I have a bunch of these old wooden curtain rings. What can I use them for?
Whatever comes to mind... tell me about it... even if it sounds ridiculous... most of my plans start out that way anyhow!
Maybe you think your idea is obvious? Tell me about it anyway... it might not be obvious to me...
What are your thoughts? Brain storm with me, and we'll see what we can come up with...
These are quite big, aren't they? Maybe to use in macrame? To suspend a work from it, as a hanger of sorts? Put together or crocheted together to make a pad to protect the table from hot plates?
ReplyDeleteI first thought of flowers. Cover them in single crochet first then the petals. Then use them as accents on purses or such. Or even crochet (I'm a crocheter can you tell?) them together ~ or join them someway ~ to make like a "bead" curtain? I dunno! LOL
ReplyDeleteI know that my bird would love something like that, if you painted it in bright colors, attached some bells, and hung it in his cage! Or you could make little birds and perch them on the inside. I like birds.
ReplyDeleteMake a sculpture: Ruth Cross knits has a great pendant necklace for inspiration:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ruthcross.com/acatalog/Ruth_Cross_hand_knits.html
For some reason they make me think of drinks coasters. Perhaps they could be filled with something, (resin?), or woven with wicker to make mini baskets of some sort...
ReplyDeleteMy first thought is crocheting them together to make a market bag! (Hah, think I've been influenced by your recent designs?)
ReplyDeleteStrung with lengths of bamboo, you could have a "clicky" sort of wind chime, which might be neat.
Or string them with lengths of copper pipe for a "chimy" wind chime. I have the pipe...too bad we're not closer to one another.
Outer eye-rims on very large crocheted animal/monster/thingies?
Make a belt, somehow.
Hmmm...
I can't think of anything, but I like paganhomemaking's idea of using them as decorative accents
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I thought of was linking them together with crochet, macrame, leather strips or other etc to create room divider or perhaps window treatment.
ReplyDelete1. Napkin rings
ReplyDelete2. Mini Cross stitch frames. I have actually used them for this. Leave the loop/hook in the top so that you can hang them. This would be great for Christmas decorations or just for any season.
Crochet them together and make curtains or pot holders for plants or make ornaments for a wreath or make a wall decoration with wire and or beads
ReplyDeletewhat ever you do it will be great
Good Luck
Link them together with pretty threads for a chunky bracelet. Link them together to form a funky purse, you could add some fun fabric as a liner.
ReplyDeletecan't help thinking Christmas plus they have the little rings on to hang them from, how 'bout paint -- green, white, red, use leaves from discard silk florals, glue, maybe old christmas cards glued behind so the wood, painted or not makes a frame, sparkly ribbon around and through them.... basically christmas tree ornaments.
ReplyDeleteI also like the idea of using them as chunky accents to attach the straps on a tote or hand bag...
It screams big, hippy curtain to me. Maybe with some recycled yarn and do something big and dangly?
ReplyDeleteI noticed that they have little hooks on them. One could glue a family photo to the back (which has been trimmed to the shape of the ring), tie a pretty ribbon to the hook (which includes a loop) and give them as unique tree ornaments.
ReplyDeleteSmall Footprints
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com
my first thought was crocheting around them and making little Christmas wreath decorations
ReplyDeleteAnother idea is tiny dream catchers, with beads and all. You can find directions on how to thread them online.
Make a retro "bead curtain" like thingamee stringing together the rings, maybe suspend a little bead in the middle of each one (would look awesome in the sun). I'd probably paint them first though.
glue 2 together, paint them, and make them into a little candle holder.
Jewelry? Or you could crochet a purse, then using the rings to attach the crochet handle? Can't wait to see what you do with them!
ReplyDelete♥Mannie
I thought belt immediately when I saw them. I think you could crochet them together or do macramae to tie them together.
ReplyDeleteCiao
Paint them really bright colors and then take a dowel and put it on a base for a ring-toss game.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that popped in to my head was earrings - but then I saw they were about 6cms, so that would be awfully big earrings.
ReplyDeleteLike some others, the second thing that occured to me was Christmas decorations - seeing they have the hook to hang them from the tree - and I have Christmas on the brain.
Since you have a many of them, you could even do some kind of Christmas banner one for M, one for E, R, R, Y etc. or a decorative garland for the tree.
Okay I'm too late for this today as most of my thoughts have been said by others. My mind is definately on Christmas at the momengt and can't help but think of little wreaths and napkin rings all decorated and dream catchers.
ReplyDeleteWhat about using it to make some wind chimes. You could decorate it and then hang some hollow wood or metal pipe from it.
Hmmm I'll keep thinking, maybe I'll have some more ideas for you tomorrow.....maybe!
http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/0/3987/27_2007/61038.jpg
ReplyDeletethat's an image of a necklace that would use a couple of them...
i think it's very pretty!
