Creative mum reveals amazing coffee table she created using old tyres and string
- Alicia Mellor, 48, creates unique coffee tables and lamps using tyres and string
- Alicia spends just £6 to £35 on each creation and sources most materials for free
- Alicia offers tips to get stringing, which she says helps with anxiety
If you have random bits and bobs lying around your house or garden that you just don’t know what to do with, take a leaf out of this resourceful woman’s book.
Alicia Mellor, a 48-year-old mum of two and events organiser from South Yorkshire, creates stunning one-of-a-kind household pieces such as coffee tables and lamps for a fraction of their usual cost using unwanted items such as tyres and string.
Alicia told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: “It all started with two old lamps and some garden string! I’ve always been crafty, so I thought I’d string wrap them to give them a revamp.
"I had loads of time on my hands so this then led to me making more things. It’s so therapeutic and such an easy thing to do. Soon I had all my friends, family and colleagues stringing everything in sight!
"That led me to an old tyre I had lying around. My husband laughed when I said I was going to string it and make a table, but several hours later I had one natural jute twined tyre.
"I haven’t bought anything other than the string and a glass top. I just used a giant plate for my Moroccan style table, and an old recycled garden table for the grey feng shui table.
"The bottom is just a tyre cut in half and turned upside down, and I then sparkle sprayed it.
"This then had everyone dropping me their old tyres off to see what I could do. It’s amazing what you have lying around that you can recycle.
“For example, I used a fur throw I had and made a footstool. I already had some MDF so I got my old jigsaw out and cut two circles for the base and top, glued it together and popped some legs on, which you can get from ebay really cheaply.”
Alicia says creating these one-of-a-kind items are the perfect distraction during lockdown.
"It’s been amazing creating beautiful things with almost all recycled things and online ordering,” Alicia adds.
“My friends have messaged me saying how just stringing a wine bottle has given them a hobby and helped with their anxiety!
“I just love crafting and making new things. I recently left my career at Tesco to pursue my dream of doing small weddings and baby showers but before I got chance to get out there, Covid-19 hit us.
"Luckily I had taken a small merchandising job to fall back on but I'm sure I’ll get back out there when this is all over.
"I spend between £6 to £35 on each tyre creation and I source most of my stuff for free.
"I look on Facebook Marketplace or I simple ask friends and family if they have what I need - for example, with the bistro table top on my grey feng shui table, someone was throwing it away because the legs were broken but I didn’t need those so it was perfect for the job.
"My advice would be to start small with jars and wine bottles, and you learn your own technique that way. I use a glue gun but just a tube of superglue will get you started.
"I’m self taught but I’m sure there are tutorials on YouTube - that’s my go to place when I want to do anything!
"My motto is keep calm and get stringing!”
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, comments: “Many of us have been feeling anxious since the onset of coronavirus, so Alicia’s motto makes a lot of sense!
“Getting involved in a crafty pursuit such as this isn’t just great for your brain, but will also mean you’ve got one-of-a-kind furniture and accessories for your home that you’ve made yourself!"
What to read next?
I wish I had some diy skills to do something half as nice as this