Handmade Gifts from Recycled Materials for Mother’s Day & More!
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Do you have lots of creative reuse ideas, but struggle to get them started? It can be difficult to prioritize creative reuse projects in a busy life. So in January 2017, I started a project to make one creative reuse item per month – as a gift for my grandmother. It’s like a Christmas present that lasts all year. She gets a monthly care package in the mail, and I move ideas into action.
There are many ways that makers can build more creative discipline, through projects such as:
- the 100 Day Challenge
- the Creative Sprint where you make something for 30 days in a row
- “Me-Made-May” where people post a photo on Instagram of themselves wearing something they made each day
But if a daily challenge sounds overwhelming, you might consider a monthly challenge like mine, with an eager audience checking her mailbox.
Let me know how you motivate yourself to start, continue and finish creative projects at trashmagination@gmail.com. Happy Mother’s Day!
Homemade Gifts from Recycled Materials
I made the following gifts for my grandmother Rea from January 2017 onwards:
Hand-woven Valentine’s cushion
Handwoven Valentine’s cushion by Trashmagination, February 2017
Handwoven heart cushion on my hand loom
Embroidered Squirrel
This was inspired by the pattern designed by Hawthorn Handmade.
My grandmother Rea standing by the shelf where she displays my handmade gifts, March 2017
Hexagon Quilt
Hexagon paper-pieced quilt by Trashmagination, March 2017
Butterflies Made from Recycled Men’s Ties
Butterflies made from neck ties
Rug-hooked Swirl
This was inspired by Jess Wrobel’s peppermint hooked rugs.
Rug hooked swirl on recycled rice burlap bag, June 2017
Newfoundland Trigger Mitten Embroidery
My mitten embroidery beside the Newfoundland double-knit trigger mitten that inspired it
Poppy Quilt
This was inspired by Jen Manuell at Fish Eye Sisters.
Poppy Quilt for Remembrance Day, November 2017
Felt Bagpiper Ornament
Bagpipe ornament and original photo of my nephew Owen, December 2017
Felt Fruit Salad Mandala
Felt fruit salad mandala, January 2018
Valentine’s Beaded Broach
Valentine’s broach made from recycled t-shirt strips and beads, February 2018
Felt Circle Necklace
I forgot to mention this one in the podcast! It was made from tiny scraps of felt leftover from other projects.
Felt and wool circle necklace, March 2018
Felt Owl Ornament
Sleepy owl ornament, April 2018
Dandelion Puff Embroidery
This was inspired by the work of Velvet Meadow.
Dandelion puff embroidery, May 2018, inspired by Velvet Meadow
Dandelion puff embroidery, May 2018, inspired by Velvet Meadow
Dandelion puff embroidery on my grandmother’s shelf
Rainbow Swirl
She hasn’t seen this one yet – it’s the gift for June 2018!
Rainbow swirl ornament
Here’s some photos of my grandmother (who I call “Nanny”) with my children last summer:
My grandmother Rea and my daughter, Nora – June 2017
My son Russell and my grandmother Rea, June 2017