I picked up this little angel ornament at the thrift store the other day. I was curious about how she was made.
And what she was made with. I've seen this metal trim before, but I've never been quite sure what it was. It's very lightweight metal - light enough to fold - but heavier than foil. It's vintage, but kind of a clean, unfussy vintage.
One search led to another, and I discovered what this stuff is. Sequin waste. It's the metal strip left over after sequins are punched out. Knowing that pleases me no end. (Did you already know this? Sometimes I think I'm the last person to figure something out.) It also pleases me no end that someone was clever enough to look at something that might have been thrown away and found a way to reuse it.
Sometimes I like finding stuff out almost as much as I like finding stuff.
Who would have thought! Brilliant and oh-so-cute.
Posted by: Kim Kenward | November 07, 2012 at 12:49 PM
Oooh! Recycling at its best.
Posted by: Gina @ VintageJunkinMyTrunk | November 07, 2012 at 01:11 PM
I can't even imagine what words you used to start that search, but well done! She's a beauty!
Posted by: Carol @ Old Glory Cottage | November 07, 2012 at 01:11 PM
I love your little angel. It's a very clever use of something that would be thrown away without creative thinkers.
Posted by: Sheryl Remy | November 07, 2012 at 01:23 PM
I think those were very popular back in the 1960s. Whoever decided to reuse the material was ahead of their time.
Posted by: DogsMom | November 07, 2012 at 02:43 PM
It also works great as a stencil when you are painting. You see a lot of that in the Somerset magazines.
Posted by: Kathy | November 07, 2012 at 02:46 PM
I have sequin waste in my stash and craft with it. Now I know what to label the bin it is in!
Posted by: laurie magpie ethel | November 07, 2012 at 02:53 PM
Well there you go you learn something new every day.
Posted by: Tracee | November 07, 2012 at 04:05 PM
Ooo...oooo...what else can you research. I love this..smiles..Renee
Posted by: Renee | November 07, 2012 at 08:14 PM
wow! i was actually just looking at a little house ornament yesterday wondering about the metal mesh like thing on the roof of it, i think it is the same thing! how cool!
Posted by: rae | November 07, 2012 at 09:08 PM
That is so cool! I would have never guessed that.
Posted by: Melissa | November 07, 2012 at 10:32 PM
So beautiful she is!! xo Heather
Posted by: Heather | November 07, 2012 at 10:35 PM
One of my earliest memories is making a purse for myself from a cereal box. I still love to use leftovers to make something. I love this little angel!
Posted by: julie thompson | November 08, 2012 at 08:38 PM
I just bought a pair of huge (14-15-inch) bottle-brush snowmen from the '40s---and the bows around their necks are made from this stuff. Good to know! (You can see the pix on my FB page.)
Posted by: Mary Kay Andrews | November 08, 2012 at 09:04 PM
What a pretty little lady.
Posted by: JKaye | November 09, 2012 at 09:06 AM
Just my kinda thing..I can't throw things away because I know I can turn them into something cute. I've never seen an angel like that but she sure is Modern sweet.
Posted by: tammyCA | November 09, 2012 at 12:49 PM