Is Being Creative Good for You?

The good news is … … … YES

Art Relieves Everyday Stress

Don’t you find that activities like painting, making models, drawing, gardening and photography are relaxing and rewarding?  These hobbies can lower your stress levels and leave you feeling mentally clear and calm.

Why does this happen?

Creating art provides a distraction from what you are normally going over in your head, so it gives the brain a mini-break from your usual thoughts.

When you get immersed in creative endeavour, you can find yourself in what’s known as ‘the zone’.  This state focuses your mind and temporarily pushes aside all your worries, focus on small detail is almost like meditation.

 But aren’t these types of hobbies expensive?

Well it doesn’t have to be expensive, many of us have a digital camera on our phone, and some people also have a digital camera.  You can just take a photo of something pretty or that catches your eye each day for a week.  Load it onto Instagram or Facebook and wait for people to like and comment.  Making other people happy through your photos will be good for you too.

If you are the sort of person who does not like that idea why not get an adult colouring book.  These are available in many shops like The Works, B&M, Homebargains, Aldi and Lidl. (and many other places as well!).  They are not expensive and then all you need are some coloured pencils or felt tips.

Construction of models as children many of us enjoyed Lego, Meccano, Brio and Airfix kits.  The good news it they are not just for kids.  You can have loads of fun building with Lego and these toys are often available in charity shops for a few pounds.

Being Creative can enhance Problem Solving Skills

Because there is no real right or wrong way to be creative our brain naturally gets a work out when faced with a problem.  Artists don’t always use blue for the sky and green for the grass.  If you don’t have blue in your box of paints you may use other shades of grey or green, yellow or pink to colour the sky.  This can be a liberating way of thinking and allows us to consider other options in our day to day problem solving. 

Finishing a lovely art project boosts self esteem.

Its good to get a project finished it gives us a warm feeling.  That feeling of self esteem is boosted when we finish a piece of art that others can admire.  A cross stitch card given to a friend, a lovely calendar with views of where you live, a model of your house in lego, or a completed hand coloured picture can be admired by others who will compliment you on your work.  It makes you feel happy. 

It can help Dementia Patients

This is something I have seen first hand.  I took a silk painting class and some of the other pupils were suffering with Dementia.  They were relaxed and calm when taking part in the class it also enabled them to talk to others in the class and the social interaction together with making some pretty artwork they could keep had a really positive effect.

Final thoughts – Everyone is a Creative, you may play music, take photos, write poems, colour in pictures or make models.  You don’t need too much special equipment or loads of time.  Give it a try you may find you have a talent you didn’t know about.  You may even (like me) find a way to make it into your job.  I am a Creative, Upcycling is my passion!

Enjoy creativity, its good for you.

 

Sustainable gifts for Pets and Pet Lovers

In the last couple of months I have been thinking about mans best friend!  This could be because we have three working dogs or could be because so many friends and family have dogs, cats, rabbits, horses etc!

I wanted to design a range of gifts for dog lovers that could feature upcycled products but were also stylish.  I have noticed that lots of products in pet stores or supermarkets are made from plastic and are therefore not very kind to the planet.  I also noticed posts on the about dogs that had been harmed by the design of some of the toys they had been given.

With all this in mind I decided to try to do a small range of products for dogs.  I now have Harris Tweed Dog Bow Ties for medium to large dogs.  I have designed these with a flexible loop on the back to enable them to fit a range of collar sizes and also for easy removal.

I have made from pure cotton t'shirts a flexible dog toy, it can be thrown or used as a tug play toy.  It can be washed if required in a normal washing machine.  Because its cotton its kind if your pooch chews it and swallows any toy its organic so will pass through the gut without causing a problem.  I do suggest that you supervise play with your dog as this is common sense.

For medium to small dogs I have doggy bandannas also in cotton.  These are supplied by a friend who makes them to send funds for Westie Rehoming a charity.  I am really pleased to be able to stock these as they enhance my range and although not upcycled are made with care and in quality cotton and I know they are helping to fund rehoming a cause close to my heart.  (I have rehomed pets)

Finally; literally and figuratively I have made dog bag dispensers in Harris Tweed.  These bone shape dispensers are refillable with a roll of 15 bags, and have a handy clip for your dog lead, your zip or your belt.  They are in muted shades as I understand that some people do not like carrying brightly coloured dog bag holders.  Dog mess is not a pleasant subject but as responsible dog owners we pick up after our pets, just because its kinder to other pets, children and local wildlife.

