Across the shoulder silk tie hand bags

The perfect handbag for any casual outfit - something different that you can sling over your body and keep all your items within reach, phones, wallets, lipstick, gum, etc. without having to worry about someone getting snatch your bag or to pick pocket your bag... And it is unique...no 2 bags are the same. 

iPad covers

Made from silk men's ties - it is the perfect covr to keep your device stylishly protected while it is in transit mode. 

Key rings

It is so difficult to think of something that is small enough to sell that is worth while. I decided to make different keyring holders. 

Website

The blog has a website now ...!

www.therustychickencrafts.com 

Please have a look....

Upcycled scatter cushions

I made these using upcycled jeans. I think they look great. 

New homeware range

I have designed this new homeware range also using upcycled jeans and schwe schwe material. 

I made also quilts using contemporary American design but using schwe schwe material. I am very excited about the new development for Rusty Chicken Crafts. 

The range using Upcycled jeans and also schwe schwe material. 

Painted TV cupboard

It was either French Linen or Charcoal and the FL won. I have 2 cupboard that are black now and I think I will repaint this again in Charcoal in future. 

Spokie 

Tinto and Spokie in front of the TV 

My doggies.... 

NAF aprons

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Loadshedding lamps

I decided to make these loadshedding lamps out of Readers' Digest books. My friend Andrew Tracy drilled the holes thru the book and secured it with a bolt and nut. The rest of the books are just stacked but it would be nice if they all can be secured together. 

NAF scarves

NAF Village Green

11 days of Amazing at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. Tent 6 stall 178/9. 

Painted chest of drawers

I painted this chest of drawers (made of veneer) but it had cute handles in a Art Deco style. 

(The previous owner pulled her nose sky high when she saw what I have done with it! And she has not one special piece of furniture to her name...scandalous!)

I had an appraiser come and look at my furniture and expected...the appraiser pulled her/his nose sky high for this veneer chest of drawers. 

Anyway...

I painted it Annie Sloan 'French linen' and used the broken heart stencil pattern which I got in CPT when Tim and I was there about a month ago. 

But...I learned a lesson. Paint it first, then use same paint in different color for accent or stencilling. Then wax with clear and ....wait for the morning to do the broken wax as it could get very darkehrn you apply at night. 

However...also learned today, that you can sand down a lot of the wax or texture  that you paint. It gives it a really nice look and you have more control over the sanding than applying the brown wax and see how it comes out when it is dry. 

Before...a really dull brown (and mind you, extremely dirty chest of drawers bought from the rudest and crankiest old lady with 2 ugly black dogs that pee in the house. So much for house training. She can not do that ... 😂)

And.....after....! A huge difference even if I have to say so myself. 

Gone ugly brown and extremely neglected chest of drawers. 

ECDC application

Herewith the aprons for my application for the National Arts Festival. 

Fig and Daisy coffee

More to come.....!

Crochet headband

I have been busy with these headband for the last few days. I could not really find a pattern and so this was the one that I decided upon after a few tries. I made it in a wide and a narrow version, with a button fastening and flower detail. 

Wide crochet headband/ear warmers/ear muffs

Narrow corchet headband/ear warmers/ear muffs

Chunky scarves

I made the scarves last year for myself using the arm knitting technique. It is super easy and a lot of fun to make. 

Flat on the table. This is a short and wide scarf which means it has 10 stitches. 

Around your neck - blue/navy/gray wool. 

Pink (5/6 stitches makes it long and narrow) 

Green/red/orange with gray/blue wool

(9-10 stitches makes it short and narrow ..closer around your neck/face)

Red bookshelf

I found this very well built bookshelf in one of our second hand furniture shops. It is a decent size bookshelf built with sturdy planks. 

I started off by painting it light blue. That did not look good against the red shelves. So, I dry brush paint effect the bookshelf with the green olive paint. That's perfect! It has a nice texture on the bookshelf too. The darker patches are the brown wax on the dry green paint. 

I am so pleased with it. 

Before....

...semi painted on the edge of the shelves with a funny purple paint.  

And....

The finished bookshelf. It will go with the chest of drawers for the study with my read chair (I am already using it)