With This Ring - Upcycled Tutorial Featured in Hazed Magazine

This sweet little ring bearer’s cushion can be made as a keepsake, by using treasured items from the bride and groom. Perhaps a favourite tie the groom was given by his grandfather, or a vintage button from the bride’s button stash handed down from her granny. Or even clothes from the couple’s wardrobe that are no longer worn. All can be repurposed and easily made into a cushion for wedding rings. You can also look for inspiration in local op shops – for colours or patterns that compliment the wedding. If the wedding party is getting outfits made you could ask for any leftover fabric/embellishments and construct a cushion that will coordinate perfectly. You are only limited by the theme of the wedding and your imagination.

If you are a beginner to the world of sewing, then stick to a simple square or circle cushion, with a button stitched on in the centre, and ribbon to attach the rings. You can use the instructions below, without adding the bunting.


Bunting Cushion
Skill level: heading towards intermediate level
Materials:
Sewing machine and matching threads
Sewing scissors
Fabric
Felt scraps
Ric-rac or narrow bias binding
Sewing needle
Sewing pins
Tailors chalk or a light pencil
Iron and ironing board
Circle template (eg a dinner plate or bowl)
Piece of card (eg cereal box or shoe box weight)

What to do:

Place your template on your fabric and draw 2 circles. Cut them out.

Now draw a triangle template on your card the size you want the bunting flags.

Place the template on the felt scraps, draw around and cut out, until you have enough flags.

Arrange the flags on the top circle into a curve. Make sure the bunting starts and finishes at least 1.5cm away from the edge of the circle, so you do not catch it when you sew the circles together.

Carefully pin the flags down and slowly sew along the top edge, stopping after each one to make sure the next one is in place.

Now sew your bias binding or ric rac over the top of the stitching line (don’t use ribbon as it doesn’t curve well).

Before attaching the top and bottom circles together, you can pin the buntings up and away from the stitching line if you are worried about catching them when you sew the seam.

Place the top and bottom circles together with the right sides facing each other. Sew with a straight stitch around the circle, 1cm from the edge. Remember to leave a 5 – 7cm opening to allow for stuffing.

Carefully clip around the circle every 1cm or so, to ensure you get a nicely curved circle.

Now stitch around the circle again, just inside the first straight stitch you did. This is to reinforce the seam so it doesn’t pull away at the clipped points. You can now trim the seam allowance from 1cm down to 5mm. If you want you can neaten the circle edges together with a zig zag stitch.

Image

Time to turn the cushion by pulling it through the stuffing hole. Once it’s out the right way give it a gentle press with the iron. If the circle is slightly straight in places you can turn it inside out and re-clip it, till the seam has an even curve.

Now stuff the cushion. I used wool filling from an old cot mattress (I washed it first), but you can also use Dacron (the filling used in pillows). Once you have the fullness you want, close up the opening. Fold the seam allowance under, and use a small hand stitch with needle and thread. Now work the stuffing around to fill out the cushion evenly.

Lastly you can stitch on a ribbon, twine or embroidery thread to attach the rings. Make sure this is securely fastened to the cushion with needle and thread, as you do not want the rings to come off.

Now the page boy is all set with a beautifully upcycled cushion, that compliments the wedding and can become a treasured keepsake of a special day. Here are some more examples that have been made from a mix of vintage linen and fabrics, doilies, upcycled clothing, and new fabric

Cushy Little Number - Upcycled Tutorial featured in Hazed Magazine

Skill level: Beginner

The warmer months are upon us, and what better time than to freshen up your décor? Instead of opting for mass produced goods, why not try something a little different – and kinder to the planet? Start by clearing out your wardrobe, or take a trip to your local op-shop, and find some inspiration in the many interesting garments that are waiting to be transformed.

For this DIY cushion I have used a retro 60’s dress and a large shirt. As long as one garment has buttons (to make your cushion cover removable), and the fabric is suitable for cushions (ie not fine silk), you are only limited by your imagination. I usually take the cushion inner with me when I shop, to make sure the shirt and the other garment have enough fabric to cover the cushion.

