The Making of a Bridal Fascinator: Final Fitting

The beautiful, blushing bride Julia modeling the completed bridal fascinator in her wedding dress (a revamped vintage prom dress) on the day of our final "fitting".  It was such an honor to make something unique and personalized for such a special event. Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Tickle My Keys : Sign for the Northside Public Piano

The list of local Northside businesses that donated to the project is handwritten on vintage penmanship pratice paper, the paper frame layers are made from old manila folders and a sheet music booklet titled "Boogie Is My Beat". There are five layers of paper products (all upcycled) which make up the sign. The boogaloo hands and keyboard were from the cover page of the sheet music. 

Illustrations from the sheet music booklet promoting more boys playing piano and less t.v.dinners. Right?

Here is the table of contents from the "Boogie Is My Beat" sheet music booklet I used - hopefully these boogie-woogie beats will infuse the Northside with some "Mutiny on the Boogie"! 

The Making a Bridal Fascinator: Putting It Together

Cleaning and repairing 1940's era floral corsage spray. The flowers and leaves shown here are colored nylon stretched over wire. The single cream chrysanthemum shown below is a beautiful antique white fabric.

Arranging and attaching the tea dyed feathers - individual and spray to the base I made from felt. I am using my hat maker's cloth mannequin head which items can be pinned to very easily.

Stiffening the felt base with Sobo craft glue, covering the wires in the feather spray with felt. The wire will allow for more control over how the spray lays, curvature and height.

Close-up of a tea dyed feather spray. I hand dyed the feathers last week and the turned out a lovely variegated cream color.

Trying on the partially completed fascinator to check how the feathers fall, how the flowers sit, etc. It will be attached to a ribbon covered headband when complete.

The Making of a Bridal Fascinator: Rough Draft

I have the honor of making a bride's fascinator from scratch. Here is our rough draft (it doesn't look like much now - think of it as a rough sketch) on my millinery head - the colors will be different - I won't give anything away but you can watch my progress as I create this topper! Next step - building the base and dying the feathers!

4-30-11: Custom Headbands for Aurelia

Aurelia is four years old and she is a little style maven! She is cute as a bug's ear and loves my bird headbands - which is quite an honor! Sadly, I was not able to find her a cardinal(the bird, not the senior ecclesiastical official or dinosaur topper... yet. With the help of her mother, she chose these birds to adorn her precious widdle head!

Miss Havisham's Paper Flowers

A current crafting obsession: handmade coffee and/or tea stained paper flowers. I cannot stop making these paper craft blooms - dyed, collated, trimmed, displayed. So many uses and ideas...

Grouped in a large arrangement as the focal point of a coffee table (shown here with dried thistles)...

Tucked into a bookcase to add texture, dimension and color (that is a brown bear skull, a x-mas gift!)...   

As a single bloom in a unique bud vase, in this example a ceramic faux stone...

Strung together as a bunting for a celebration or just for fun (bunting = FUN!!!)...

 A bouquet in the entryway - shown here with dried cock's comb (don't say cock), pheasant feathers and twigs...

 As an accent on a headband - this is a great conversation starter (or ender)...

As a decorative brooch or corsage!

Don't you feel these flowers could have been picked straight out of Miss Havisham's garden? They are even highly flammable!

2-10-11: MORE Heartfelt Handmade Inspiration!

Three new additions to my handmade valentine collection:

Crushed ribbon red rose and green leaves.

"Be My Valentine". The tiny heart in the center says: "Junior I Love You".

"I love you" pastel colored cupcake liner hearts and flower.

Paper Photo Frame: Handmade Valentines

2-5-11: Heartfelt Handmade Inspiration

Handmade valentine cards from my small, dear personal collection. Some of them were rescued from the rubbish bin, some were purchased at second-hand stores.

Crushed Christmas ribbon time pressed bow.

A valentine to or from a ghost?

Awkward but determined penmanship in fancy white ink.

From Brad. Brad was efficient yet impersonal.

Embellished store-bought card - all you need is red construction paper and a white paper doily and some paste.

Trying so hard to be delicate heart and snowflake doily paper work.

Enhancements with construction paper, doilies and stickers to a kitten lover.

To My Love. This one is my very most favorite and treasured valentine. I wish I knew the story behind it.

Liberal use of seals and paste. The more hearts there are the more love you give.

Red and white, polka dots and paper lace, Dennison seals. 

To make a perfect banner display look at second hand shops for the old gimme advertising freebies that contained mini lingerie laundry lines. They contain two hooks with a  cotton line and itty bitty plastic clothespins in assorted colors.