Been mucking around with bits of paper, making bunting mainly.
Two lots of the tri-colour for two Brit-birthdays
(The cabinet is also a work in progress. Two more drawers to repair and we'll be there)
Map bunting started, taken from a beautifully coloured, 1943 school geography text book.
Pretty, or horrific abuse of interesting old stuff?
All I thought was "ace colours for 20c".
I drew the line at using the map which showed the relative areas held by the Allies and the nazi forces at Nov 1942. Genocide and bunting don't mix.
Husband thought someone would probably collect these and it might be 'worth something'.
I read a blogger recently lamenting the wanton use of precious china cups for DIY candles, worried they'd crack with the heat. Just after I'd finished drilling my 'by royal appointment" china plate for a tiered cake stand.
Older lady at Sunday library craft group was horrified at my using sheet music to chop up, "some of that stuffs rare". Ditto mother-in-law at chopped up old doily bunting "it used to take us days to make one of those".
Do we have a duty as old-stuff aficionado's to research the stuff we buy before we smash it up for mosaics, or is it ok when it takes on a new life, recycled, loved, looked at all over again. Is the reason I can't find my dream 70's marimekko dress because it's been chopped up for a quilt?!
Do you draw the line anywhere when it comes to using old stuff for craft?
Me doing that creative space linky-thingy again
I have often wondered myself at this .. .. ..
ReplyDeleteSTILL loving your envelopes AND your map bunting
I can't bring myself to cut anything up Max... cutting into vintage sheets for the f.q. swap just about "killed" me, but I'm not bothered at all if other people cut things up, I'm actually all for it, at least pretty bits are getting used, seen and admired. Alot of the stuff you've cut up would probably end up in the bin anyway...
ReplyDeletep.s. I love your envelopes, do I spy some of the wallpaper samples I sent you?
p.p.s. that cabinet is lovely to the max!
Yes, interesting question. I do chop lots of stuff and as i bought it figure it's my perogative, if i miss something of value, oops! but let's face it, how does one value such stuff and who has time? Is history or art more important? Alot of it is rescued from destination landfill and i find alot of the stuff i buy is damaged in some way! Sorry about the speech. XX
ReplyDeleteNothing should be kept in a cupboard or drawer if it can be made into something pleasing to the eye, or something nice to hold, finding new uses for pretty things feels like progress to me. X
ReplyDeleteooohhhhh map bunting ! I am a map bunting making mission for an event in January.
ReplyDeleteSurely, making and using something that would otherwise be in a cupboard....or worse, in landfill is a good thing ????
Loving this post. Have a great weekend, Dee :)
Loving the map bunting! Im a bit funny about taking pages out of books, the books will need to be falling apart but would happily let someone else do it lol! Scarlett x
ReplyDeleteReally cool Map bunting. I love it.
ReplyDeleteDefinetly up to the individual,I think.I have done a lot of potentially blasphemous cutting up,some of which I regret......but o well!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the map bunting!
Was hoping you and Claude may have been at Two Squirrels?? I forgot to ask if you might go along!
XXX
I have thought about the issues you raise as well and while I must admit I find it hard to "cut something up" so to speak, I have done it many times. Most of them have been damaged in some way and have been found at op shops or garage sale so obviously they were no longer wanted by their owner and were probably heading to the dump if someone else didn't see a value in them.
ReplyDeleteAnd while I may not have seen the value in the whole as it was, I did see value in the object by using it or putting it together in a different way. Not really sure the value of one is better than the other.
And a final thought, if no one sees, uses or knows about something is it really any better off in its whole state, then if someone creates something new from it that is used and loved? I think I would go for the latter.
LOVE what you have made! Especially that map bunting. Ok cool so I've never actually heard of anyone attending that Sunday library craft group. I've seen it advertised but wondered who would be there. And my mother in law is horrified that I cut up things and books too. I say if they are no longer being enjoyed as their current purpose make something we will enjoy from it!
ReplyDeleteI have issues with cutting up books - I want to sometimes, but then end up reading them and finding myself unable to pick up the scissors. I end up falling in love with the Tibor Gergy, Eloise Wilkins and pre busy busy world Richard Scary illustrations. I'm fickle like that.
ReplyDeleteIf a doily is usable I will use it - perhaps I am the last person on the planet with dressing table sets in use. However, if it is damaged, I will take to it with the scissors, one day, when I have the courage.
Nice bunting. I just saw the maps spread in Mollie makes and am tempted to crack into my topo map collection .
Hmm, good question. If it's amazingly rare I wouldn't use it - like the many 30s dresses used to make an Oscar frock for someone or other - but doilies are fair game (sorry Grannies). I'd also be a bit odd about tearing up an old and otherwise undamaged book, but I'm always on the look out for really tatty vintage books which could accidentally on purpose fall apart!
ReplyDeleteI am happy to see old things used and loved, better than being in the bin or the back of a cupboard. But I do confess I some times struggle to cut up/alter old things.
ReplyDeleteYes Kylie, it is your beautiful paper in there!
ReplyDeleteAmy-haven't seen the map spread,am kicking myself for not getting a subscription earlier!
Widge-the library group is lovely, young and old together, all helping each other, I haven't been for a couple of weeks butr I'll be there next week if you fancy joining us?