Rag Rug Update and Gingerbread Creations

Here is an update on my current rag rug. I felt it needed some blue, so I threw a medium shade of blue in. It seems to stand out quite a bit, but I think I'll work with it for a few rows to see how it blends in. It measures 15" right now.

Moving to a different topic altogether, I wanted to share a few gingerbread creations that the high school kids from my homeschool group made. We usually wrap up our last week before Christmas break with gingerbread houses. The high school kids get to go all out by splitting up into groups and spending most of the day working on their creations.

The Avengers

The Hobbit

Christmas in London
(you can't really see it, but the road is made from hershey bar pieces)

Pretty awesome, huh?

Another Rag Rug, Hopefully A Huge One

I really want a rug for my living room, and I want it to be huge. Well, that's my goal, anyway. 

Initially, I told myself that I was only going to use the fabric in my stash, but honestly.....

a rug this big is going to require some additional fabric.

I found this fabric on clearance at JoAnn's. Look at these amazing colors!

Here is the fabric sprinkled in the rug so far. You can see the fabric in the upper left hand corner of the picture and how it takes on a different look in the rug.

What do you think? 

Can you picture the rug on a beautiful hardwood floor, with brown leather furniture, throw pillows in colors pulled from this fabric?

Yes! Yes! I see it!

Gotta get to work, Chau!

Recycling Project and Another Rag Rug

Do you have an old comforter laying around?

Don't throw it away!

Wash it, fold it in quarters and stitch the three sides up.

 Now, it's a doggie bed. 

 Every time I tried to take Maggie's picture, the flash would go off, and she would get up and leave, with a disgusted sigh.  I finally snuck up on her, and clearly she is refusing to have her picture taken. 

She really does like her new bed, though.

Here is a rag rug in progress. I'm not quite sure how big I'll make it because I'm kind of running out of browns. 

I feel like I'm still in the experimental stages of rug making, but it's so cool to see strips of fabric being transformed into a rug.

Chau!

A New Attempt At Rag Rugs

I was at my local fabric shop when I spotted this rag rug pattern. This is a technique that results in a toothbrush rug.  The kit actually comes with a starter piece so you can practice the stitch. Well, I didn't get it at first, but you know that old saying......

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!

And, since I'm obsessed with making a rag rug :)

You're not suppose to have a hole in the middle, but at least I figured out the stitching. Yay!

So, it became a chair pad.

(Sorry about the terrible picture.)

I really like this technique, and I find it doesn't strain my hands and wrists as much as crocheting or knitting with fabric. I'm also loving the fact that I can use up all the old fabric stash that doesn't appeal to me anymore. 

Until next time, Chau!

Sometimes, A Project Just Isn't Meant To Be Finished

I guess before I talk about what I've been up to in the studio, I should talk about what projects are not going to be finished, just in case I have a few readers who were looking forward to seeing these projects completed. 

In the last month or so, I have shared projects in progress like this........

rag rug

I wasn't happy with the way it was turning out, so I decided not to spend anymore time on it.

And, then there is this.......

bag

I may finish this bag, but not anytime soon. It just wasn't holding my attention.

Now! The rag rug thing is very intriguing, so I've been playing around with fabric stash that has been around for way too long. I have been trying to crocheting fabric, and it's quite painful! I'll share why in a moment, but first, here is what I crocheted.....

pot holders!

I know, you're saying hmmm.

Ok, the reason I said crocheting fabric is painful is because first (according to one way of instructions I came across) you cut strips, sew them together and turn it into bias tape. The reason for making the tape is to have a more professional look with finished edges.

After a few hours, you end up with a few yards of tape ready to crochet.

The painful part is actually crocheting because if your crochet stitches are as tight as mine, then it's a struggle to make a stitch. Fabric does not respond like yarn when crocheting. My right elbow was Sooo sore the day after making these that I knew I would not be making more. 

Anyway, I do not mean to discourage you from trying because I have seen some beautiful crocheted rag rugs, and that is what inspired me to give it a try. Take a look on Google for crocheted rag rugs and see what I mean. I just know it's not for me.