DIY is the fashion du jour, with couples all over increasingly interested in getting in touch with their creative sides. In part it’s because of the desire to have a hand in personalising a wedding, or to add an environmental or sustainable stamp to the event, but no doubt it’s also because of the social doors a DIY undertaking opens. Crafts afford the perfect opportunity for bringing people together, and it’s this social side of things that artist Roz Fenson loves to see emerging from her DIY ideas.

“Craft today is not born out of a social and economic necessity, but from the need to find a emotional connection from a generation where life was slower and people were spoilt on their parents’ love,” she says. But Roz’s call to arms doesn’t end there: she also endeavours to ensure that all of her craft ideas are sustainable and environmentally friendly and that they are purposeful. This doesn’t mean, however, that you’ll need a doctorate in arts and crafts to undertake one of Roz’s projects: she aims to keep things user friendly and doable.

Today’s project is an ode to Moccona, and involves transforming its humble, much-loved coffee jar (we all remember that famous ad!) into an earthy, winsome delight. ”The most sustainable vessel you can buy is the Moccona Instant Coffee jar. I am sure the company is owned by a woman,” says Roz. “The jar has a suction lid, which means you don’t have that indentation on the rim that you get from a screw lid–a dead giveaway that you are recycling a jar. Honestly, the reason I drink instant coffee is to collect the jars!”

These versatile beauties would look perfect as aisle decorations, hanging from a porch or from a picture hook, or as part of an outdoor setting.  A jar filled with shrubs and small flowers would add a sense of the natural and organic to a table setting, while come dinnertime these canisters could also be used as candle holder, giving the venue a rustic and romantic mood.

 DIY: doily-embellished lanterns and hanging vases

Words and images by Roz Fenson, used with permission

What you need:

- Jars

- Lace

- Pair of scissors

- Fabric glue

-Wire

-Wire cutter

Instructions:

- Measure and cut your fabric allowing for a 5cm overlap to fit around the circumference of your jar.

- Trim away any edges not required, then wrap the piece around the jar tightly to check where you will need to place the glue to bind your piece together.

- Lace has a natural elasticity, so make sure that the form fits the jar snugly, to get a smooth and secure finish on the glass surface.  Apply the glue, clamp until dry and then carefully pull on to the glass jar. Apply this same principle to for details under the rim or on the lid.

-Coiled wire gives you an instant circular form for the two pieces of wire (the rim and the handle) that you will need to make your lantern or hanging vase. To estimate the size of wire you will need for each piece measure the circumference of your jar and add 10 cm.-On one of the pieces, use the back edge of a pair of scissors or table knife to bend the two sides of the piece and then reshape back into a sphere. The form should now resemble something like the shape of a lemon. Now bend  one of the overlapping ends into an open fish-hook shape.
-Fit your piece of wire around the rim of the jar as tightly as you can, using the hook you have made to grab the other end of the wire piece.

-Twist both ends against each other to secure the wire sphere around the rim, making sure it is really tight so that it can’t move, but that the gap on either end of the piece remains to attach the handle piece later.
Now take the second piece of wire and bend the ends outward. Pinch the top of the handle and create another lemon end shape, as this will help to stop your lantern sliding on an angle when it is hung.
-Slip the hook under the wire and pinch each end to secure a connection.  Trim any excess wire.

Sustainable craft tip:  Try using the wire from a dry cleaner’s hanger. It is a little harder to work with, but is worth the effort.

Visit Roz Fenson:

Roz has been designing and making things since she was a small child. Her career has taken her around the world and back a couple of times working in a variety of industries including graphics, film, television, theatre, toys and even events. Today Roz hand-makes fashion accessories using an ancient leather technique called Cuir Boulle; her work is sold throughout Australia in Gallery and Fashion outlets. You can visit her website at Rozfenson.com. For Roz’s sustainable art projects, visit her website For the Love of Making.

Interested in a craft workshop with Roz?

Roz is in the process of putting together a series of Master Craft Classes in Brisbane. The format will reflect the type of content featured on Roz’s blog and will be presented in a relaxed tutorial style. During the workshops Roz will share a wealth of projects that are simple and quick to produce using sustainable materials. Roz will also provide refresher courses in sewing, knitting and crochet. If you are interested in participating please email your contact details to info@rozfenson.com