Toilet Roll Project (TRP) :: Ta-dah!

 

Hello! As you can see, we are Ta-dah-ing today and I am so so so happy to be here!

I love writing my Ta-dah posts. Like really, really L♥O♥V♥E it. I guess I must've written quite a few of them in the two and a half years since I began this blogging lark, and I always get such a thrill out of sharing with you all. I mean, it's fun sharing the ideas and the inspiration and the on going creative process, but revealing the Finished Object is the most fun of all. Nothing like a pretty successful Finished Object to make one feel accomplished and really rather good and heart-skippy all the way down to ones toes.

What often surprises me about my ta-da-hing is that I tend to feel the same huge surge of excitement no matter what the size of the project. In other words, it could be a big crochet blanket that's taken more than half a year to complete, or a batty little craft project which comes together in a matter of days :: the excitement factor is generally as huge for both.

So yes :: toilet roll tubes then, here we go....

This quirky little project began back here if you remember. Nothing major, just a spot of spontaneous late summer crafting with the Little People. A fairly pointless project really if the truth be told, but oh my, how it captivated me! How I LOVED making it happen! This little project (the TRP) really got me excited to the point where I seriously began to feel extremely un-normal. I mean, I was stopping my neighbours in the street and talking nineteen to the dozen about toilet roll tubes, and that's not normal behaviour is it, to get so excited about bits of cardboard?

But excited I was, and then some. I think it was a whole combination of things really that made this little project so top notch for me. It was the fact that I was doing it with the Little Peeps, and it felt like a long while since we'd been creative together. It was the fact that I could get out all my lovely crafty bits of fabric and trims and buttons and beads which had not seen the light of day for a fair old while. And it was the fact that we were making and representing Our Family, which happens to be something I am passionate about. And to somehow see us all set out, all Five of us really made me think about my children and the fact that there are now three of them. Cos in many ways I am still somewhat getting used to the fact that Little B is here and that we are indeed a family of five. Not four. Five. Yikes! Those innocent toilet rolls proved to be quite a reality check!

Lovely isn't it when you go skipping through blogland and you discover a new voice, a new creative spirit? Sadly I don't have time to pootle through Blogland like I used to, but I do still love seeing what other folks are getting up to creatively. I like to feel inspired as much as the next person. So I was delighted to discover Jane over at Teawagon Tales and to feel inspired by what she was doing. And in fact, it was she who suggested I needed to make my own Toilet Roll Self something crochety to wear. Oh the joy! Hooking those little mini granny squares was the best fun ever. My cup did runneth over!

I am really excited to be showing you the TRP.

Like ants-in-my-pants-yippety-yeeehaw excited.

Can you tell?

Nearly time.

I didn't take many photos of the work in progress cos truthfully I was way too engrossed in it to pause and go get the camera.

The Little People really did me proud you know. They somehow sensed that this project was important to me and they put a lot of effort into making it work. They really thought hard about how they wanted their clothes to look, and they got sheets of paper and practiced drawing all kinds of different faces for themselves until they were happy with what they came up with. I assisted them with the hair, but mostly the rest was down to them.

So.

You wanna see?

OK, a little peek..............

.....ahhhhhhhhhh there we are look, the Attic24 T-roll family, looking all cutey on the mantel.

They look right at home don't they?

Sorry?

You can't see them very well?

You need me to go closer?

Zoom in you say?

Show you some detail?

OK, of course....

....just for you....

Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you think we did good, the Little Peeps and Me??

Love love love love love love LOVE my Cardboard Family!

Let us introduce ourselves...........

This is Me, modelling my very own dinky little crochet cardie, isn't it just a teeny bit super? I made little one-round granny squares using embroidery thread worked on a 2.5mm hook, joined on-the-go. A button to finish. Oddments of fabric and ribbon for my outfit, felty brown hair in a very Fetching Style. And to finish off, a little pretty hair clip cos that's what I wear most days.

