You know how bohemian wall hangings are all the craze? Well, if not, let me catch you up with this Pinterest board of samples: Figment Wall Hanging Inspiration There are so many different styles and techniques you can use to make wall hangings. Depending on your skill level, you can use complicated weaving techniques, macrame knots, or tie and hang yarn… all giving you very different looks. Earlier this summer we painted large scale, using a mop as a paintbrush. When I rinsed out the “paint brush” I thought, “This would be an easy and inexpensive way to make dye tipped wall hangings.”
I later had a ladies art night where we made wall hangings using mops as the main ingredient.
I pre-dyed the tips of some mops before hand to save time.
I basically supplied them with the idea and supplies to work with. Like in my weekly classes, I like for the ladies to use their own creativity and not just copy what I do.
What we did:
- They each chose a stick or crochet hoop, or in this case vintage tennis racket brace to hang the mop on.
- We hung up the base, so it was at eye level to work on.
- We used scissors to undo the mop strands. I found Cleanx Large Cotton Mop Head Refills at my local grocery store, for $4.95 each. It is important that they are the kind that fold over a change out mop. See Bulk Here
- The ladies hung feathers, beads, metal pieces… from the strands. Many braided the strands similar to the macrame technique.
- Each were very different, but no one chose the dyed mops.
- We had fun.
Then I did this project with my summer campers. We started out decorating sticks with chalk.
Then we hung the sticks and choose mop strands to adorn them with. They definitely wanted the colored strands.
I cut strips from thrifted denim jeans before hand. Some of the kids wove the denim “yarn” through the mop to secure it and bring in more color.
The kids really got into this project and were very pleased with their boho wall hangings in the end. I feel like this was a very simple craft that allows grown ups and kids alike to create independently and make their own creative choices with out having to have any weaving experience. It is a great introduction to weaving, tapestries, and fiber art.
