Craft, or “quaft” as it’s known in our house (you can read why here), has always been an integral part of my life.
It really is my therapy and over the years, I’ve spent some serious dollars on buying supplies. These days I’ve learnt to find joy in making things from rescued materials, which has the double bonus of costing very little, and more importantly, keeping valuable resources out of landfill. It’s mentally soothing, creatively satisfying, sustainable and frugal, all at the same time.
Since retiring last year, I’ve deep dived into quaft big time. I try to make or mend something every day, and seeing my handiwork, even if it’s just the tiniest darn, has been incredibly satisfying. I have several projects on the go at the moment which I’ll show you over time (my slow stitch journal needs its own post), but let me share just a few of them with you today.
Remember the little $3 secondhand book I picked up at the end of last year?
I not a huge cocktail aficionado, but the Kat Macleod illustrations in this book were delightful, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed turning them into quirky gift tags…
I framed three of the pages and gave one each to my girlfriends Anita and Jenny. The frames were all sourced secondhand from the Salvos warehouse in Rockdale…
My obsession with old sheeting continues, and I’m always scouring opshops looking for a bargain.
I picked up a locally made cotton Actil sheet in near perfect condition and used it to make a pair of sleep shorts for Small Man. He put them on and wore them for two days straight, so I knew I was on a winner! Luckily the vintage flat sheet was queen sized, so I was able to whip up another four pairs for him, and then turn the offcuts into napkins. It was a pretty good result for my $6 investment, but more importantly, it gave all those precious resources a second life. And I find heavy cotton sheeting very addictive to sew with…
The following week I found a beautifully thick Sheridan doona cover and matching pillow cases at the Salvos for $12. But it was seriously stinky – we suspect it had been stored while damp. Instead of throwing it away, the Salvos staff were happy to let me have it at a reduced price of $7. I soaked it in Napisan for four hours then gave it a 60°C wash. It came up beautifully clean and odour-free.
I’ve learnt over the past few years not to give up on beautiful textiles because of stains or smells. Most of the time (definitely not always), the resources can be rescued and repurposed. This morning I turned the pillow cases into four tea towels…
I’m also a bit obsessed these days with vintage fine needlework – this piece of Chinese silk languished in my stash for years until my clever friend Mark suggested a way to use it. The delicate hand embroidered design lay in the middle of the strip, but Mark suggested carefully cutting it in half, sewing the opposite ends together, and creating a pashmina with border detail…
It worked a treat! Now I just need a place to wear it…
Finally, I made a paper dragon for Chinese New Year! I’ve wanted to make one for years, but I could never figure out how to do it. Then last month I came across rolls of industrial adhesive reflective tape going for a song at Reverse Garbage. On the same visit, I also found red corrugated cardboard and assorted cutout circles, and a project was born…
I cut the base from cardboard, then covered half the discs with reflective tape…
Big Boy and Monkey Girl were roped into helping over dinner. They made the talons, mane and tail, I hot glued all the discs in place…et voila! We’ve named him Falkor after the luck dragon in The Neverending Story…
Here’s what he looks like photographed with a flash…
Pete took a low light evening pic…
. . . . .
So that’s what I’ve been up to lately! Plus lots and lots of mending, but I’ll spare you more pics of my darned tea towels and socks.
Can I segue for just a moment and share my thoughts about frugal crafting? Retirement, coupled with a growing awareness of the environmental impact of overconsumption, has meant that I buy all my craft supplies these days from charities and NFP corporations. My favourite stores here in Sydney are The Sewing Baskets, Reverse Garbage, The Bower and the Salvos warehouses.
It has led to a different sort of making – one which is reactive rather than proactive. I don’t head out with a long list of materials I need to buy for a project; instead I search for resources which can be repurposed or given a second life. In this way, my spending no longer puts pressure on new resources – cotton, for example, is one of the most environmentally harmful fibres to grow, but I absolutely love it, so by only buying secondhand, I’m able to use it guilt-free.
I’ve learnt to look past the original use of an item and see its future potential – torn jeans can be remade into aprons, vintage sheets become beeswax wraps and napkins and shorts, a book on cocktails is turned into gift tags. Old linen shirts offer beautiful fabric for masks, patches and drawstring bags, even if they’re holey and therefore unwearable.
