Every Christmas, I alter our holiday decor a bit. This year I created a “chandelier” by suspending a juniper branch over our dining table and decorating it with handmade felted balls, Froebel stars, and crystal ornaments. The benefit of using a natural object for decor is that I can return it to nature when I am finished with it. And if I am lucky, this particular branch can be “found” again next holiday season.
The two poufs I made have proven very useful in our livingroom. My daughters often choose to sit on the poufs rather than the couch or armchairs. But I wanted them to serve as more than a footrest or seat. I sketched an idea for a simple base tray that can alternately be underneath or on top of the pouf. I created a prototype out of scrap cardboard. When underneath the pouf, the base tray raises it to a standard seat height so it function as extra seating at our dining table. If I flip the base tray over and place it on top of the pouf, the combination functions as a side table.
Ultimately, I’d like to make this base tray out of finish plywood, but I lack the tools and materials. When I get around to making cube poufs, which I prefer, I will make a square base tray prototype.
While researching creative uses for my bins of scrap fabric, I found a pattern on bhg.com for a pouf. I chose an outdoor cotton duck fabric and pretty much followed the bhg.com instructions verbatim except that I opted for minimal hand stitching to finish the top and bottom octagons. To fill the pouf, I used two large storage bins of scrap fabric and fiber fill from three old pillows. It was very satisfying to use so much “waste” to create something so useful, lasting, and attractive. To be totally honest, I am not in love with the octagonal shape. If I make any more poufs, they will be cubes. I found two wool blankets at a thrift store that I felted just for this purpose. Since I am all out of fabric scraps for filling, I can purchase bags of rejected thrift store clothing for $0.10/lb.
Origami is one of the most simple and satisfying crafts for me. The cost is minimal, the required tools are only my two hands and the occasional scissors or cutting blade, yet the results are always awesome. This is an experiment for a pyramidal centerpiece. I chose stark, minimal white paper for this prototype.
by pauline 