Rock Around The Clock…

“…When the working day is done, girls – they want to have fun, Oh girls just want to have fun!”

There’s something about old vinyl that makes me want to start jumping around, singing into my hairbrush – perhaps it dates me but those shiny black discs make me come over all nostalgic.  Sigh. In my search for scratched records to cut up and recycle into jewellery I’ve found many 45’s that I couldn’t bear to break up, and until now they’ve sat there in a forlorn pile, gathering dust. There just had to be a use for them, and now I’ve found it! I’ve been making them into clocks.

What could be more appropriate? As a way of listening to music they may have been overtaken by other formats but as objects they are deliciously evocative of time. Where were you when the above record was released – were you even born then?

I still listen to my old vinyl and cherish it as I’m sure many do, and I would never recycle a record that is still playable – to someone, I know, that record is an old friend and I’ll leave it in the second hand shop so that they can find it. But any distressed beauties come home with me -  a pretty centre, a great title, a cool band or song or just something that’s funny or seems evocative, because these lovely, scuffed old relics deserve a second chance.

Want to buy a record clock? Just click on the pictures above and you will be taken to the appropriate part of the shop, or click here… Rock Around The Clock

Show ‘n’ tell recycled softie #1

Making a recycled stuffed toy from vintage fabric scraps, a free pattern and a dash of imagination… Recently I got a surprise present through my letterbox, a jiffy bag stuffed with vintage and recycled fabrics – my friends know I am a vulture for fabric scraps so I often get such parcels! I’m making it into a cute stuffed toy that would make a good present for a small child, and I thought I’d share the process. It’s possible to make stuffed toys for next to nothing if you are crafty and use a bit of imagination. First, get some fabric and launder well! Good places to look are thrift shops or even your own wardrobe, and old item of clothing that you’ll never wear again might be made from beautiful fabric – the same goes for cushions, really anything fabric is fair game to your needle and scissors.

I got the free pattern from One Red Robin, a lovely craft blog that has a couple of really good downloadable patterns – all the author asks is that you do not use her patterns for commercial purposes. It’s an easy to make rag doll pattern, and though I like the original I’m giving it my own twist; by simplifying the body and adding some ears I’m going to turn it into a rabbit. This is a show ‘n’ tell rather than a tutorial so I won’t be going into much detail; basically if you are interested I’d just say download the pattern and have a go for yourself!

First off I traced the pattern pieces on to some old wrapping paper – the plain sort that shopkeepers use to wrap around loose crockery, bottles of wine, that sort of thing. If you get hold of any of that stuff save it! It’s strong enough to be used as a template and thin enough to trace onto, so it’s ideal. Because I am making my bunny out of cute recycled fabric scraps it’ll cost very little to make and be environmentally friendly too!  Here’s all the bits cut out and ready to sew…

I haven’t yet decided how I am going to make the face, or any other embellishments I might add; I’ll be thinking about that while I stitch it together. Want to find out how I get on? I’ll be sure to let you know when I’m finished, so stay tuned!