House

A base of stitching piece

Completed the stitching

Eucalyptus tree found in London

Bundled, steamed and results!

In West Wales we booked ourselves into Airbnb. A charming stone farmhouse cottage. Being low season we got the whole cottage for ourselves. We took daily excursions and visited small towns and villages along the west coast of Wales. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Wales.  

Op-shop browsing awarded me with this beautiful
remnant of hand embroidered pieces. 

Stone farmhouse cottage

A typical house in Wales

Mwnt Church on Mwnt Beach

Typical Wales scenery 

A rainbow greeted us that day

A collage of Wales in my journal

A town scene completely hand knitted by member
of National Wool  Museum of West Wales

Hexies quilt using wool fabric

Woollen hand knitted tights at National
Wool Museum of West Wales

The last few days in London I met up with a few friends from Abu Dhabi days. It was lovely to get a chance to meet them again. I went to V&A Museum with Yasmin and saw Indian Fabric Exhibition. We really enjoyed it. Another day I went with Debbie to Harrods for high tea! Thanks ladies, you totally spoiled me, but I loved it!

We are now in Greece and having such a great time here with our cousins.  Will share the photos of Greece with you on my next post.

Until next time
Nat