Collaring the jewellery storage - part 2!

I did a lot of YouTube research when I was pondering my collar box conversion.  One idea was to create a layer of rollers, similar to DIY frames for ring display.  I'd gone into Kmart to source hair rollers for that idea but realised it wouldn't work as hoped. 

Another thought was to use the layers of a bamboo steamer inside the collar box - but again, that plan didn't go ahead as the diameter of the steamer was a smidge too large.

Some brooch collectors store their pieces in plastic stationery drawers, lined with non-slip matting.  I decided to see if I could find something circular that would fit the collar box and adapt the stationery drawer idea.  

I'd measured the collar box before heading to the local shopping centre and took a tape measure with me.  The Reject Shop had these pot saucers that were just the right size for $3.00 each.

That $6.00 was the only outlay for this project.  All other materials were already on hand.  I wanted a dividing layer between the two saucers.  I cut circles from one of my custom calendars.  Four or five circles were glued to create a firm divider.

While rummaging for possible handles, I found these two opal cufflinks and a single collar stud - which seemed appropriate!

I cut two leather circles.  I already had two circles of brown blanket, that were surplus from another project - and I cut another two circles from purple polar fleece.  I layered these into two sets with a smaller leather circle to space the layers along the length of a cufflink.  

I'd considered leaving the layers open but decided to sew around the perimeter instead.  I did that very carefully this afternoon, using my machine.  I was going to use a contrasting thread colour but I'm glad I changed my mind!  

The weight of the leather covers should hold the brooches firmly in place against the non-slip matting, though the theory is yet to be tested.  Stay tuned!

Collaring the jewellery storage - part 1!

Nick and I restored a $5.00 leather hat box at the beginning of 2021 and then took it with us on our anniversary splurge. It's a beautiful piece and only cost $10.00 in total!

I saw a leather collar box on FaceBook marketplace around that time but missed out on buying it.  I found another one later in the year, during our Byron Bay trip and purchased it for $50.00, which seemed a good price given my quick research - and we can't always nab $5.00 bargains!

Some projects require a fair bit of pondering, so the collar box has sat in our dining room since May, awaiting inspiration and motivation.  I had thought of using it for jewellery storage (particularly brooches) but wasn't sure how I would go about the transformation.

I have a small jewellery case, purchased during an overnight trip to Dalby in 2020.  It was a $20.00 find at a second-hand shop in Oakey.  I like the design more than the colour but it's not really intended for brooches - and there was a fair bit of overflow on a recent trip. 

I've been working on the collar box these past few days.  I do a bit, then wander off for other missions while I think about the next step.  There's no rush and I'm enjoying the slow pace.

Collar boxes were used to store men's collars, back in the days when those detached from shirts (held in pace by collar studs).  I googled and found one very similar to mine, described as being an early 20th century piece (with 1910 mentioned).  

Given it's age, there are some flaws.  The strap was broken and the buckle piece barely hanging on.  I decided not to replace those, so removed both.  At some stage a dodgy repair had been effected to the bottom band, using too much glue - and I took that off, also.

A spa treatment was long overdue.  I did a gentle saddle soap clean and  followed that with some deep conditioning.  I then applied shoe polish to even out the colour on the outside of the box.  

The lip of the bottom section was very dry (with some damage) and I gave the interior several coats of neatsfoot oil, which were rapidly soaked in.  As expected, the oil darkened the leather but little of the interior will be seen when the box is in use.

Just in case ...

I was out of sorts this morning.  I'm not sure why.  An outing was in order, though I wasn't sure where to go.

After departing the driveway, we decided to head in a direction we don't usually take.  Our destination suburb had a couple of opshops and we found quite a few bargains in the second one we visited.

This vanity case didn't have any identifying marks but was well made.  It was a different style to others we regularly see and seemed a good size to hold wine bottles.  

Once home, I removed the two stiff cardboard loops and thoroughly cleaned the interior.  (As much as I like the neat mirror, it won't stay).

The case was in good condition and didn't require much attention.  I cleaned the exterior and used a magic sponge on a few white marks.  I then rubbed very fine steel wool on the tarnished hinges.   

As you can see, Nick applied some silicon spray to the lock.  It should work into the mechanism and lessen some of the stiffness.

To finish, I applied a conditioning balm to all the exterior surfaces. It's come up quite well and really didn't take much time or effort.

At this stage, I don't have any plans to re-line the case.  I bought a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide when grocery shopping.  You might be able to make out a water stain on the lid lining.  I've dabbed peroxide over that a couple of times and think the mark is becoming fainter.

I'm thinking of making a pair/set of bottle bags to provide some extra protection for any bottles in the case. At this stage though I have plans for lots of Christmas sewing and the bottle bags have a lower priority.  

We haven't given up on our port port but that project is taking longer than anticipated, so this vanity case revamp will work in the meantime - or be a useful addition.  

I should say we aren't huge drinkers.  Last trip we took several choices and most came home.  We only opened one bottle of bubbles for our Winton cheese platter!

Holiday cheer!

I enjoyed using my tea cosies while away in September, so decided the SpaceVan needed more accessories. 

