April 09, 2010

Gypsy Cottage Influenced Tassels



I want to share with you how I made these gypsy cottage influenced tassels. I am constantly on the look out for vintage hardware, fabrics and scraps of this and thats, pieces that would fit in with the French and gypsy at heart.

If I was a simple piece of hand-me-down fabric, this is exactly what I would want to be. In keeping with this European flea market gypsy style tassel, I made tattered rag strips by tearing strips of fabrics half inch in widths and 22" long. I then washed and dryed them in the dryer this way they will look even more tattered and wrinkled.

Taking about 8 strips and using a 9th strip as a tie, you then take the 8 strips halfway point tying the 9th strip around the 8 in a tight knot. You then take a vintage glass knob, wood or metal drawer knob pull that has a hole all the way through it and run both ends of the strip of fabric you tired around the 8 strips up through the bottom of the knob through the top of knob tying that in a knot at the top of the knob as well, then tie off the top so you can hang it. You can buy or make a creative cotton flower sewing a vintage button in the center and a piece of tattered braided cotton lace to the back of the rosette, those ties will tie around the base of the drawer pull knob above the knot allowing the ties to hang and mix in with your tattered strips.



Finding or making pieces of art will embellish and charm your tassels adding lots of personality. I love to take random or meaningful words, about 2 to 6 words torn from old pages of a tattered with wear book. I will tear a strip of a book page of words then aged the strip with paints that I have watered down and glued to cardboards. I then add a small hole at the end of it, taking an old aged safety pin I then pin the book tag to a strip of fabric. I also make sure to tie some of the ends of the strips into a messy knot, this will only add to the charm of the gypsy cottage tassels, perfectly imperfect.

These tassels are going to my shop in hopes that they will be used in a number of creative ways, perhaps curtian tiebacks or adorn a door knob or a drawer pull or two, they can be used just about anywhere your style desires.

I want to ACKNOWLEDG Kim at WhiteWhispers2u.blogspot.com and thank her for gifting me this wonderful piece of muslin fabric, who in turn thanks Shellagh at TickingandToile.blogspot.com for gifting to her the muslin fabric and passing it onto me. What better way to recycle and restyle a simple piece of muslin fabric into a tattered tassel.
"Inspiring you to create your own tassels."

27 comments:

Razmataz said...

What an interesting idea. Lots of places to use those! They would be nice to use on a gift, then the receiver could use it again in their house.

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

Love these! Thank you for stopping by my little blog so I could find yours ~ it looks beautiful and inspiring!!

TAPESTRIESOFNATURE said...

YOU'RE A GIRL AFTER MY OWN HEART! LOVE WHAT YOU DID. RAGS TO RICHES! LET US KNOW HOW THEY DO IN YOUR SHOP.
.....NOW, LET ME SEE,..WHAT DID I DO WITH MY BAG OF OLD SCRAP FABRIC........

Vintage Rose Collection said...

Thank you for your very sweet comment today! I am thrilled I found you, your hande-made tassles are so romantic.. Love love them!
Warm Blessings,
Jo-Anne

Terri Gordon said...

Hello, Thank you so much for visiting my blog and your kind words, your blog is just beautiful and I love your creations. Have a wonderful weekend. Terri

Beach House Living said...

I make flowers for my shop but haven't tried using a drawer pull. Great idea.

Beach House Living said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ticking and Toile said...

very cute ~ I would love to try making those! love the little word strips pinned on....

Shellagh

WhiteWhispers2u said...

Your so Creative! Love anything Gypsy Style, free and fun! ~Cheers Kim

Victoria said...

Those are so cute, I don't think I could pull of making one but you made it sound so easy!

About Southern Belle said...

I love the soft shade of linen...so relaxing and what a neat idea. BTW, just wanted to let you know I so enjoyed one of the songs on your playlist that I added it to my own. The one about moving resonated with me right now.

~Christine

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

these are wonderful...you made them...nice going....


is that your beautiful daughter on the sidebar...it must be...she is gorgeous...and looks like she is smart too...good for her...

enjoyed my visit here today....

kary

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

i'm back..it is your daughter...beautiful....

love all your sidebar goodies...we like alot of the same things...so much fun....


kary

Jenni said...

Oh.My.Goodness. I think I might die, this idea is that good! I love, love, LOVE the fabric you used (love muslin!) and the rosette and the knob idea! I am so excited to try this out! (i am trying to calm down, and resist the sudden urge to tear muslin strips at this late hour.) But this is going to be on my list of things to make as soon as possible...tomorrow? :) Thank you so much for sharing this!

Thank you also so much for your comments regarding the giveaway~ I was so nervous about doing one! But it has been really fun, and Monday I will have my oldest daughter draw a name! :)

I hope you are having a beautiful weekend!

LaurieAnna's Vintage Home said...

Wow! Those are super cool...love it! Thanks for dropping by my place!

Anonymous said...

LOVE the shabby, soft look! I've been wanting to hang a large tassel on one of my armoire handles - one of these would be perfect!!!
Thank you for all the beauty and inspiration you share!
Zuzu

QueenBe said...

The tassles are amazing..... so creative and unique. Thanks for discovering my blog so that I could discover yours!

WhiteWhispers2u said...

I'm going to pass more things on to you just to see what you come up with. Love it!

~Cheers Kim

savvycityfarmer said...

oh you little smart-y you!
these are knock out fabulous!

wish i had the patience to try one ... hehe

Rebecca said...

Hello
Thank you for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment. Love your tassels! Love the old fabrics myself... My daughter and I have been selling vintage fabric for years on ebay. I think it might be going really cheap right now at least to what it used to go for~ our ebay name is simplyposh. Hope you have a lovely day.
Blessings
Rebecca

Mammabellarte Rita Reade said...

Thank you for sharing the idea and I like them a lot. Ciao Rita mammabellarte

Prior said...

I love these... My sister decorates for a huge Christmas event each year; I help and this would be a perfect addition, we are always introducing something a little more edgy than the traditional red and green, which we love,too. It is great to see the faces of the guestd, last year every table was full of cloches and such. This year we are going for the more shabby,neutral,snowy look, ... Thanks for the directions...Lezlee

Obee Designs said...

Hi Dore,
I am just stopping by to say hi and check out all of your splendor. I am just wondering if there is anything you can't do?? Your brain must not stop thinking of ways to be creative...that's a good thing :)
I just love these adorable tassels and especially LOVE the little inspiration tags. Too cute!!
I can't wait to see what you come up with next!!
I hope you are having a great day!!
XoXo
Gail

Tricia said...

I love these and want to make my own....luckily I've been saving my white linen and burlap sewing scraps!
Your tutorials are fabulous.

Loose Sparrow Arts N Crafts said...

I am gypsy at heart, too! But the Italian in me along with Hispanic influence would create REALLY colorful tassles instead of your elegant white ones. I am just discovering burlap, too. I have bought a roll of burlap covered wallpaper to use in my art, and I LOVE it.

Debby said...

Your work is beautiful. Love what you did with the knives. I scrolled down and saw the beautiful picture of the hands and bird. Breath taking. Congratulations on your baby graduating. Lots og good times ahead.
I'm here by way of Brenda at Cozy Little House.....Welcome

Barbara Jean said...

wow girl
that's a lot of tassels and rosettes!!
Gorgeous in the whites

You could have linked up with an old post I'm sure. It is a fun party

Blessings

barbara jean