I am always up for suggestions for new product; I am considering a silk bow tie for a smaller dog made from upcycled mens ties, but as yet its a work in progress.

Hope you are enjoying happy days with your pets as the weather gets better and the day are lengthening.

How To: Upcycle Vintage Linen

Have you ever found, bought or inherited some pretty embroidered vintage linen?

You look at it think, 'thats so pretty'

Then you realise you just don't use little dainty embroidered napkins just the normal paper ones from Ikea! 

Here is a quick way of reusing the linen.

Buy plastic buttons to cover with fabric, mine are from the local haberdasher in the market. (about 14mm in diameter).
Place on your fabric and draw a rough circle round your choice of pattern.  (I like two matching patterns but thats just me)

I want the red flower head to feature on the finished button so I use a large tacking stitch round the circle to help gather evenly. but if you like you can just do this without the tacking.

You may have to do some adjustments to get the shape you want so that the edges look reasonably smooth.

It will look like this on the reverse side.  Its time to put the plastic backing onto the shank of the button.




Once the back is firmly in position (you can also put a blob of E6000 glue [or similar] on before the backing for added security)  then I use a sharp craft knife to cut part of the shank away to ensure you have a fairly flat area to put glue so you can stick the button to a hair clip.  If you wanted to use the buttons to embellish a sewing project do not cut off the shank!



                                                                           

I got a collection of different buttons together that match well and found some pretty metal click hair snaps.  (I chose some that had a plastic coating that don't snag in your hair).  I use E6000 glue (but many others are available!)  It is just that it does the job efficiently and I don't want the buttons coming off the hair clips.

So there you have it a quick way of making use of old linen and 
these clips would be good for friends going to festivals or for little girls for dance or gym class.  They make really good stocking fillers and you have time to make before Christmas.  Just add a couple to some pretty birthday cards you have kept for recycling.

Hope you enjoy making them and please let me know how you get on.

Clare x

How time flies!

Update for Creative Upcycling

It seems a long time since I sat down and taken the time to write a blog post.  Its not procrastination (honestly!).  I have spent the time since I last blogged trying (and failing at times) new ideas for my upcycling business.

For example I love painted furniture: who doesent?  but it takes hours to do it right and not have a drippy poorly finished mess on your hands.  I really wanted to be able to offer painted items with upholstered seats or cushions but have realised that the materials and time involved would make those pieces soooo expensive to sell, that my poor customers would think I was having a laugh!  I am leaving painted furniture to those who have time and maybe some sort of spray facilities that enable them to produce those beautiful finishes I love.

So I hear you cry what have you been doing in all that time?  Well so glad you asked me that.  I have taken some time with my web designer Girl Friday Web Services to do a website with a shop facility so you can buy some of the range of items I make.  I wanted a safe secure way for my customers to shop, or get in touch with requests for personalised items.  Just before Christmas 2015 I launched my new site and I hope you will agree the images done by Jim Hawkins Ltd are lovely and reflect what I like about my products.

I have managed over the past year to source Harris Tweed which was a byproduct from a furniture upholsterer near Manchester.  This tweed is new but is in effect the offcuts so come in strange sizes and shapes, I dont know what colours I am going to get and to top it all it arrives in a huge sack.  I hadn't realised when I opened the sack I would:

* Never fit it all back inside again

* Be hoovering wool lint up for weeks

* Be challenged to make lots of different sized products

I have (I think) managed to settle on a range of products to fit the sizes of tweed I have available.

Larger sizes become iPad or Samsung covers, they are lined with soft vintage cotton.  I like to cover buttons with tweed or if I have a beautiful vintage button I use those in the construction.

Slightly smaller pieces become either the covers of hip flasks or coin purses, which I line with vintage liberty print fabric.  I managed to source some lovely vintage Liberty fabric when on a visit to Bishops Castle.  I am drawn like a magpie to second hand & vintage shops where you can often find beautiful things that have never been used.  

Hip flasks have proved to be very popular as the covers can be removed for hand washing.  I may upon request provide extra covers for a hip flask if you have previously bought one from Creative Upcycling.

The smaller sizes are made into keyrings with the addition of a suede or leather backing which makes the product more durable and cufflinks which have been a huge success for mens gifts but also increasingly for women who want to wear a smart shirt.

In my next blog I will be sharing my tips on how to make hair clips that are pretty and unique and can be worn by all ages.

Please leave comments or suggestions I love to chat and if you have a great upcycling tip let me know if I use it in my blog I will credit you and I will send you a little gift to say 'Thank You'

Creative Upcycling, green, sustainable and made with love x