The unlikeliest combination?
Throw all your stereotypes away for the delightfully improbable combination provided by a hen party for a group of female engineers crafting junkmail jewellery prior to hitting Manchester on a ‘cocktail crawl’.
Old election leaflets and other papers get up-cycled
Congratulations to Jeni and many thanks to organiser Naomi as well as the other lovely friends for inviting Rubbish Revamped to run a junkmail jewellery making session. An unusually shaped jelly mold was spotted in the sink, so Rubbish Revamped reckon we experienced the most civilised part of the day… Hope it was a great one!
In good company at the Arts & Crafts market
The wonderful, varied and hugely entertaining Chorlton Arts Festival kicked off for its ten day run on 22 May 2010. Rubbish Revamped set up stall at that great community institution, St Clements Church, for the arts & crafts market. Danielle and Tina shared a stall with queen of plastic recycling Becky Waite and had a jolly good time entertaining each other and our lovely visitors.
Tina staffing the Rubbish Revamped stall at the craft market
Rubbish Revamped Open House – all welcome!
On 29 May, as part of the wonderful Chorlton Arts Festival, Rubbish Revamped will be throwing its doors open to the public. You are invited over for inspiration, to sign up for workshops (10% off bookings today!), to join in a free mini workshop or simply to have a bit of a giggle at the sock creatures. All sorts of Rubbish Revamped workshop creations will be on display.
That’s 29 May, 11-3pm: Do pop in to 4 Abbotsford Road, Chorlton M21 0RJ (please note this is a private residence, not a public place)
Info also on the main website at http://www.rubbishrevamped.org.uk/openday.html or email rubbishrevamped@googlemail.com.
Bottle top pin cushions: Good enough to eat?
“Yummy, funny and very more-ish” says Maggie of the bottle top pin cushions. They do look rather cup-cake like, but we managed to restrict the nibbling to the real cake. The actual pin cushions were crafted from, yes, bottle tops and bottoms, bits of felt and pieces of jumper; beads, buttons and ribbons were added as embellishments.
Workshop participants admiring their fantastic handicraft at tonight’s session.
Thank you for your lovely feedback.
“Thanks again Danielle – very pleased with my products! You made it all seem so ‘doable'”, Brenda
“An enjoyable two hours – beautiful and practical”, Jenny. That’s Rubbish Revamped’s aim, to make attractive and even better, functional items out of rubbish!
“I had so much fun, and I’m definitely using these as gifts in the future. Can’t wait to do another workshop” – looking forward to seeing you again too Lulu!
Want to make your own Amazing Bottle Top Pin Cushions? Packs and DIY guides will be on sale at the Chorlton Arts Festival craft fair on 22 May 2010. Please send other enquiries to rubbishrevamped@googlemail.com
Longford Park Celebrations
Thank you to Friends of Longford Park for inviting Rubbish Revamped to join in the celebrations for the older children’s play area, currently going through a revamp! Together with circus skills, Chorlton Plant Swap and a fire engine, we set up stall offering a display of recycled crafts and free workshops for children and adults.
Making boxes from greeting cards at Longford Park
The May weather teased us, starting out gloriously warm only to throw a cold wind at us. Braving the possibility of being blown away, several children and assorted adults joined us to make CD-sun catchers, little boxes out of greeting cards and funky button bracelets – these went down particularly well so will definitely be seen again on future Rubbish Revamped festival stalls. If you’re as obsessed with buttons as us (yep, there’s lots of us about!), do join a two-hour buttons workshop on a Thursday evening. There are two to choose from this summer so take your pick from the website at http://www.rubbishrevamped.org.uk/workshops.html
Monkey-tastic!
“A fantastic night! Very relaxed atmosphere, great company and a fab unique monkey to take away! Hope to be back again soon. Many thanks”. Jane
All sewn up and ready to cuddle!
Eight monkey fans came together to transform old jumpers (or husband’s unwanted very yellow jumpers, no names mentioned). We had a good laugh, welcoming back ‘old’ Rubbish Revampers as well as new people, including three sisters having a crafty night out. Big thanks go to Becky who toiled away on the sewing machine running up the main part of the bodies.
- It’s a family thing – sisters out crafting
“Monkey-tastic! I can’t believe I made something so cute. Looking forward to making lots of brothers and sisters for him. Thanks a mill!” Jill
Rapping & Rolling
Of course all Rubbish Revamped workshop participants are by their very nature interesting folk, but we had an unusual ‘first’ at this week’s session when we were joined by rapper Envy. The truth came out only when the group was asked the routine question “Is it ok to take photos and put them on the Rubbish Revamped website and blog?”, to which the usual answer is “yes, fine” rather than last night’s “Oh no! It will ruin my image” as Envy – real name Nicola Varely – worried about her rapper image. Tested out on her Twitter (following 1000+), she appears to have survived and even attracted some compliments and interest. Well, of course! Junkmail jewellery is a joy to make and stylish to show off.
Rubbish Revamped's very own rapper, Envy. We're liking the red eyes...
Fancy making your own bracelet or earrings? Book your place on the next junkmail jewellery workshop on Thursday 27 May.
- Jewellery made from the Weatherspoons menu, a calendar, a magazine and a plant catalogue
Big fun at Big Green Festival
Big Green Festival 2010 : another fantastic event. Soooo much going on: music, food, swaps [Chorlton Plant Swap], every manner of local/national green organisation, crafts, workshops, a wellbeing area, weird bikes, a scarecrow competition and lots and lots and lots of lovely people. Rubbish Revamped was asked to get crafty with workshops suitable for adults and children. We offered: greeting card boxes, CD sun-catchers and junkmail jewellery. We were pleased to welcome all ages, and genders!
Junkmail jewellery workshop at Big Green Festival
Big thanks to Tina Chan and Becky Waite for all your fab help on the day!
Breeding like … rabbits
It’s been Sock Bunnies galore at Rubbish Revamped this week. Starting off with the Chorlton-based Thursday evening workshop. “Lovely evening, delightful bunny, good company and lots of fun – thank you”. You’re welcome!
Sock bunnies
Eleven people including the caretaker, John, joined in to make Sock Bunnies at Start in Salford on Friday. We were accompanied by a yodelling goat – which explains the hand in front of the face, crying with laughter, not hiding!
Making Easter Bunnies at Start in Salford
Bunnies posing for their photo shoot
Book your place on new workshops
The May to July programme has just been published with a choice of workshops now available for booking. Here it is in brief.
- Gilbert – love him in a ‘runt of the litter’ kind of way
A mix of old favourites and new additions, stylish and quirky – hopefully something to suit all tastes and interests. More information and bookings available on the website at www.rubbishrevamped.org.uk
Rubbish Revamped: The Blog 