Upcycled not thrown out

Imagine, you spill some very yummy, very oily tomatoes on the cover of your very cheap ottoman. Yes, a big stain and a wash doesn't get it out. And I can't throw this thing away. So I sewed a new cover from some soft stretchy fabric I got from my mum, and I decorated it with a knitted and crocheted house, some flowers and a tree. It is actually this project that brought me back to knitting and crocheting all these years ago. Just trying out what I still remembered from school, and making my own design as I went along. Not a masterpiece, but very dear to me, this thing!

A woodland friend

This little friend, Rusty the squirrel, I knit around 5 years ago. He's made from a kit that came with the magazine Let's Knit (issue 83). As often, the yarn in this kit was dreadful, but I like Rusty and his fluffy tail came out very nice! Also, by knitting him, I learned some new techniques.
And we had a lot of fun taking the pictures!
Perhaps I will knit this pattern again in a nicer rustic yarn. Not sure about what yarn (non-acrylic) to use for the tail though. Anyone any ideas?

Always in need of more lavender bags

A wool lover with some stash always needs more lavender bags, because the lavender keeps away wool-eating moths. It also works very well for this pile of cotton patches.
This lavender bag I made from a piece of linen fabric from some old trousers. The embroidery I learned from an Afghan refugee teacher who was kind enough to come and teach our textile art group about the principles of Afghan Embroidery. To learn new techniques offers so many new possibilities. We should strive to learn from each other, there are so many fascinating people!