Now that I’m no longer earning a monthly salary, it’s important that my “frivolous” expenditure is carefully managed. Sustainable quafting is a joyous and easily affordable pastime. Furthermore, by only buying from charitable or community organisations, the few dollars that I do spend help benefit others. It’s a win all around!
Are you a maker too? If so, I’d love to know about your craft hobbies or latest project! 💚
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
You have so many interesting projects! The sleep shorts look comfy. I love the dragon you made. Hopefully I will have more time for crafting soon.
Thank you! I hope you have more time soon too! x
As usual Celia, you inspire me. For many years I’ve wanted to learn how to sew, talented daughter has a sewing machine and is self taught, I think I may get some professional lessons. That’s how much you inspire me! To get off my butt and actually do. I do the occasional tapestry, hand sew hems and of course crochet dishcloths. Many, many years ago I loved knitting, I might just hit the second hand stores for wool and start knitting again.
If you have a spinning and weaving group near you they have an excess of yarn and needles (ask me how I know) often for free or a small donation) and a wealth of knowledge to help you on your way. Also CWA groups offer the same. I always think they are a great place to visit and try it out even if you don’t join or just come a few times. Community through crafting is a wonderful thing 😙
Cath, you’re always so kind, thank you! The Newington Sewing Basket has heaps of rescued wool for sale – worth a visit if you get the chance!
Inspiring! Love the dragon. I have enough craft supplies, paints and paper to keep me sane for quite a while. Working on paper toys for the next newsletter. Hugs, Maz
I don’t often do papercraft but whenever I do, I think of you! :)xx
Oh and I should also mention how much I love your Chinese dragon! I also enjoy seeing your daily slow stitch journal xo
I love reading the inventive way you repurpose and recycle. I’m a quilter and I am in the process of hand quilting vintage quilt tops. The backing of the quilt is somewhat expensive, but I will piece the next back out of scraps. You are truly an inspiration. Thank you for the ideas.
Thank you! Can I suggest vintage sheeting as a quilt backing? I’m not a quilter but I always think it would be a perfect use for rescued sheeting! 😉
I will certainly try that on the next quilt top. Thanks for the idea.
So important to have a creative outlet!
It honestly keeps me sane! :)
Love it all. I love going to Reverse Garbage, and like you, don’t usually have a project in mind. I know Spotlight aren’t NFP but I sometimes go “remnant bin diving” and have found some wonderful fabric for all sorts of home projects. Your ideas are always inspiring.
Maree, I used to be the queen of remnant bin diving! :) Next time you’re at RG, visit the fabric table in the bag area – sold by the bagful – and I’ve picked up some amazing bargains there. Also, if you’re a sewer, do check out the Sewing Baskets, you’ll be amazed at what you’ll find there. Lots of dress and quilting fabrics at all three stores!
You are “sew” clever Celia.
I’ve recently up-cycled some of my shirts that were in the back of my wardrobe. Boring old white shirts have been embellished with gorgeous floral trim on collars, pockets and flowing down the garment. Others have been sprayed with fabric paint over stencils and crepe de-chine remastered into a textured trim for the collar.
I even sliced one black and white striped shirt and one white shirt right down the middle, with exception of the collar, and joined the opposite sides together. Really punchy effect and then cut the long sleeves to mid length and added black and white harlequin check soft frill to the shortened sleeves. Both shirts were a little tight to begin with and managed to add a long triangular insert (black and white harlequin) into the back middle seam.
I loved every second of recreating, and even more being able to wear an original piece of art.
Julianne, that all sounds AMAZING!! Isn’t it fabulous when we can make new things from existing clothes that we’re no longer wearing – it’s a no-lose situation and we can experiment without worrying about wasting serious $$$ on new fabric!
Falkor is SO cool! He is in a good home. You are the inspiration for all of us.
Hugs.
