ribbon christmas ornaments

Sunday 31 October 2010


One of the few difficult things I experienced while compiling handmade living: a designer collective, was witnessing the stunning array of handcrafted items and projects by really clever people all over the country... and not having the time to create them myself.

I mean - the book will soon be delivered and I'll have the rest of my life to create these amazing projects! but it's been a torturous year being so book-focused and time poor, and not being able to craft anything myself.

Being a total Christmas nutbag, I invariably go a little bananas by the end of October, pondering what theme I'd like to work on for decorating the house - and this year it will be RED and WHITE, with a little touch of Nordic straw and pine.

I have an enormous collection of Christmas ornaments (call it a sickness) but this year I wanted to create something new and different, so last night set to work creating pieces from ribbon...




Don't you just love the effect of the stripe? A lot of this was trial and error - and it wasn't until I found the right glue and stitching techniques that things became easier and the shapes began to look nicer.

The concertina folds in the flower top left were really tough to configure - no matter how tight you hold them, they do slip and slide, so I ended up just making loops of ribbon which hold their shape and length beautifully and are much easier to work with.

This my collection so far and I'm off to get more ribbon today to try some new shapes - I already have some ideas in mind, having mulled them over last night in my sleep.

It might be a small thing but the joy I found in making these ornaments - the satisfaction, the creative relief... it just makes me want to peep.

Are you making any Christmas ornaments?


8 comments:

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

Oh lovely, fantastic, eye catching & wow wow wow wow!! Thanks for the plug on METRIC too, love you long time Tania!! Have linked it to my latest blog - Christmas decorations from the Bredbo Christmas Barn, O.M.G. You'd love it!! Love Posie

Tania McCartney said...

I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Bredbo for the Christmas Barn - I'm off to your post!! xx

TravelingMom said...

(Patti S. from HomeArts here... :-))

These remind me of ribbon candy. Do they have ribbon candy in AU, or is that a US thing? These are beautiful.

My tree is almost always all handblown ornaments like Christopher Radko and such. But I'm thinking of a small tree in the family room...

Tania McCartney said...

Hi Patti! We don't have ribbon candy as much as you do in the States - you can find it but rarely. I LOVE it. I bought tonnes of ribbon candy ornaments (blown glass) from a source when we were in China and have a stack of blown glass ornaments I put out every year - so will blend these with these ones I've made. Felt like mixing it up a bit this year. Let me know when you've got your decorations up - send photos!

Tx

Michelle said...

They look lovely Tania - simple and stylish.

Em Callaghan said...

What a brilliant idea...I'm making ornaments using Swarovski crystals and they're coming up a treat, sparkle from all angles.

Look forward to seeing what else you come up with!

Cheers Em

Megan Blandford said...

They're stunning!

Market Girl said...

OMG get them into shop now! (please) x

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