Using what's left over - we create beautiful things that work from things that already exist
I slipped into Hux flux on two wheels at the big garden happening, Nordic Gardens at the Stockholm International Fair (going on all weekend). You never know what life has to offer and this time I slipped a little on a banana peel, although not as an exhibitor. But I am still proud to have a small straw in the stack of one of the exhibitors. In the heart of the exhibition hall there is a section called Idea Gardens and there you can find the wonderful person and creator Tina Grimstedt and her The Left Gallery Garden . Tina is a person with a thousand ideas and also with the knowledge and drive to implement them. Maybe not all a thousand at once, but many.
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Tina's wonderful creations and then me in the middle of all the beauty!
The Left Gallery is a concept and an online store with decoration and interior design made from what was left over, to use Tina's own expression. All products are made from things that have already had a life and are designed to last a long life. Everything can be varied and complemented with each other and the exquisite decorative butterflies in brass on the flower sticks work just as well as earrings! (Which I want to haaaaa!)
I have had the great pleasure of helping with the webshop The Left Gallery and also the large paintings that frame Tina's garden at the fair. Imagine how much fun you can have when you decide to get in touch with people you think seem interesting, competent, creative and fun!
Patience...
As always, I'm so inspired to create my own and I also have a thousand ideas about what I want to do in the future. At the same time, I have to be a little patient right now as I'm waiting for news about something that could mean a change for MWD. At the time of writing, I can't reveal what it is because I don't want to jinx this. Yes, I'm a bit of that...
Sew a simple fabric jar from leftover fabric pieces
But speaking of using up leftovers, I thought I'd share how to easily sew a fabric jar from leftover fabric pieces.
You can make the jar as big or as small as you want, so take whatever fabric you have. You'll also need scissors, a sewing machine, something to measure with, and a bunch of pins.
Here I have used two of my own fabrics, Karin in green and Tess in beige to create a jar that is reversible.
Cut a circle out of each fabric, for example 15 cm in diameter. Then cut two rectangles that have a length of 15 cm x pi = 15 x 3.14 = 47.1 cm, which can be rounded to 47 cm. The width (or height, as it will be when the jar is finished) does not matter. It can be fun to be able to fold the edge down a little, so just take that into account.
Start by sewing the short side of each rectangle together, wrong side to wrong side, so that you end up with a tube, or cylinder might be a better word.
Then sew one circle and the cylinder together, wrong sides together, pinning tightly as it can easily bunch up when sewing in a circle. Do the same with circle and rectangle no. 2.
Leave one jar inside out and the other right side out. Tuck the right side into the wrong side, align the side seams and sew together at the top edge. Leave about 1 cm open so you can turn the jar over.
Finish by sewing a straight stitch a few centimeters inside the edge to seal the jar but also as a decorative element. Done!
Now you can sew useful fabric jars in all sorts of sizes and patterns. You can stuff cotton balls and tops or biscuits or use them as outdoor pots for everything!
It's also a perfect gift to give to someone who likes to organize, store and style!
If you're a little crafty and imaginative, you might find your own ways to decorate or develop the simple shape. If so, please share them here on the site, in the comments or at #madeleinewidelanddesigns.
Let's now sincerely hope that spring will come for real soon!
All the best!
Madeleine
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