Thanks lovely! x
Your posts, and other similar, are having an effect on me who has never crafted in her life. Upcycled maybe but not craft. My cotton dishcloth knitting is coming along which led to a friend who was space clearing to give me her knitting stash, of which I’ve kept some needles, balls of cotton and a couple of wool balls I liked the colour of, plus she gave me a bag of fabric offcuts, a few bits and pieces of which I’ve kept for gift and beeswax wraps, and she asked me if I wanted her macrame materials… which inspired by your efforts I accepted. What I don’t use of any of it I’ll give to a friend who gives what she doesn’t use to the her local across the road CWA who either use it or fundraise by cheaply selling it on to crafters and makers…
Dale, it’s so rewarding to make something with our hands, but even more so to be able to go it sustainably and frugally! I’ve found that once you let folks know you’re keen to try and make things, the resources start flowing in – there’s some kind of karma there, for sure. :)
A couple of years ago, I joined the local chapter of Days for Girls, which makes reusable fabric sanitary kits for girls in third world countries. The kits enable girls and young women to attend school and work every day of the month, and are life-changing in helping to complete education, earn a living and destigmatise having a period. When I joined, I was horrified to see how much perfectly good fabric was being wasted. I say perfectly good, but that’s because I’m a quilter. The fabric was economically cut out, but there was always wastage around the edges. The fabric had to be bought with funds or donated, and I hated the idea of money and resources being wasted. I am now the chapter’s official scrap-saver. I have made a hand-stitched hexie lap quilt, a hexie table runner and a hexie cushion cover, all of which are being raffled next weekend to raise money for more fabric and resources. The next quilt is already under way.
Sometimes, all it takes is a different pair of eyes to turn rubbish into resource.
True circular production, Kate! Wonderful story and what a difference you’re making on all counts! x
I believe the SA Chapter of Days for Girls uses the scraps of flannelette for cot quilts; they used to but they are some distance from me so I don’t go there much. I have sourced a lot of fabric for them from op shops – last week I found two peices of new 2.5m x 133cm flannelette in a perfect (pink floral) print for $6 a peice, and another $6 bought 5m of black -with-pink-dots quilting fabric. I’m not much of a seamstress- something I have tried to explain to ’em! so if I’m sewing at all I just do matched strips for the neatfingered members to finish into liners- it actually means I donate more fabric so I think it works out. But I like good thread and go through an astonishing amount, and its often possible to buy a partly used spool of Guttermans for $1 at an opshop.
Hi there! We don’t seem to end up with much flannel scrap, as a lot of it is donated in carefully measured lengths by our local quilt shop. There is some, however, and I’ll be using it for future projects. We do get quite a bit of donated fabric for the fronts, and pick a fair bit up in the op shop too. It’s all grist to my mill, and if I can use it, I will, but for a quilt it needs to be cotton. Donated fabric that isn’t suitable for the kits or my quilts goes to Boomerang Bags. Your thread hunting sounds very successful – I must keep an eye out myself!
For some reason I’ve had good luck with flannelette from Savers….& I occ do the grey nomad thing & find stuff in rural opshops. You are right tho; much easier to find cotton remnants & as they are odd lengths you will have scraps. One but not all of the spotlight stores (? Or was it just timing) sometimes had 1/2 price of already reduced rate if you bought the whole end of the bolt during their sales; V occ I have struck it lucky getting basically 75% off for good fabric. Spring sales sometimes have discounted new flannelette sheets but quality varies a gr8 deal
Hi Celia,
Sewing for Charity Australia have just opened their own version of the sewing basket in Queensland and have started selling second hand craft items in their Facebook group. The postage can add to the costs but I’m addicted to seeing what they can find new homes for
Bec, that’s fabulous! We all treasure our craft supplies so much that it’s hard to part with them unless they’re going to someone else who will love them like we do! :)
You are such an inspiration and I love all your quaft. I am not good is sewing, more of a woodwork girl. I picked up some discarded blackbutt timber decking and made them into a raised garden bed and hanging planter box which will be donated to a not for profit Community Flower Project my friend has set up. Following you beeswax tips, I made beeswax wrap from cotton bags that comes with new bedsheets. Now wondering how to upcycle old jeans…
Good on you! I’d love to be able to do woodwork but Pete says I can’t be trusted with sharp tools! :D As a sewer, here’s what I do with old jeans, but I think pinterest has lots of no sew ideas as well…
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2019/05/11/roadkill-denim-challenge/
Fab dragon and pashmina!
All our charity shops have been closed since last year, which rather limits our choice. It’s been a year since I wandered around any sort of shop! The problem I find with using old sheets is that my sewing machine hates them – I think it must be the high thread count. Currently knitting a toy hare for a small person (the yarn is new, the clothes will be from fabric scraps) and still enjoying the Letterbox Art Collaboration that I’ve been doing with my mother – the best thing to come out of the pandemic lockdown. Ax
The Chinese silk pashmina is gorgeous and I love the dragon. What a clever idea to use those lovely illustrations for gift tags.