So what you will need to complete this project is:

Your chosen garments (one being a large shirt with buttons)*
A sewing machine (or needle and thread if you are very patient!)
Sewing pins
Sewing scissors
Taylors Chalk or a light pencil
An iron and ironing board (or towel to iron on)
A tape measure Paper or light card for a template
*The best material is generally cotton or poly/cotton and medium to heavy weight. Hold the garment up to the light - if you can see your hand through the fabric it won’t be durable enough for cushions. Remember to make sure your shirt is a large size or bigger, as the smaller sizes don’t have enough fabric for a cushion.

Instructions:
1 Measure your cushion inner from seam to seam. Add 1cm onto each seam for seam allowance.

2 Draw a template of your cushion, remembering to add 1 cm all the way around the template for seam allowances.

3 Now place your template onto your shirt and trace around it. Make sure you have the garment straight and the template on straight. When placing the template onto the shirt, make sure the button and button stand are straight and running down the middle of the template. It can help to mark the half-way point on your template, and line it up with the buttons. Also make sure you do not have your template edges going over the top of a button. The cushion seams need to be in between the buttons. This will be your back piece.

4 Take your cut out back piece, and place it down with right sides together, on top of your other garment. Pin it to the other garment, making sure the fabric is straight. Now cut around the back piece.

5 Keeping the pins in place, sew the back piece and the front piece together, remembering your seam allowance is 1 cm. When you get to the corners, try to sew a curve, so you do not have very pointy corners sticking out when the cushion is stuffed. You can now either overlock or zig-zag the raw edges of the cushion to stop the fabric fraying.

6 Now carefully undo the buttons on your back piece and turn the fabric in the right way. Press all your seams with the iron.

7 Carefully insert your cushion inner into your cushion cover. Spend some time moving the inner around so it has filled the corners and isn’t lumpy.

8 After admiring your creation, find a sunny spot with a comfy chair, insert your gorgeous upcycled pillow and yourself with something chilled to drink...sit back and soak up summer

Mindful Craft

A light bulb moment recently got me mulling over the concept of mindful crafting. So as I reviewed my list of 14 Craft Projects for 2014, it struck me that perhaps this was not quite the best way to go about it. Because I have discovered the art of mindfulness. Being present. Not past wallowing or future worrying, but present existing. Sounded easy enough, but putting it into practice has been akin to breaking a lifelong habit. However, very slowly it is permeating my world. Enjoy the moment. It sounds so glib. Like one of those shallow quotes floating around the twittisphere, or taking up space on Facebook. So much of my creative time has been about the finish line - out of necessity when I ran my own business and studied fashion design. So how to get back to enjoying creativity for what it is. Way back when I was a child, something attracted me to creating and craft. Was it the steady, soothing sound of mum’s Elna sewing our clothes, or the Agee jar filled with 3 generations of buttons to sort and play with on rainy days? Maybe it was the smell of the local fabric shop, and the tactile pleasures of its velvet, silks and satins? Or the visual symphony of prints, patterns and colours splashed over fabrics? It’s about getting back to the simple pleasures of creating. And reconnecting with living in the present moment of creativity. So maybe quantity is not so important as quality. My creative time has gone from a run to more of an amble. The finish line can wait. I am going to enjoy the scenery along the way. And stop to smell the roses – or in my case sort the buttons in the Agee jar!*

*this column is featured in the latest issue of Hazed Magazine - here is the facebook page to find out where Hazed is stocked... https://www.facebook.com/thehazedcollective?fref=ts The above pics are part of my "Cushy Little Number" tutorial which i had so much fun putting together (with my very talented Stylist and friend Dawn Gatenby)

Hazed Magazine

have you checked out the treasure hunt that has just started over at Hazel loves design? Its pretty awesome - up to $1500 worth of handmade loveliness, including one of my custom designed ring bearer cushions, for your big day (or someone you know who is getting married)

My up cycled ring bearers cushion featuring beautiful rings
by Julia @ Relique

a photoshoot at my mum's gorgeous villa

So, if you want to take part, follow this link to Hazel Loves Design, and get hunting!

http://www.hazellovesdesign.com/2014/05/were-going-on-treasure-hunt.html

:) J

ps - my tutorial will be featured on the blog too, if you are interested in making one of these lovely cushions!

