Tuesday 26 April 2016

Glimpses of my Craft Space

Hello friends,

Here are some vignettes from my crafting space. I'm working on a blogpost of the whole craft space, but I thought it would be nice to show you some glimpses now.

I love to set up special displays of things I've collected or made. Below is a dressmaker's dummy pincushion which I painted and adorned. The top and base are antique white, the body is beige. I used a couple of doilies, some jewellery and hatpins to decorate it. Beside it is a jar of neutral coloured yarns with some buttons and vintage photos.

Pincushion by http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/glimpses-of-my-craft-space.html


A close up peek of the pincushion...


Pincushion by http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/glimpses-of-my-craft-space.html


Inside my wooden pigeon holes I keep some favourite books and lace, along with other small treasures...

Lace and book by http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/glimpses-of-my-craft-space.html


My Dad gave me some money for a significant birthday, so I bought this metal tiered basket for laces and pretties so that I would have a special keepsake from him that I love to last for years ahead.

Lace by http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/glimpses-of-my-craft-space.html

I am linking up to  Simply Neutrals # 22 over at Wen's beautiful blog AppleApricot





Tuesday 12 April 2016

A Silverware Tutorial - Simply Neutrals #21

Hello friends, and welcome new visitors. Today I'm going to show you what I've been doing with my silverware collection. For years I've eyed off pieces of out-of-fshion silverware in op shops and garage sales, and collected a few at the right price. I had an idea in mind to find some that would go together in tiers, with the right shape or patterns that would harmonise, even though they are odd pieces.

I thought I'd have a go at a tutorial, even though the photos I took using my tablet were not the best quality. I had to rush before the 'goop' went off.

Tutorial on tiered silverware on http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/simply-neutrals-21.html
You'll need:
Plastibond, about a 1.7kg tin
Old plastic container to mix it in - take-away food containers are great.
1-2 Paddlepop sticks to mix with
An old spoon to spoon the 'goop'
Newspaper to cover your work area
An assortment of metal candle sticks, goblets, and trays , plates and bowls of various shapes and sizes.

Tutorial on tiered silverware on http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/simply-neutrals-21.html

Step 1

Assemble your collection of silverware and work out which ones might go together. I found tiers of two or three work best, getting smaller as you go upwards. Audition various combinations until you are happy.

Tutorial on tiered silverware on http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/simply-neutrals-21.html

Step 2

Lay out newspaper to protect your workspace. 

Mix up some plastibond ( the goop) using a paddlepop stick or old spoon in a plastic container to be thrown out at the end. Follow the directions for proportions. Work quickly once it is mixed as it goes off and hardens after some minutes. Mix up small batches rather than one huge batch.

Tutorial on tiered silverware on http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/simply-neutrals-21.html

Fill any hollow goblets or candlestick bases to give a greater glue surface to stick to the next item. Once full of goop, make it as flat as possible using the paddlepop stick.

For large flat trays it is easier to work with them face down while you use the goop to glue the next tier in place. Clean up carefully while it's still wet or you will have a difficult sanding job ahead of you! Check that it's centred and flat before leaving it to harden while you work on another layer.

Once hardened, test for adhesion. Add another layer of goop if it comes apart, cleaning any spilt goop carefully before it hardens.


Tutorial on tiered silverware on http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/simply-neutrals-21.html


Step 3

Use the goop to glue the layers together, checking positioning until you are happy, then leave it to harden. I left the filled goblets overnight to harden. 


Tutorial on tiered silverware on http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/simply-neutrals-21.html

Tutorial on tiered silverware on http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/simply-neutrals-21.html

 Step 4

Find special things to display in your new tiers. Have fun! Treat them gently, nothing too heavy, and carry them at the bottom, supporting layers if you can. Here's one with doilies, just a single square tray on a candlestick:


Tutorial on tiered silverware on http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/simply-neutrals-21.html

Here's a three-tiered tray,plate and bowl set I filled with buttons, ornaments, old jewellery and sewing notions:


Tutorial on tiered silverware on http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/simply-neutrals-21.html


This one is just a goblet in a bowl:

Tutorial on tiered silverware on http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/simply-neutrals-21.html

If you have any questions, leave a comment and I'll do my best to help you. Have fun creating :)


Life has been spinning for me, and the weeks are flying by.
Our folk band, Ballyhooley, has been away performing in Australia's National Folk Festival in Canberra. We did three completely different 40 minute concerts over Easter:


Ballyhooley at NFF 2016 on http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/simply-neutrals-21.html


I designed this banner for each side of the stage. It's my favourite local beach (McKenzies Beach). I rose early one morning to take photos before anyone else came to swim.

Ballyhooley banner by http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/simply-neutrals-21.html



I'm linking up to Wen's Simply Neutrals Party #21. You can go to AppleApricot to see all the gorgeous neutral beauty on display through her linky party.