Recycling for textiles
Reuse, Recycle, Reclaim
It seems that in this culture we're given so many "things"- our houses are full of "stuff".
Before we are born we're given gifts and this carries on throughout our lives. We throw things away, we break things, we send them to charity shops.
Of course it's necessary to occasionally de-clutter our lives - we wouldn't be able to move if we kept everything. However amazing treasures can be found for use in arts and craft projects.
I aim to show you how I've used found and recycled objects and materials in my artwork and to inspire you to think beyond the label of "junk".
This book is available as a digital download from Lulu.com.
Find out more below!
Book Information and Excerpts
About the Book
Reuse, Recycle, Reclaim
A "How- To" Textiles e-Book
Full of Eye Candy!
Over 180 pages and over 180 full-colour images.
Ideas for Recycling old clothes
Recycling large objects like furniture
Making bags from recycled items
Using up the bits you'd usually throw away
Recycling packaging
Saving old projects that went wrong
Recycling broken jewellery
Using found objects
And much more!
Thumbnails and Excerpts - Have a look inside Reuse, Reycle, Reclaim.
Click thumbnail to view full-size
Contents
Health and Safety
Tools and Materials
Packaging
Boxes and Tins
Novel Ideas for Thread Spools
Picking Up After Yourself
Thread Waste
Off-cuts
Found Objects
Recycling for Knitters
Furniture
The Shirt off your Back
Pick your Rubbish up and take it home with you
Wire Coat hangers
All the Leftover Bits
Reuse, Recycle, Reclaim is Avalable from Lulu.
Click here for my textiles book store.
Recycling Off-Cuts from Old Projects
Using Off-cuts of Textiles - Recycling Melted Fabrics style!
This is a piece I made by patchworking together sections of excess textiles that I cut from the edge of other textiles pieces.
These tiny pieces are like little treasures so it seemed a shame to throw them away.
In my Recycling book I'll show you how to reuse little bits of textiles.
Breathing New Life into Old Dolls
Recycling Dolls - Recycling Melted Fabrics style!
In this textiles piece I've recycled a cheap Star Trek action figure by wrapping it with fabric and yarn.
This piece is called "The Seamstress" and also features recycled fabrics and thread spools.
Creative Recycling in Embroidery - Val Holmes.
Making Old Chairs into Textiles Art
Recycling Furniture - Recycling Melted Fabrics style!
This textiles piece was made to cover a really old chair.
I copied images of my family onto pieces of fabric and added them into the textiles.
Pick Up Your Trash and Take it With You
Recycled Bags - Recycling Melted Fabrics style!
This purse features recycled fabrics, found marbles, and a recycled purse frame.
I'll give you ideas on how to make your own recycled bags.
Get Your Own Back on Ill-Fitting Bras!
Bras! - Recycling Melted Fabrics style!
Is this going too far?
I decided to make art from my old bras!
The lace looks fabulous when it's melted.
Making Stuff - An Alternative Craft Book.
This is a cute book full of ideas for making mittens out of old jumpers, wings from newspaper and feathers, necklaces from paper, bathmats from t-shirts etc.
Second-Time Cool - The Art of Chopping Up a Sweater.
Learn how to recycle old sweaters and make cute things!
Secrets of Rusty Things - Transforming Found Objects into Art.
Learn how to make beautiful assemblage art from old rusty bits!
Please Leave A Comment - Reader Feedback.
You have some genius ideas! Love them all! Wonderful job on this article and big kudos on making the upcycling/recycling monsterboard!
- AUTHOR
@bames24 lm: Thanks :)
great ideas... :)
- AUTHOR
@Diana Wenzel: LOL! Thanks for visiting :D
- AUTHOR
@Anahid LM: Thanks for visiting Anna :D
I love it! Great ideas. I guess in addition to "naughty" relatives I could put photos of anyone I wanted to sit on (your chair recovering project) for that furniture seat. Ha! Just kidding... kind of. The bra idea is brilliant! Glad to discover you and your creativity. :-)
Hi good idea for recycling old fabric. I wish you a happy Easter all the best. Anna
- AUTHOR
@BrickHouseFabrics: Thanks for visiting :D
More great ideas!!!
- AUTHOR
@Kylyssa: Thanks for visiting :D
Wonderful recycled art! Thanks for sharing your recycled art ideas.
Some really cool ideas for recycling! If you find you can't use all your textiles or you've simply got too much stuff in general, consider using a professional skip hire company to take away and ethically recycle everything for you.
- AUTHOR
[in reply to Superwife] Thank you :D
this is one of the most creative and interesting crafts I've ever seen! Your work is so very unique - 5* from me and fav :)
- AUTHOR
[in reply to Laniann] Thank you :D
Going to be a very interesting book with gorgeous fabric.
- AUTHOR
[in reply to 0ctavias0fferings] Thank you :D I'll pop some more images (and bigger) up soon.
- AUTHOR
[in reply to Jimmie] Thanks! I'll see what I can do :)
Interesting lens, I agree with Jimmie, I too would like to see some larger pics of some of the items. I do a bit of recycling myself ;-)
Your art is most interesting. I'd love to see more (larger) pics.
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