Little Lady and I look remarkably similar in real life so I'm told, only her hair is much darker and her eyes are blue (mine are green). She chose the fabrics for her outfit and even drew a picture of exactly how she wanted herself to look. We worked on our faces together on paper first, drawing out lots of different variations until we were both happy. It wasn't spontaneous. It was very well thought out. And a little nerve wracking actually doing it for real, with Non Adjustable felt tip pens. Oh the strain! I held my breath the whole way through when Little Lady did hers, I honestly did, but she did great. She got herself in a little bit of a tizzy when her rosy cheeks didn't line up, but oh I was so proud of her.

Ahhh Little Man...my Big Boy. It took a bit of gentle persuading to get him in on the TRP, but when he finally did join in the fun he really enjoyed it I think. I allowed him to chop up some of Little B's grown-out-of dungarees so that he could have some denim, and he designed his top based on one that he actually owns. The 8 is cos he has just turned eight. But what really got me was the way he drew his face....awww, so cute, with tongue out and freckles and everything, this is so very him I tell you, he really did great.

And this is of course our Little Baby B. I made him first before I made myself and honestly, I was squeeeeealing with delight just making his little outfit (the sleeve from an old vest of his). Then once I got to drawing on his little cheeky baby face, well that nearly sent me over the edge. I've no idea why I was soooooooo excited, but I honestly was beside myself with happiness when TR-Little-B was born.

And last but not least, here is J. He was great fun to make. Easy hair cos he has None. I made his shirt from one of Little B's teeny tiny old baby shirts, and J's amazing face was drawn by Little Man. I asked him to draw his Dad's face on a piece of paper first as I was really curious to see what he would come up with and knew instinctively that it would be miles better than anything I could do. How right I was. It's fabulously accurate, even down to the wonky glasses.  I LOvE it.

Incidentally, I also had Little Man's assistance during the Photo Shoot :: I wanted to do it in similar style to Jane's, with some sort of prop to represent each of us. He chose all the props excepting mine which I was quite adamant about, it had to be fresh flowers from the back yard for me. I was really stumped with what to use for J (couldn't put a computer on the mantel), and it was Little Man who thought of this "Dad's Army" DVD box set which is a current obsession with J right now (yawn, that show drives me demented with boredom, but hey-ho, each to their own and all that). Just so you know.

So :: there we are, the Attic24 Toilet Roll Family. All complete and looking fine and dandy. Oh I have enjoyed writing this post, hope you've enjoyed sharing this daft little bit of Creative Nonsense with me.

Now then, just before I love you and leave you and head for bath and bed, can I quickly show you my picture that's also up above there?

I treated myself to it a month or so ago and it makes me so incredibly happy every time I look at it (which is often). It's a small print taken from an original by the supremely talented and very lovely Julia Crossland. Ahh it just makes my heart sing, it really does. You can find this print along with others in her online shop, do go and take a look. Lovely.

Right-o my Lovelies, I am out of here and off to run me a hot bubble bath, followed by clean pyjamas and a little bit of hooky.

See you all soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Comments

[Hazel]

Hahaha!! I love this post. Such cuteness. Love Julia's artwork too. Hey hey, I actually made it to Robin Hood's Bay and York this last few days. Woot! Had a fab time and even went to Beninburgh Hall today. Had great fun with the portrait bit in the house. xx

[Sabine]

You did such a wonderful job and I admire your little toilet-roll-family! What a great idea!
Have a wonderful night,
Sabine

[Allison]

wow! Those turned out so fantastic. Your little peeps did an amazing job!

[andrea]

oh my i had no idea that TP rolls could be so cute! i love love love it! faces, outfits, granny scarf...perfect! My family of 5 (kids 9, 7 & 5) may need to be represented in TP rolls too!

[Rachel Mackin]

Your TPR family look very lovely! :)

[Abbie]

I've been catching up on all your old threads over the past few months after finding my way to your blog. I know others have said so before, but you really do bring some happy-sunny-colourful-jiggyness into my world. So I just wanted to say a big thank you (now I have gotten brave enough to say hello!).
As for the TRP - they are fab & look so at home on the mantelpiece.