When I first learned to sew, I lived in Newcastle and bought fabrics from McElwaine's on Hunter Street and Anne's Glory Box, when it was in the mall, near the food court (for the Novocastrians). 

I occasionally bought from Pooh's Corner and another shop in the main street of Belmont. Sometimes Spotlight. 

These days I pick up fabric and notions from op-shops to add to my stash - and buy a few special prints online. 

I still go to Spotlight, mainly for needles and thread, batting and interfacing and try to buy these at during one of their regular sales or when they send a voucher.  Of course, I'll rummage in their remnant bin while there! 

I wanted my Spacevan kitchen and dining accessories to be bright, like the tea cosies.

The sunflower fabric has been in the stash for so long, I can't remember where it came from. The green dots were a recent opshop find - and there was enough to make a small tablecloth also. The main fabric of the sunflower tea towels was a 50c piece! (The green tea towels are new, purchased from a different opshop). 

In total I made two tablecloths, two placemats (the reverse side is a bright llama print), four bowl cosies, a jar opener, two pot-holders (backed with yellow batik that was used for my tea cosies), two tea towels and one hand towel. 

We have a green/white melamine set of plates and bowls (originally purchased back in 2014 before the Millard van but well-used during our 18-month stint of caravan living) that co-ordinate well with these accessories. The insides of the bowls were looking sad but a few soaks with denture tablets worked wonders. I was able to salvage six of the original eight.  Given it will be mostly Nick and I using the van, I'll keep a set of four plates in both large and small sizes in the Spacevan, as well as two similarly coloured smaller plates.  (The other green plates in our larger picnic kit).  I'm liking the holiday cheer!

Taking ad-van-tage of scraps!

The volume of my infamous fabric stash fluctuates.  I add opshop finds to it, haberdashery items as well as material - and I occasionally buy specific prints, when crafting a themed gift.  

This happy caravan design was purchased to make a bag set for a friend. A different friend scored a travel tissue cover from the leftovers and then there were just two small pieces left.  I wanted to use them for me but hadn't thought of a suitable project.  

When playing with this striped op-shop remnant (a $2.00 bargain!), I realised it was an excellent match for the vans - and I decided to make a cosy for my small $2.00 teapot, which had been well used on our Wing-it Wanderings last year.

Youtube had many tutorials, though a few were declared "frumpy" by Erin!  I found one that appealed, drafted a simple pattern before bed and started creating when I woke at 6ish. I smiled hugely as I sewed and was very chuffed with the finished piece, particularly the button "tyre". The top collage shows the front and back of that cosy.

I rediscovered the second, larger piece of van fabric yesterday and made a second, larger cosy for our Roma teapot (purchased from the marvelous Ace Drapers store).  I'd used all the stripes, so the reverse is a bright yellow batik print - the same as the lining of the both cosies.  Four vans were given button tyres and when we were choosing those, Erin found a black button with a rooster etching, so that was sewn on a compass. 

As much as the cosies were made to fit particular teapots, they will fit others and I'm thinking the larger one might cover a plate of scones or similar also.  

Mat-ching!

I was impressed with the success of my hair towel project, so decided to make something else for my holiday kit - a mini bath mat!  It may seem OTT but I've often remembered the bath mats at Mortlake and thought I could BYO a smaller version.

This one is a cut-down hand towel, that had been retired from use.  I rounded the corners and then topped with more of the bed cover fabric.  

It's not perfect but will be quite fine to stand on after a shower.  Looks pretty flash, eh?!  

Hair it is!

I've previously showed the contents of my brown beauty case (purchased to pair with my Gladstone bag).  

I like all the bright, happy colours and bought a similarly cheerful towel last year from Ace Drapers in Roma.  It was labelled a beach towel but I think of it as a holiday towel!

In recent times I had a yen for a co-ordinating hair towel and spent a fair bit of time looking for one that was pre-made or alternatively a bath towel I could use to sew a custom version.  

Nothing really appealed and Nick half-jokingly suggested I dye a hair towel already here.  At first I didn't think much of his suggestion but when I was up super-early yesterday morning, I did some Googling.

Earlier this year, I dyed tea-towels with - tea!  I didn't fancy a brown-ish hair towel but thought onion skins and turmeric might have potential as on-hand natural dyeing ingredients (that didn't require a mordant).

While I was boiling those, I did some running repairs on an old, white hair towel. It's elastic was stretched and some of the stitching had failed. 

I strained the skins and tumeric powder from the dye, then returned the liquid to a large pot.  I put the repaired towel in and brought the dye bath to the boil again.  

I'd already booked several activities for the day, so turned the heat off before leaving the house and left the towel to soak till my return - around 6 hours in total.

It's not as bright a colour as I hoped but I'm quite happy with the result.  

Since our very early camping days we used a particular cover on our bed.  I had some fabric from that and cut a flower motif to applique on the towel.  

When testing it became obvious the elastic loop needed shortening and I added an orange button also, sewn with bright pink thread.  Hah - how's that for a custom bath accessory, using materials already here?!