Last year at Embroiderers’ Guild we had an amazing full day workshop with Chris Gray which started off with printing from her mind-blowing collection of printing blocks. I only had a handful of bits of fabric and loved the printing so much that I ended up printing on everything I could find in my bags, including three silk carrier rods I’d ironed flat.
I love silk carrier rods, but like so many things, they disappear into drawers and boxes knowing that the chance that I might find something to do with them is slim to none.
However… I’ve been upcycling jewellery again and after trialling a few ideas for how to enhance this rather naff goldtone geometric bib section, I came across the printed carrier rods and that turquoise one was perfect.
The nature of the carrier rod means that it doesn’t fray and I could simply stick it into the back of the triangle.
Turquoise is a complete nightmare to match colourwise because of the proportions of green and blue, but the turquoise nugget beads were a perfect match and some gold tone chain finished it all off nicely. It is always such a pleasant surprise when things work out smoothly and I have listed it here.
On a roll, I came across two odd earrings. This…
…plus this… 
…now equal this:
I have been embroidering as well, but it’s unfortunately under wraps until December.
Under A Topaz Sky 
So pretty projects
Those turquoise chips look amazingly like the silk rod!
Very pretty and what a great way to use what you have on hand!
oh wow, you did a great job with the jewellery. I’m not sure what a silk carrier rod is – is it one of those tube shaped things made of slubby silk?
Yes. They usually come curved into little tight rolls like cinammon sticks but you can iron then flat.
what are they for?
Goodness knows, but they come in pretty colours and I’m delighted to have finally found a use for them!!