[Stephanie (foggyknitter)]

They're super, thank you for having such a happy, colourful blog. You've really encouraged me in my first stumbling crochet efforts. Though we'll have to agree to disagree on Dad's Army, I'm afraid I'm obsessed with it too!

[Sandy]

Awesome. And you're right about people inspiring you. This has inspired me to see how else I might use this idea. My brain is working now :0)

[Louise]

The toilet roll people are fantastic, I love them!

Beautiful picture too.

I do so enjoy your blog and it's colour and cheer!

[VintageVicki]

Love the TRP family - what a brilliant idea :)

[Mummy Boo Bear]

Your joy just jumps right out of the screen with your lovely project. It looks like you have had so much fun. It is great to create with your children when you can. I can find it hard finding the balance between letting them flex their creative wings and an adults desire to have somthing at the end of the creative moment. Looks like you have acheived that in spades here.And they are absolutley adorable, all the more for what they represent to you.

I do have a little tutorial on my blog that might float your boat although it does involve fabric there is no sewing involved! (I dont know if that is a pro or a con).

Thanks for such a happy post always a joy to read them.

Have a lovely week.

MBB x

[Sylvia]

You're TR family is just so special. Well done, all of you, especially the little people.

[Ali]

Amazing how I somehow feel I know you better after viewing your TP-selves!!

[LisaPink]

The TP family are amazing! After your original post, I started to save toilet rolls, but we never got around to making them. once I show my girls your TP family, I think we'll be making ours asap!! xx

[Justine Mullins]

Your little family is so cute! I contemplated that self same print myself from Julia! I'm still pondering between that or Belle and Boo??!!

[Stephanie]

What a nonsensical and wonderfully crafty thing to do with the kids! I too would be out and about talking to neighbors about my TRP and they would all think I was crazy. Love it - you have a very nice TRP family!! We too are a family of 5 - have been for 2 years now, and I still am amazed at that some days. Thanks for your wonderful post!

[Vicky Greenwood]

Absolutely lovely - although sometimes a wee bit frustrating(!) creative projects with children can be so much fun :-) My kids love them and giggle and talk about them when we come across the results stashed away in a cupboard somewhere. Lovely that Dad was involved too ;-)

[vanessa]

Awwwwww Lucy, how absolutely adorable! I never knew toilet roll art could be so much fun! Must try it.....not quite sure what I would end up with! ha ha!

Isn't the lovely Julia just so super talented? I am pretty much in awe of her talent, both on canvas and of the hooky kind!

Have a nice relax tonight!

Love Vanessa xxxxxxxxxxx

[Jenny]

These are lovely :)

('Your' J looks like 'my' J! lol!)

[Gill]

I think the TR Peeps are totally fab! You and your little people should stand up and take a bow for a superb job. It's comforting to know that your creative gene has been passed on to them already.

Now when you are you going to make yourself a bigger version of that knitted cardie for yourself?

Love and stuff xx

[Kerry (the seventy tree)]

I love them! They are so adorable....I completely understand your excitement!! x

[nina - tabiboo]

Lucy you do make me laugh - well giggle really and I absolutely need to get some of your intoxicating excitement though I do get it.....toilet rolls and crafting with the little ones - there is nothing better then a little bit of batty creativity.

Love the likenesses and as for Dads Army (((yawn, yawn, yawn))) it's right on up there with 'Last of the Summer Wine' for me - what is it about these Northern blokes?!? - no offence to all you fans out there.

take care and enjoy your bubbles,

Nina xxx

ps. you would love the book. N xxx

[Sara]

I was smiling the whole time I read this post. Your little cardboard family is adorable! You have every right to be excited to reveal them :)

[debbie]

Love Love Love the TPR family. I bet you are all as adorable in real life :). I heart your Julia Crossland print. I might have to ask for one for my birthday.

[Melissa P]

It is easy to see how you got "hooked" on this project. So adorable.