Tile and Spray Paint Coasters How To

Have you got some old kitchen/bathroom tiles that you're not sure what to do with? Why not turn them into handy coasters or plant pot holders? This is a really thrifty make using tiles, spray paint and masking tape- all materials that you probably already have to hand, or can buy cheaply. With just these few materials you can create something that's both stylish and really useful for your home or desk. As you know, I love upcycling and thrifty makes, so I'm excited to share this How To with you today...

1) You will need

Tiles, spray paint, masking tape, small pieces of felt and double sided tape/glue for backing (not pictured)

A note on tiles... If you don't have any spare tiles to hand, many DIY shops sell sample tiles for a few pence each

2) Use the masking tape to cover the areas you don't want to spray paint. I chose simple striped designs but there are lots of other things you could try- try adding small snippets of masking tape to your tiles, blocking out a grid, mask just the corners or the sides- so many possibilities!

3) Spray your tiles! Building up thin coats will give you a better paint coverage than one thick coat. I sprayed my tiles with three coats of paint. Ensure you spray paint in a well ventilated area and wear a mask. Allow to dry thoroughly between coats

4) When the paint is completely dry, carefully peel away the masking tape to reveal the finished design. I didn't leave mine to dry completely and as you can see, this has resulted in jagged paint lines. I quite like the effect, but if you'd like straight lines, do leave the paint to dry completely!

5) Use double sided tape or strong glue to fix small squares of felt onto the corners of your coasters to protect your surfaces

Tah da! Make a nice cup of tea, grab your favourite biscuits and put your new coasters to good use, or use as a pot holder for your plants. Happy making!

How To... Make Recycled Fabric Wrapped Bangles With Two Variations

I shared this How To for Recycled Fabric Wrapped Bangles on the blog last Summer. They are extremely thrifty and simple to make using scraps of fabric and old jewellery/beads you are likely to already have to hand. Lovely summer accessories- perfect to wear in the hot weather we've been having!  

If you try this or any of my How Tos and you're on Instagram, tag a pic of your bangles with @louisedawsondesign so I can see your lovely makes! Happy making!

Check Out My Etsy Shop Celebrating British Materials. Take 20% off too!

Have you seen my Etsy shop? It's stocked with textile jewellery made with British and recycled materials, all handmade by me in Essex, England. From Harris Tweed Button Brooches and rings embellished with pretty recycled fabric "blooms" to Fair Isle brooches and necklaces hand knitted in Shetland wool. I'm working hard to create a shop that is a celebration of British and recycled materials, using traditional techniques re-invented with a modern twist. 

I'm offering 20% off in my Etsy shop until Sunday 5th April- just use the code BRITISHMADE20 at the checkout and treat yourself or a loved one to a handmade gift this Easter! Have a browse here

My Harris Tweed Button Brooches and rings are all made from offcuts of Harris Tweed, embellished with pieces of pretty recycled fabrics

I hand knit pieces for my Fair Isle jewellery collection using beautiful Shetland Wool, which is traditionally used for Fair Isle knitting

The Art Chain

Last week over on Facebook a friend nominated me to take part in the Facebook Art Chain and post an image of my work everyday for 5 days. I enjoyed taking part and looking back on previous work (especially looking back to college days) so I thought I'd share it here too! So this is the journey of my work from 2008 to today!

Day 1

I graduated from Colchester back in 2008 with a degree in fashion and textiles. Since starting to make things when I was little I've always loved to recycle, using all sorts of bits and pieces my Gran used to give me, and my work at college really cemented my Make Do and Mend philosophy. 

For my Graduate Collection I created an installation of three, three metre long cream knitted hangings. They hung from floor to ceiling and were embellished with all sorts of recycled and found objects, from meat hooks, to nuts and bolts, plastic packaging and broken glass, all of which I spray painted white. I really enjoyed looking back on this, it was stressful but such a great time! 

Day 2

When I left college I was lucky enough to win a studio space for a year at Cuckoo Farm Studios in Colchester. I stayed on there after the year was up and in 2010 I had a solo exhibition in the gallery there. This piece is a detail from the installation of knitted hangings, which hung on the ceiling like light fixtures. I was exploring light and texture and for this piece explored the Shibori felting process to create a really unusually textured piece

Day 3

When I finished college I started making jewellery, like this knitted necklace embellished with found objects and spray paint, straight away. I wanted to capture the ideas from my Graduate Collection but in a wearable form. Louise Dawson Design jewellery was born!

Day 4

This is a selection of my knitted and Harris Tweed Button Brooches, embellished with a scattering of recycled materials. I first started making these because I didn't want to throw away leftover scraps of fabric, so I decided to make something with them!

Day 5

At the end of 2014 I was super chuffed to have an article about my work published in Green Craft Magazine. Here are my Knitted Button Rings, embellished with recycled fabrics

Thanks for indulging me on a little look back. I nominate you all to take part in The Art Chain and share your work too!

Louise Dawson Design Published in Green Craft Magazine!

Before I sign off for a blogging break over Christmas, I have some exciting news to share with you... 

Early in 2014 the lovely Editor of Green Craft Magazine, Devon Warren, got in touch to ask if I'd like to write an article about my work to appear in the magazine and I'm chuffed that it has now been published! 