Kia Ora, Bula Vanaka, Talofa! Cafe 53 is opening this week

I am rather excited.  I work 20 hrs a wk for a youth trust in Aranui.  After 6yrs, they have finally got their community cafe off the ground.  This week it is open.  I thought it might be nice to add a splash of colour to the brand new leather couches..Cushions. From a mix of new fabric and some upcycled mens shirts...

lots of colour with an aotearoa/pasifika feel

man's shirt to cushion - and no need for a zip! yipeee!!!

The green cushion has a white shirt backing complete with pocket!

So there you have it - so easy and quick - and no need to insert a fiddley zip - just use the buttons on the front as the opening.  So why not freshen up your decor with a burst of summery fun - find some XL sized shirts and get sewing! :) 

My little princess is turning 7

Finding this cushion for 50c, in the Dogwatch Opportunity  shop, I almost didn't buy it.  Stained and dated, it looked quite miserable amongst its discarded buddies.   But something made me go back for a second look.  It was duly paid for and stashed away for a year or so in my 'pile of potential projects' (popp's).

 thrifted frilly pillow about to get a makeover

With Gracie's 7th birthday approaching, I re-discovered it, whilst rifling through my popp's.  Miss nearly 7 had spotted the tinkerbell fabric on one of our fabric shop excursions....Me being partial to fairies, let her have it.  I then went back and matched it with some gorgeously soft chenille minky spot fabric (which i have to admit, i have spent quite some time stroking!)  Gracie also finds soft fabric irresistible  and when she first started talking, would call anything soft 'duggy'.  Which i think was her version of 'cuddly'. After washing, removing the frill, tracing the shape and sewing it up, Gracie now has a cute wee pillow with 'duggy' backing.

 She proudly took it to show and tell at school  (I think that discarded cushion would be the envy of its opshop buddies now!)
On tucking her in after a fun-filled day, I found she was sleeping on her new heart cushion - her cheek snuggled into her 'duggy' fabric. :)
So it was time to whip up her birthday cake - carrot cake with pink cream cheese icing and a rainbow, was my design brief, so this is what I came up with:

Gracie's Birthday cake

I think I fufilled the design brief ok!  Lucky Gracie is having a family party and a school friends party this year - to make up for her meant to be special 5th birthday, which was rudely interrupted by earthquakes.  So I will have 2 opportunities to play with rainbow designed cakes...Will post up my second attempt too.  :)

sorting the sewing room

so the sorting of the sewing room has begun.  Its rather slow and arduous - the first to find the recycling bin was a whole lot of textile notes.  I don't fancy textile technology overly.  Next came lots of PAD and Illustrator notes - my least favourite subjects at Fashion School.  After filing all the design and patternmaking notes, i started on the fabric.

And, not surprisingly, inspiration began seeping out of the fabrics.  Aprons were being formed in my design mind, and here is a pic of one of them underway  (I took the photo on a strategic angle to avoid the crazy mess that still inhabits most of my sewing room). The frill at the bottom is from a frilled pillow slip - I might just put some along the top of the bib, for a bit of extra frilly shabby chic!

Next on the sort pile are my doileys - this is where it gets a bit scary - I have MASSES of them - too scared to count them - might have to admit i have an addiction!  So out of that sorting came a cushion cover, to cover my rather tired cushions and freshen up the colour scheme in our lounge.  I used a dyed pillow slip, a dyed napkin and a doiley for this one.  Loving the colourway!  The back is envelope style to avoid a zipper, and has some lovely machine embriodery on it, with a scalloped edge...

so the sorting has commenced.  I am excited to see what else comes out of it :) J