For this week's creative space I considered giving you a tour through the jumble of half made projects that are currently sitting on and around my sewing table, but I think that will only make me feel bad. It seems these days if I don't start and finish a project in the same sitting, then it gets left behind in the rush to start the new thing.
So I have decided to show you the rubbish bin that sits next to my sewing table instead.
I know, exciting huh!
The truth is though that I give this bin and its contents a lot of creative thought.
What goes in the bin?How small does a scrap have to be to be unusable? To me? To a smaller creative person?
Broken needles and over locker threads are rubbish for sure, but what about empty cotton spools, selvages and bits of sewing that didn't turn out right?
The other thing is that often I judge what sort of week I've had by how full my rubbish bin is.
I try to empty my bin once a week on a Thursday. If I get to emptying day and there isn't much rubbish in the bin, it probably means I haven't sewn much that week. But if by Thursday the bin is full, then the world must have been kind to me and given me a few sewing opportunities.
And finally, when I'm walking with my bin to the outside bin to empty it of its contents, I like to reminisce over all the different bits of fabric and the projects they became or will hopefully become.
To check out some actual creating head on over to Kirsty's.
And big thanks to Gypsy for the gorgeous background fabric.
Empty spools are small treasures around here and scraps too small for sewing are often used for collage. Threads and very small bits are rubbish.
ReplyDeleteUnrelated I know but cotton reels once emptied we hope apparently make great robot wheels shen creating armies of small robots. I always find it hard to throw out anything but really what can you do with those tiny scraps. Looks like it was a good week though
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty rubbish bin! There, I've never said that before!
ReplyDeleteIt sure is hard to work out when a scrap is past useful. Cotton reels are treasures in this house, and selvedge can make good ribbon wrapping presents.
ReplyDeleteI like they way you reflect on your week through the scrap bin.
it is so pretty ~ and interesting conundrum. {I love your comment about measuring your week by your bin ~ so true in so many different circumstances!}
ReplyDeleteI love how you think about your "rubbish' bin so much and at what time something becomes rubbish. Perhaps with the tiny scraps you do throw out the fairies and elves take and make their clothes from. I have a bit the same issue, I keep a lot of bad bear heads coz i need them for referal and test dyeing/staining but my bin never looks as prettty as yours! xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant perspective on the week that has been -
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about not finishing something, then something else gets started, then something else...
I like this, the left overs from your creativity. I have to admit I have never thought about my scraps and the philosophy of the too small bits. Hope your bin is full at the end of next week!
ReplyDeleteYou wanna see mine here!!! Often full to the brim with bits and bobs. I love the red!!
ReplyDeleteI love your bin Kate. Mine's just a cardboard box. xx
ReplyDeleteLove it Kate. There's a line in Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre" that says something like 'The shadows are just as important as the light'... Love that sensibility of assessing the waste/leftovers as equal to the finished product :) Kx
ReplyDeleteGreat looking bin Kate and I measure my creative week the same way (except mine is usually measured by the amount of tutting coming from my other half as he empties the bin on Tuesdays!). I often give Eloise a wool needle with wool thread on it and she sits happily at my scrap bin threading all the pieces on while I sew. I have also used my tiny scraps to stuff draught excluders as they are nice and heavy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute little bin. My scaps end up on the floor and I then have to pack up at the end of each sewing session. I too always wonder just how small a scrap I should keep. I have thought lately though that I should keep all the wee little un-useful scraps to stuff little pins cusions with. Then at least they will have a use in the end!!
ReplyDeleteInspirational little scrap bin there...and ooh, a love a bit of life's details. Cute little soup cup.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely little bin. Perhaps if I had something as sweet to sit on my bench I wouldn't be so reckless with scraps...
ReplyDeleteLovely!!! I don't have the heart to throw mine away - I geuss I will have to find something to do with it =D
ReplyDeleteHave a sweet weekend!
I hate throwing anything away....just ask my hubby what my creative space looks like :-)
ReplyDeleteagree 100% with your bin comments, my feelings exactly! cept my bin is no where near that gorgeous! That red pot would look awesome beside my newly thrifted blue enamel jug!
ReplyDeletei'm like this with paper and pieces cut out of magazines! {and fabric on the odd occasion}. thanks for this kind of tour :)
ReplyDeleteI never throw away mine as well!:P I have this big cardboard box at home to store mine! But for the smaller strips.. i never found any us for them.. do you have any ideas?
ReplyDeleteThe colours look very pretty. With the long thin strips of fabric, they can be used as ties for presents or parcels. They can be tied together if not long enough, and you can make a pretty bow on top, even short bits of wool can look nice added to the bows.
ReplyDeleteoh you're good! i have a bin but rarely do i use it.....the floor is far more convenient and then i have a 'finger rake' every now and then......mind you, the damm escaping pins get me everytime and i remind myself "i must use the bin". cotton spools defo get saved....you just never know when you may need one! have a fab weekend x
ReplyDeletei was looking at all your scraps thinking about the wonderful things made with the fabric ... it's a nice thought.
ReplyDeleteMy Creative Space
What a cute bin! Glad you like the fabric xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely little glimpse into your world. I love the bin, I shall have to keep my eye out when op shopping for a suitable vessel to replace my nasty plastic studio bin.
ReplyDeleteThe sraps and remnants are just so important too aren't they?
ReplyDeleteI just read about you and your farm in a green magazine I borrowed from the library. You seem so important now, ;o) I like the little red cup bin, so cute and I am impressed by how thoughtful you are about your wastes.
ReplyDeleteDid you know though you can use natural fibres like cotton, linen, wool scraps in your compost as a carbon matter, they will break down faster this way rather than slowly in land fill. You can also use them as mulch. They might have been dyed with yukky chemical but if they are pretty old it shouldnt matter...so no need to bin em!! Small bits of steel (bottle cap lids, old needles) can be put inside empty tins and pushed closed and put in the recycling too...
Oh thank you to the commenters who suggested saving the scraps for stuffing. Now I have a legitimate excuse for the bags and bags of tiiiiny pieces I just.cant.throw.out.
ReplyDeleteI love your tabletop bin. Its very sweet.
Hi Kate,
ReplyDeletelay the scraps out on Pellon, cover with tulle then sew any which was you please and voila Fabric! I added Angelina Fibres to one lot I did. I'm that waste nothing fiend ;)