Plastic Fantastic: The marvels of melting

Beautiful butterfly collage

Yesterday I ran a melted plastic decorations workshop at The Hut, which is part of Brampton Community Centre. It was a bit of a wet and grey morning but this worked out well as the session was over subscribed so very busy, a few more than I anticipated but it kept me busy! Last year I ran a similar session at The Kirkgate Centre in Cockermouth as a drop in workshop. The session was for children and there was quite a wide age range. Because of this I'd planned two activities so that they could choose what was most suitable for them.

Arranging bits and pieces

Laying the pieces out

Another collage ready to melt

The first option was plastic bag collage. This involved collaging and then fusing pieces of plastic bags together to make pictures or abstract compositions. Some of the children made really complex collages and there were some really fun ideas.

Melting!

Cat collage

The right trousers!

The second option was to crochet chains and then arrange the chains into shapes before melting. Because it was quite a large group it was difficult to have enough time help everyone with this but all the parents, grandparents and carers were really helpful and some of the children picked it up really well and made some really long chains!

Learning to crochet

Finger crochet

Chains arranged into a flower and melted

My main aim for the session was to give the children and their carers a fun and creative activity that they could experiment more with at home. As all that is needed are plastic bags, an iron and some baking parchment it is a cheap and easy thing to experiment but with a bit of skill and practice complex patterns and pieces can be produced. I've been melting plastic bags for about ten years now and I like the element of transformation and slightly unpredictable nature of it.

Fish Collage

Fish Collage #2

Plastic Fantastic

Some of my melted plastic decorations in my studio window

Last month I did two Melted Plastic Decoration Workshops at The Kirkgate Centre in Cockermouth. I really enjoyed them and it is a lovely place to work with very friendly staff.

In the window at The Kirkgate Centre

All the materials set up ready to go!

The workshops were drop-in sessions and I taught people to crochet using plarn (yarn made from strips of plastic bag.) I then showed people how to melt their creations using an iron to create beautiful, light-weight decorations.

Picture made from melted plastic bag pieces

Flower decoration made from melted crochet chains

There were some beautiful creations; unfortunately I didn't get many photographs as I was far too busy crocheting and melting, which as regular readers will know is one of my favourite ways to spend time!

Another beautiful crochet flower

Crafty goods

Hearts and Roses Brooch

I was meant to be at a Craft Fair yesterday but the organisers decided to cancel it because the past few events haven't been very busy and the other aspects of their business are really working out. So, I had an unexpectedly free day so I decided to re-stock my Folksy shop. I've not given it a lot of attention recently so this was the kick I needed to get a bit more organised. Hopefully, over the next few weeks I'll carry on listing more lovely things so please keep checking back. Also, I'm always happy to do commission and bespoke pieces. Please feel free to contact me for details.

Origami hair comb

Lace and Feather Fascinator

Polymer clay buttons

Owl tote bag

Melted plastic ear-rings

Melted plastic heart ear-rings

Felt and crochet brooch

Heart Watch Keyring

Melted Plastic Ear-rings

Published Pattern

My pattern in print!

I've been keeping (fairly) quiet about this but I'm very excited to announce that I've just had my first pattern published. You can find it in this month's Inside Crochet (issue 34.) The pattern is for a pair of earrings made from crocheted and melted plastic bags, as you know I do love to crochet and melt plastic. I sent the pattern off in April and was so excited to have it accepted and it was really interesting to find out what goes on and what you have to do to get your pattern published. So, finally, here it is!

Issue 34

My project is mentioned in the editors letter

My picture of the earrings

Detail of the earring

Crowning Glory

My Crown!

At work on Friday I felt like making a crown, so I did. I used my tried and trusted method of crocheting strips of plastic bag and then melting them with the iron. I just used a simple border pattern and used lace to fasten it at the back. It's not quite such a random thing to do as it may first appear. For our summer project this year I want to do some headgear making workshops so I'm starting to get samples made to give people ideas. I will also be making hats, wigs, fascinators and whatever else I can think of!

Detail of plastic lace

On a head

Detail

On my head!

The Mystery Project

The finished piece

The final project in the Art House Co-op's 10x10 series is the Mystery Project. You get sent a theme and a marker and have to make a piece of art and leave it somewhere for a stranger to find. My theme was 'The Future of the Year' and I really struggled to think of something. So, I left it to the last minute! Last night I thought I really should do something as the deadline is today so I thought about what a good future would be like; recycled and handmade, obviously! I decided my signature style of crocheting and melting plastic bags would be good so I made a pretty flower with a chain so that whoever finds it and takes it home can hang it up. A little card explaining what the piece is and it was ready to go.

In my window

Detail

Detail

Crocheted plastic bag flower

The whole thing

Detail of card

The Lace Space Revisited

The new and improved Lace Space

Last summer during Universal, our community arts festival up at The Heathlands Project, I created, with one of my groups, the Lace Space; made of knitted, crocheted, woven and melted plastic bags. You can find the original post and pictures here: http://www.delicatestitches.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/lace-space.html It took a bit of a battering during the high winds of winter and I was never totally happy with the top of the piece so over the past few weeks (months) I have been improving it. I've added a top tier and re-hung it outside on Monday. I'm really pleased with the new section, I think it looks a lot better and it also works better when you stand inside it. Many thanks to all the folks who helped me with the sourcing, cutting, knitting and crocheting of the plastic bags!

Looking up and out the top of the Lace Space

Seen through the trees

Swaying in the breeze

From the side

At the top

Looking up

Crochet detail

Crochet detail

More crochet detail

Lace detail

Looking out through the Lace



Through the Lace