Time to try something new…
So often I hear people say “I’ve been wanting to have a go at flower arranging/pompom animals/ glass painting for ages but never seem to get round to it” Well there’s no time like the present to start something you have always wanted to do. You need to set aside an hour or two and just do it!
Learning something new is good for us, especially as we get older as it exercises our brains by making us concentrate on new skills, sharpens our memory and generally boosts our brain power. It can also make us feel good and proud of ourselves as we master new techniques to create unique pieces. You may find you have a flair for a particular craft or a hidden talent that no one, not even you, knew about.
There are many crafts out there, old ones that are being revived and new ones that are becoming popular.
Here are some that you may like to try
Macramé. This ancient craft dates back to the 13th century apparently and is now becoming very popular again. Macramé items are created by knotting strings in patterns to create stunning patterned textiles. There are numerous items you can make such as plant hangers, cushion covers, wall hangings and earrings.
Tufting. The definition of this ancient craft is "to provide or adorn with a tuft". I’m sure we’ve all seen mattresses and stools that have a tufted surface as its very much a part of upholstering. Items needed to start are a punch needle or rug tufting gun, the backing material and the yarn, so it can work out more expensive than other crafts but I have designed and made several gorgeous rugs that I now class as family heirlooms.
Paper flowers. Most homes have a vase of flowers to liven up the kitchen or lounge but if you’re anything like me you forget to change and top up the water and by day four the flowers look very sad and droopy. Well, an easy solution is to make paper flowers that you can keep for a few weeks, then just swap with new paper flowers in a different colour or style to create a different look. There are numerous web sites showing you how to make different types of flowers, from easy beginner flowers to more complicated looking creations.
Iced dye. Tie dye was all the rage when I was a teenager but ice dye is now the thing to do. Its easy to create gorgeous ice dyed pillow cases, cushion covers, shirts and tea towels, in fact any material item you want to personalise. Iced dye is achieved by placing ice cubes on top of your fabric, then sprinkling dye powder on top of the ice. You then let the ice melt so that the dye splits and bleeds where it ultimately lands on the fabric. The results are lovely patterns and splashes of colour that are unique to your item.
