WOOL BRAIDED RUG
My first braided rug turned out nicely. I purchased all the wool at my favorite thrift store: jackets, slacks, coats, skirts and a few pieces of misc fabric. I was delighted to find 7 yards of a lovely tan (and cheap) and it is what I based one whole braid on. The other 2 braids I grouped various colors together and then sewed them into long strips. I love the plaids!
Then the fun began! I folded the strips, then braided them together using a blunt needle with heavy duty thread, double stranded.
After that, I used the same thread and tightly hand sewed each row to make a more secured rug.
Then, voila, I made a rug! What surprised me was how soft it is to stand on. It took me about 6 weeks to make and here's the best part, I can enjoy it for many years!
I bought some anti skid to put it under it to make it more secure. The rug measures 5 1/2' x 4'. Now its time to start another one.
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WILLOW BASKET
Sometimes when working with natural supplies, as it dries, it has a tendency to occasionally warp out of shape. That's what happened to this small egg basket. I gathered grapevine and make several handles at one time and let them dry. The willow I work while it is green, as it needs to be pliable. Everything was going well, then oops, after it dried it would not sit up straight, so I make a kick stand for it. Perfect!
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I've started my holiday baking. My goal this year to make some of the treats my mother and grandmother made for us at Christmas time. Oh my! First I forgot to buy all the ingredients for the fudge, so I started on the Divinity. Holy Moly! It doesn't quite look right, humm. Well then I moved on to the popcorn balls. First batch I burned the syrup coating (not sure if I had the burner up too high or that I was working on a puzzle and NOT paying attention). Batch #2 turn out right (I never took my eyes off of it!). Tomorrow I will make the fudge and the sugar coated dates stuffed with walnuts (if I remember to by everything!). Keep your fingers crossed, cooking is sometimes an adventure for me.
Thanks for visiting,
Cinder
I need to visit that thrift store next time I head your way. The rug is beautiful. How ingenious to make a kick stand
ReplyDeletefor that cute basket. My grandmother made the best divinity, I have tried to make it many times. It never seems to come out right, it's either too runny or too dry. It's just never as good as hers! I wish you and yours a very Merry
Christmas!!
So many stitches in your soft braided rug...but, well worth it all, for it turned out beautifully! You were probably a bicycle rider, who with one quick little flick of the foot had the kick stand down, and you were off... Been there and done it myself, many times. I wouldn't have even noticed the basket's "kick stand" for I was quite busy admiring the little basket.. ♥♥♥ love baskets made from what's outside the back door (and front too!) Merry Christmas to you, and good luck with the cooking (my least favorite thing about the holidays).
ReplyDeleteI really like your rug! My goodness! What a lot of work you put into it!
ReplyDeleteFudge used to be a candy I made for the girls, but now that it's just the two of us, and we don't need a lot of sugar, I doubt that I could make it; however it does sound tempting!
Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I'm glad you're blogging :)