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Pashmina unwrapped...

21/12/2013

Last year I was asked to participate in a charity exhibition to raise money for the Sophia Foundation's orphanage in Kenya. (see buttons at end of this blog)
This year ,due to the economic situation that has affected this island, the Foundation decided to set up a school lunch programme to ensure that children who have been hit the hardest get a cooked meal at least once a day. In order to raise money for this cause, 230 pashminas were given to people to embellish and create their own pashmina to wear.
When I got "my" pashmina in my hands I realised what a challenge this was going to be. This pashmina was the real deal...90%cashmere and 10% silk....so soft, lightweight, fine, very fluid nearing slippery.
What to do? Cottons are too stiff, sewing by machine would stiffen and would be harsh and puncture those fine weaves.
At one stage, being totally fed up with the situation and politics we are bombarded with day in day out , I thought of making it into a noose , and having lots of red and blue triangle purses spilling out and dripping onto a Cyprus flag with a sign saying WEAR IT...I got over it and thought again...
The only medium I could think of ,that was suitable, was wool, but didn't represent Patchaouri. The only fabrics left for me to use were my treasured silks...

silks...

silk tie options...

Squares , triangles or even circles? My bodgey stitching with thick cottons or,smaller stitches not to show on the reverse? Embroidery or not? Ties?

After trying out some techniques and stitches on a pashmina scarf I had which ,proved to be a waste of time ,since ,the composition of the scarf was 30 %silk ,70% wool making a huge difference in texture and how the silk sits and reacts...

Did my research on threads , stitch length and
needles I would need and decided on colours, I started "work" on a Gees Bend style with ties.

Finding that silk "sticks" and slides when in tiny pieces, instead of a third of the pashmina being covered, I managed an 8 inch strip before wanting to jump out a window!!!

rounds ,squares...

pleased with how flat I got the silk to sit..

birds eye view...

On the opposite end I used an upcycled neck tie and made a "fylacto" to incorporate this Cypriot tradition of
keeping a chid from harm...and sewed the tiniest blue bead to represent the "evil eye".

Finally signed and sealed in a bright ,mustard wool felt pocket for ,safe keeping when not in use .The pocket is lined with silk and secured with a leather "button"...

BUT, today it's unwrapped and part of this special, important event..

..Maro

click on buttons to see posts on The Kiondo Bag project.. Main post is post 3.

kiondo bag blog post 1

kiondo bag post 2

kiondo bag post 3

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Much to do about Christmas...

16/12/2013

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I have been busy with a variety of things....big and small. Some things were for a Xmas Bazaar...

Maxine key rings ...a great character.

kitty key rings made with fabric given to me by a friend who knows I'm a cat lover..love camels too but have never seen camel fabric come to think about it...

a couple of the many kitty keyrings with a halloween flavour...

A whole batch of pyramid purses for coins, pills ...whatever !!

Took Nonie and I a while to figure out the templates for these wool felt,xmas, hat styled purses...our other results were a bit of a laugh...

and some from ribbon purchased in 2008 in Australia and also using upholstery samples..

...Some, because I have been into recycling/upcycling anything I get my hands on or have had stored away to use in some way at a later date...you know...years!!

Samples of some of my upcycled projects...more of these in various stages...

more samples of upcycled... in various sizes for various uses...of course forgot to take photos of the others...

...Some for presents, new and old.

A tummy heat pack...just in time for these freezing temperatures we have been experiencing.

... a welcome gift for baby Malvinas' room...born 7/12/13

A one off crazy brooch with a vintage black and white button.

close up to prove to myself, that, I can stitch straight when I try !!

A room organiser for swimming gear for a special person. Made it 2 years ago and am pleased it's used and treasured..took the photo recently when I visited and saw it hanging ...

Inside view of pillow...totally lined front and back!!..yes , a tad anal...

...And, some, just to be silly...

Have also had an important charity project to finish ( my next blog post)....and other projects need finishing before I can get onto what I prefer
...starting a NEW quilt .

I call these Angel Stockings.. /!@^&??

Just too much to do...and Christmas has come way too soon.

Christmas 2013...

Merry Christmas and happy times to all.                                      Maro

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Pashmina unwrapped...

Much to do about Christmas...

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Pashmina unwrapped...

Much to do about Christmas...

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