Green Craft Magazine is an American magazine showcasing the work of artists and designers who use up-cycled and re-purposed items in their work. In my article I explain why I choose to create jewellery using up-cycled materials, particularly Harris Tweed, alongside some great images of my work that the magazine shot. 

I'm delighted to be featured alongside many inspiring artists and designers I'd like to say a big thank you to Devon and all the team at the magazine for making one of my big goals possible. I'm so happy to have my work in print!

Here are some peaks at the article, "Crafting Slow Fashion with Recycled Materials."

I'm having a short break from the blog over Christmas but I will be back before the new year to share some new year plans. I have lots to share with you in 2015!

Thank you for your support as I continue to grow this blog. I'm grateful to everyone who reads, follows and comments and supports behind the scenes- without you I wouldn't be able to do this. Wishing you all a very happy, creative Christmas

A Roundup of my How To Blog post series this year so far!

Today I thought I'd share with you a roundup of my How To... blog post series from this year so far! One of my goals for the blog this year was to start a How To feature, creating lovely things using thrifted, recycled and inexpensive materials. I wanted to inspire others to create things from the materials they already have at home- from coasters made using old CDs, lace and paint tester pots, fabric wrapped bangles embellished with broken jewellery and a fabric scrap photo frame, I hope my How Tos inspire you to get crafting. Happy making!

How To... Make a set of coasters using old CDs and lace

This has been my favourite How To... so far, I love using these coasters!

How To... Transform a Vintage Metal Tray Charity Shop Find

You see lots of these trays in the charity shops and this is a great way to give them a new life

How To... Make Recycled Fabric Wrapped Bangles with Two Variations

A triple wammy of a recycling How To... Old bangles, broken jewellery and fabric scraps

How To... Make a fabric remnant Tote Bag

A handy way to use up remnants in your fabric stash

How To...Make tea light holders using glass ramekins from GU desserts and lace

(The perfect excuse to have desert! Nom nom nom...)

How To... DIY Lace Collar Printed T-Shirt with Cover Buttons

A really easy and effective way to customise an old t-shirt

How To... Embellish an old jumper

I used the beads and gems I already had to give a suggestion here but there are no end of possibilities for embellishment! Give those expensive embellished jumpers a run for their money!

How To... Make a D.I.Y Fabric Pin Board

Inexpensive to make and a good way to use up fabric from your stash

How To... Fabric Scrap Photo Frame DIY

Great for using up small scraps of fabric

Feeling nostalgic

I actually posted this same post about a year ago, but it's now six years since I graduated and I'm looking back at where it all began. My jewellery collections evolved from these pieces... it's scary how time has flown by!

For my graduate collection I created an installation of three knitted hangings (each about three metres long) based on the theme of Make Do and Mend, combining knit with unexpected recycled materials, including glass, meat hooks, plastic food packaging and household paint, to name just a few. My aim was to utilise these unwanted materials and re-purpose them into something beautiful, and this is a philosophy I still work to now.

Knitted hanging embellished with recycled materials

This may look familiar- I embellished one hanging with strings of knit covered beads
embellished with recycled materials. I took this idea forward and developed my first collection of necklaces!

I collected glass bowls, jugs etc from charity shops and broke them into pieces with a hammer 

(very therapeutic!) I attached washers and wool and then hooked these onto my knitting machine, actually knitting them into the piece 

I'll share more images from my creative journey with you as I continue in my retrospective endeavor! 

Back to my roots

I'm currently looking through images of my work right through from when I graduated nearly five years ago, up to today (can't believe it's been five years!). I want to create a photo timeline with them for the Open Studios weekend to show the journey of my work so far. To be honest it's as much for my own reference as my visitors- I want to look back to my roots and re-affirm the philosophies of my work!

So this is where it all started! For my graduate collection I made three knitted hangings (each about three metres long) based on the theme of Make Do and Mend, combining knit with unexpected recycled materials, including glass, meat hooks, plastic food packaging and household paint, to name just a few. My aim was to utilise these unwanted materials and re-purpose them into something beautiful, and this is a philosophy I still work to now.

Knitted hanging embellished with recycled materials

This may look familiar- I embellished one hanging with strings of knit covered beads
embellished with recycled materials. I took this idea forward and developed my first collection of necklaces!

I collected glass bowls, jugs etc from charity shops and broke them into pieces with a hammer 

(very therapeutic!) I attached washers and wool and then hooked these onto my knitting machine, actually knitting them into the piece 

I'll share more images from my creative journey with you as I continue in my retrospective endeavor! 

Behind the Scenes

I just wanted to share with you some behind the scenes images of new pieces taking shape in my studio...

To make my brooches and necklaces I mostly use recycled wool or wool that people have given me, but working where I do it's hard to resist new things and this is how I have found myself with this beautiful Bergere De France yarn! Luberon is actually a 4ply sock yarn, but it works beautifully through my machine and there is a  lovely range of colours. 

All knitted covers for my brooches and necklaces are knitted by me on my knitting machine!

Brooch bases waiting to be embellished!

New pieces that will be on sale in the Jessica Muir Gallery, Long Melford

Don't forget to check out my new Etsy Shop and visit my Facebook page before the end of June for a free UK postage coupon!