(you have a great blog, btw. :D)
I'd love to know, too, I see bags of these in Savers a lot. That and curtain pin thingys!
ReplyDeleteMaybe a macrame bag or take some of that stripped wire and crochet the links into a big necklace or belt.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck!
My idea was already said - as an attachment between a bag and straps. You make so many bags, I would think that these would be perfect.
ReplyDeleteMaybe with a chopstick or a thin piece of dowel that you carved you could make a shawl pin?
Take some of your crazy yarn, ply it until really chunky, crochet a loose bodice in a single stitch, then continue the length with chain stitch looped and catching the rings at varying levels so they hang and form a random pattern. The details of armholes and front opening, spacing of rings, length of finished garment (wearable art) will evolve within the process.
ReplyDeleteLike others, my first thought was Christmas ornaments-the little rings on top would be perfect for hooks to hang them on the tree. You could frame pictures from old Christmas cards, glue red or green paper or Christmas fabrics on the back with a simple sketched design or added sequins, etc. You could also wind ribbon around them so they look like miniature wreaths, and add other accents.
ReplyDeleteAnother idea would be to create some sort of a ring-tossing game. I'm sure there could be variations on games like horseshoes and darts (make a 'dart-board' with rods angled out & up or hooks). If you make it look exciting enough, even kids could have a blast.
Have fun!
A belt? With crochet or macrame to hold them together?
ReplyDeletecuratins!
ReplyDeleteWow! What an amazing collection of ideas!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to dig mine out right now. I do have curtains to hang, but...nevermind.
Someone had mentioned picture frames/ornaments, like that idea. I also thought about leaving them lay flat and decorate them and use them as the base for table nametags. I remember when I was a kid, Mom used to let us make the name tags that told people where to sit. This would make a pretty base for that and the tag holder could go through the hook - maybe medium gauge wire twisted like those noteholders you see in fancy-schmancy office supply stores. Which got me thinking about using actual photos of people instead of the nametags - might be kinda fun to use old pictures of people! So, that's my suggestion - base for table nametag holders - or even noteholders for throughout the year. LUV your blog!
ReplyDeleteHow about one of those curtain doors and just use the rings instead of beads?
ReplyDeleteI've got plenty of those to use up too. They are too heavy for a wearable, they make great additions to hand bags though, you can crochet around them, sand them back for a rustic look or paint over them. In addition to using them with your bag handles, they make for a great centre piece adornament that you can decorate then place on the bag some where. See a couple in action here.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.freewebs.com/cats-rockin-crochet/apps/photos/photo.jsp?photoID=2718391&prev=1
OK, my ideas were all taken so I'm just gonna have to wait and see what awesomeness you come up with. It's funny because yesterday, while I was shopping at a going out of business sale, I saw a bunch of these and was trying to think what they could be used for. :)
ReplyDeleteoff the top of my head;
ReplyDeleteA curtain (all string together in rows.
photo frames.
canvas to stretch fabric over and hang (kinda like an embroidery hoop)
napkin rings.
belt or bag handle.
pencil holder (glued together in a stack)
mega earrings for extreme earring wearing types :)
paint them &/or cover in glitter, fabric etc for chrissie decos.
My daugher would use them as bangles if she could get her hand through them.
the basis of kids toys, like those click clack type caterpillars etc.
Will come back if/when I think of more :)
Mary
Link together with crochet stiches like a bag. Then add a liner to the inside and some handles.
ReplyDeletethank you... thank you... thank you... what a wonderful response... and now my mind is brimming with so many ideas that I don't know where to start... I want to make them all... but right now my inner hippie is calling the loudest... demanding a ring curtain of some kind... will certainly blog about my adventures with this one... once again thank you for your wonderful help!
ReplyDeleteI use curtain rings for button bases. Start your small round center (crocheted, of course) and then crochet the small center onto the ring. It makes for wonderful matching buttons for crocheted or knitted bags, pillows, etc.
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and LOVE it. I'm going to add a link to my blog so I can find it again. My first thought was to crochet around them and make a belt or add to decorate other crocheted items - bag handle, flower for a hat, etc.
ReplyDeleteJust recently I saw some silhouettes with aged text as the background and they were in small frames like this. The frames were black. I think they hung on a Christmas tree, too. I can't remember where I saw them -- some magazine probably.
Maybe make gift tags from them?
Ann
ann - you can always subscribe via email... see the top right of my blog for details... glad you stopped by, and thanks for sharing more fabulous suggestions
ReplyDeleteDo they make good sound? can you make wind chimes..?
ReplyDeleteYOu can crochet a foundation row around each and make Dorset style buttons with them.
ReplyDelete