'Toothbrush rugs'

I learned about 'toothbrush rugs' when I was visiting Canada last year.  What a wonderful way to 'recycle' old duvet covers and sheets !

'Toothbrush rugs' are one of the easiest and quickest rag rugs to make. They are easy to learn, inexpensive to make, and the result is gorgeous!  Rag rugs are a lot of fun to make and do not require any fancy techniques like crocheting.  You can see the results of your efforts take shape in just a few rows.  This technique is not limited to rugs, you can also make other items like a rag placemat, dog bed, cat bed, basket, or anything else you can think of.

These rugs are called 'Toothbrush rugs' because of the type of tool used to make them. People used to cut the head off an old toothbrush and file it down to a point while using the pre-drilled hole (for hanging your tooth brush) as a place to attach the fabric to.  Today, there are fancy prefabricated tools you can use or you can still make your own.  Technically a rug tool is just a really big needle.

Should you be interested in a workshop 'toothbrush rug making', you can contact me at :
madelief.homemade@gmail.com.  

Have a good day ;-)

Ceramics

I have always been experimenting with paints and fabrics, but somehow I was never really interested in ceramics.  Years ago, when I visited a craft shop, I was introduced to ceramics :  pour clay into molds and after the figurines were fired, paint or glaze them.  I enjoyed doing this very much and I proudly present my handmade nativity set :

A couple of years ago a ceramics class was offered in my village ... however, this time 'ceramics' meant building figurines from clay yourself.  This was a major challenge.  So with my first project I stayed on the safe side and made a 'flat' fruit-bowl :

I loved the result and wanted more !  My next project was an abstract 'bird statue' - a different technique :

I had never imagined that I would love working with clay as much as I did, so the next projects followed :

... a turtle for my patio ...

 

... a penguin ready to leave the 'nest'...

... two 'chattering' chicks ....

... and more fruitbowls...

I hope the above pictures will inspire you to try techniques which you haven't tried before !

Have fun experimenting ;-)

Decorative Painting

Decorative painting is a craft, taught by a systematic step-by-step approach, and readily learned.  No previous academic training or drawing skill is necessary.  

I love to redecorate old furniture and household items and give them a new life.  Most of all I love making 'home-made' personalized gifts.  Below you'll find some inspiration:

Handpainted personalized gifts :

Christening gift

Christening gift

Trays :

Dutch traditional painting

Dutch traditional painting

Dutch traditional painting

 Candles: 

Dot-art

For the home :

Christmas :

I hope that I have been able to inspire you with the above pictures.  Should you be interested in a 'Decorative Painting' course, you can contact me at madelief.homemade@gmail.com.

Happy painting !