Talents and treasures: readers share easy-to-make and interesting craft ideas.Since this issue is all about you, our readers, I think it is the perfect time to share some great "Easy Does It' ideas that you have suggested. Many readers have shared interesting ways to make tassels, so when Charla Walker of Clinton requested some easy and fun tassel ideas, I thought of the cat tassel made from a salt shaker that Regina Gailani, owner of Art and Soul in Vicksburg, sent me. I immediately set out for local antique shops searching for vintage shakers to try my hand at this easy-to-make accessory. I belong to a very special group of girlfriends known as "Lunch Bunch." We enjoy meeting for lunch once a month, slowing down a bit, and sharing with each other. For Christmas we exchange small gifts. One Christmas, Gale made each of us personalized gift tags; Linda brought us wonderful pearl bracelets that she put together while visiting her daughter in China; and another friend named Linda shared her famous homemade jelly with a tiny antique silver strawberry fork artistically attached to the top of the jar. But one of the most unusual gifts was given by Patty Mitchell. She handed each of us a miniature Victorian chair, with intricate scrolls and curls, handcrafted hand·craft n. Variant of handicraft. tr.v. hand·craft·ed, hand·craft·ing, hand·crafts To fashion or make by hand. hand·craft from an empty aerosol can by her 88-year-old father-in-law, Benjamin "Mitch" Mitchell of Prentiss-a retired sheet metal mechanic who has been making his little chairs for about 15 years. After recent heart surgery, his craft has been a meaningful activity during his recovery, and he has received great joy in sharing little chairs with his doctors, nurses, and caregivers. Each chair is a work of art that takes about eight hours to complete. We always love to hear from you so if you have an easy idea to share, let us know. I hope you have fun with these creative projects. TO MAKE SALT AND PEPPER
Salt and pepper shakers Salt and pepper shakers are condiment holders used in Western culture that are designed to allow food eaters to distribute edible salt and ground pepper.[1] This is a conjoined term for salt shaker and pepper shaker. (vintage, antique or new) that have corks or stoppers stoppers see stopper pad. in the bottom Various ribbons, trims, and fringe Tiny gold cord Fabric glue Make a loop from the gold cord running through the holes on the top of the shaker. Remove the cork or stopper from the bottom of the shaker. Make a tassel from ribbons that have been cut or looped to the desired length and thickness. Tie a knot in the very center of the length of ribbons or use fringe pieces and insert the center into the existing opening at the bottom of the shaker. Add glue to secure the placement. Place the tassel on a key in the lock of a chest or armoire or hang it from a favorite lamp. I made these keepsake pillows from old family linens by hand-stitching colorful vintage napkins and then accenting them with an embroidered em·broi·der v. em·broi·dered, em·broi·der·ing, em·broi·ders v.tr. 1. To ornament with needlework: embroider a pillow cover. 2. bread basket bread basket an agricultural area, such as the U.S. Midwest, that provides large amounts of food to other areas. [Am. Hist.: Misc.] See : Farming liner, a crocheted collar, and an antique white work batiste ba·tiste n. A fine, plain-woven fabric made from various fibers and used especially for clothing. [French, from Old French, perhaps after Baptiste of Cambrai, 13th-century textile maker. handkerchief that belonged to her grandmother. I not only added a fresh cottage look to my decor, but I also get to enjoy seeing family treasures everyday.--Jan Payne Winston of Shawnee, Kansas Shawnee is a rapidly growing city located in northwest Johnson County, Kansas, United States and is a western suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. The population was 47,996 at the 2000 census. , formerly of Jackson TO MAKE A VICTORIAN CHAIR YOU WILL NEED: Empty aerosol can with an indented in·dent 1 v. in·dent·ed, in·dent·ing, in·dents v.tr. 1. To set (the first line of a paragraph, for example) in from the margin. 2. a. bottom Permanent marker A permanent marker is a type of marker pen that is used to create permanent writing on an object. Generally the liquid is water resistant, contains the toxic chemical xylene or toluene, and is capable of writing on a variety of surfaces from paper to metal to stone. Tin snips Needle nose pliers pliers, n a tool of pincer design with jaws of varying shapes; used for holding, bending, stretching, contouring, and cutting. pliers, contouring, n Paint of your choice Puncture the aerosol can to release the air. Cut off the top of the can with a knife and straighten the edges. Wash the can with soap and water. Measure and mark with the marker 4 1/2 -inch long lines, 1/8-inch apart from the bottom of the can, making 41 strips plus a few extra to be used for clips. With tin snips, cut strips to the bottom of the can. The seam will be at the front of the chair and remove the strips over 41 to make square clips. Bend down the strips to provide for legs, arms and the back of chair. Use 4 strips bent down for each leg and 5 strips bent up for each arm. Use 15 strips bent up for the back of the chair. With metal clips (made from the 1/8-inch remainder strips), clamp together 4 strips for each leg and begin curling the outside strips with needle nose pliers. Complete all 4 legs. For the back, clamp 6 strips together, 3 strips together, and 6 strips together. Curl strips with pliers to make a design on the chair back. Attach the 5 strips for each arm. Steady and shape chair. TO MAKE HEIRLOOM PILLOWS YOU WILL NEED: Vintage napkins, linens, doilies, or handkerchiefs Needle and thread Scissors scissors Cutting instrument or tool consisting of a pair of opposed metal blades that meet and cut when the handles at their ends are brought together. Modern scissors are of two types: the more usual pivoted blades have a rivet or screw connection between the cutting ends Sew vintage linens to existing pillows or use napkins to create your own. Let the vintage linen item dictate the size and shape of the pillow. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG CAMPBELL |
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