Two Pretty Projects

Winter's Day in St. James Park

By John Ritchie, Scotland, 1869-1963

 

 

It would be wonderfully nostalgic to be able to hang a pair of skates on the door in keeping with winter's dazzle, but there are probably many people who never had a pair of skates and cannot find them at Goodwill or the thrift stores. I found a pair last year but they were a very large men's size and so heavy so, this year I experimented with some felt fabric and came up with a pattern you can use to make your own.

 

You can use whatever types of materials, fabrics, glues and paints you want, but here is what worked for me. I had a couple of total mess-up failures before I figured the easiest and most effective way to do this, and that is why it seemed to take such a long time to get this post up.

 

Here is the pattern, but it is only a photograph and not a scan, so I am not sure how big it will print. If you want to make your own pattern, just trace around a child's shoe. This one is made in a Victorian style, but you can draw your own style.

Cut the blades from card stock or cardboard and paint them with silver paint, or, you can use silver metallic paper from the scrapbook section of any craft store, that you peel off and stick. I have done this with the white pair of skates shown below.

 

I have drawn eyelet holes for laces with polymer paint, but you could glue on large silver sequins, available at the dollar store craft section, if you like. Use thick clear glitter glue for good results but let dry near a heater.

Cut four skates from the pattern using glittered white or black felt. I could not find glittered white felt so I painted the skates with glitter glue after they were stuffed with fiber-fil.

Above, some of the materials: glitter glue in clear, black polymer paint, silver string, dollar store door hanger with bells, felt fabric.

Machine stitch or hand stitch all around the two layers of the skate shapes, leaving the top open, and then stuff it firmly almost to the top opening. you will not want the stuffing to show. This will not be turned inside out, so the stitching will show on the outside. The stitches are large and are made close to the edges.

 

When the skate is all sewn and stuffed, draw silver sparkle eyelets on it with Polymer or Scribbles brand paints. Using black shiny Polymer, color in the heels and sole of the skate.

If you are interested, you can take three strands of silver embroidery thread and sew laces back and forth through the eyelets.

Add your furry trim after the skate has been sewn, with large whip stitches by hand, hot glue, or large zig-zag stitch on the machine. It takes half a yard of trim for a set of these skates, and you can use any kind of trim, from ruffled eyelet to fringe. I added the plaid sock edge and ball fringe to these pair below and have tied them onto a jingle bell doorknob ornament from Dollar Tree.

When you do not have fabric for these small projects, buy a scarf at the dollar store.

You might try using silver sparkly chenille wire for the skate runner, fashioning it into the right shape. Attatch the runners with hot glue, staples or stitches or whatever works.
Make it easy on yourself by using the pattern to make cardboard skates. It works much faster.

Go here for paper ornament patterns, including skates for package tags or ornaments

http://homeliving.blogspot.com/search?q=Paper+ornaments

 

Here is another quick project from Dollar Tree. This wire basket has been turned into a cover for a cake stand, just by prying the handle off and screwing on an inexpensive knob on the top.

I have worn out most of my tea copies and kept saying I needed to make another one but just did not seem to get around to doing it. While at Dollar Tree I saw a collection of knit hats, many of them with warm linings, so I brought home a stretchy one to put on the teapot. It fit just fine and works well. I need to cut out a space for the handle and spout and it will look like a stylish tea cozy.

Besides essential house keeping, there always seems to be an extraordinary amount of other things to do. I hope everyone is taking time from their busy life at home, to take tea.

How do you like the look of these treats? Well you wont have to worry about sugar or weight gain because they are plastic ornaments. Fun to look at and they make a bright spot.

 

 

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