BROOM BEAUTY

 

I needed a new broom and headed out to the neighbourhood shop to get one.

 

Hey, something new!

 

Hanging from the racks are these beauties.

* * *
 

String and stalks of reed are woven into lovely designs on the broomstick.

 

The 'old style' broomsticks are just a bundle of stalks tied with string.

 

Of course I bought a colourful broom, though it costs a few cents more.

 
* * *
 

These traditional brooms are made from reed plants.

 

They are cheap (about US$3, Euro2.80) and good at sweeping away dust/dirt.

 

Best of all, they have a sweet, grassy smell that lingers in a freshly-swept room.

 

This is the smell of my childhood.

 

Starting from 6 years old, it was my job to sweep the floor every evening.

* * *
 

The drawback is the reed breaks and a new broom needed every few months.

 

 More families prefer those with nylon bristles. These last longer.

 

So, sadly, these traditional brooms are being shoved aside.  

 

But I'm sticking with tradition and will continue to use reed brooms,

especially if they are this pretty.
 
* * *
 

A chore has become enjoyable because the tool is beautiful.

 

~Ema N~

 

 

Photos and text belong to the author of this blog, unless otherwise stated.

Please do not use without permission.

 

 

PATCHWORK PURSES

Recently, a friend asked me to make
a patchwork purse for her birthday.

I was pleasantly surprised!

She had said before that

patchwork is too old fashioned for her  :-)

 

 

This friend and I often get together to bake and have tea.
 

So I fussy cut the lining to reflect our friendship!

 

  

Fabric used was a sweet combination of
gingham, dots, stripes and floral fabrics.

Added the ribbon tab as music is an important part of her life

The recessed zip and bias binding were hand-sewn.

I prefer the look of recessed zips --- it's neater.

 

On the practical side, the sharp end of the zipper pull is hidden
and less likely to scratch other stuff in the bag.

 

(Yes, that's how my mobile phone got its scratches.)
 

Hand-quilted.

 

The larger purse is 16 x 13.5cm, the smaller is 10.5 x 9cm.

Both have a 1cm gusset.
 

 

These purses and this pretty pendant I made were gifted yesterday.

 

Read about the pendant here. 

 

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts' Finish It Up Friday.

~Ema N~

 

 

Photos and text belong to the author of this blog, unless otherwise stated.

Please do not use without permission.

PRETTY PENDANT

 

“Wilderness” ~ there's a pretty side to it where flowers thrive.

 

That's what I hope to reflect in this pendant.

 

It was not made using a pattern.

 

I was guided by a picture in my mind ~ a trailing strand of leaves, flowers.

 

So this is a spontaneous make :-)

 

 

The key material here is the thin wire.

 

It's easy to thread beads onto it and

manually twist them into shape eg green beads to form leaves.

 

Also the thin wire can be manipulated eg a leaf moved behind a flower

so each element can be positioned to give dimension to the whole piece. 

 

Finally, the whole strand is shaped into gentle curves.

 

It's finished by adding a jump ring to the top leaf,

and threading through a black cord.

 

Gifted to a friend on her birthday!
 

I just realised it looks Christmas-y with the red/green beads.

It's not intentional.

I wonder if any of my friends would like
this pendant as an Xmas present!

 

~Ema N~

***
What I made for recent Le Challenges
epp star necklace: "Direction"
love token earrings: "Single"
 flower brooch : "Wood"

***

 See what others created for Le Challenge's "Wilderness" theme!
 

Linking up with

Photos and text belong to the author of this blog, unless otherwise stated.

Please do not use without permission.