Fourth of July Corsage Tutorial With a Sneak Peek!!!

I wrote this post 2 years ago but still LOVE this tutorial so if you haven't seen it- check it out and at the end I put a sneak preview of the corsage I'll have a tutorial for in the next Somerset Seasons and Holidays out in September!!!

Happy Fourth of July!!! To celebrate today's holiday I whipped up this sweet little holiday corsage yesterday. It's red, white and blue at it's best. With a little imagination and fabric you can easily adapt this tutorial to any holiday or special occasion. I think this would be a lovely finishing touch to your outfit when worn to a wedding or garden party. The design is meant to be reminiscent of the ol' time corsages worn high on the shoulder but because of the versatile pin back/clip combo it can also be worn as a hair accessory or you can clip it to a long necklace for a focal accent. However you choose to wear it- Enjoy!
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Fourth of July Fabric Corsage Tutorial

Tools and Materials
Scissor
Needle
Embroidery floss or thread
Variety of coordinating fabrics (I used Moda)
Canvas cloth
Bit of ribbon or other trims if desired 
Glue gun with glue stick
Pin back/clip combo (found it at Hobby Lobby) 

Step One: Rip or cut a strip of fabric approx. 2' in length by 2 1/2" in width. 

Step Two:  Fold the strip in half width-wise, hold and tie a knot an inch or so from one end of the strip 

Step Three: Thread your needle and pierce your knot in the center then begin to wrap the strip around the center knot, adding a stitch here or there as you go to hold the shape. 

Step Four: Give the fabric a twist here or there before adding a stitch to create the form and appearance of petals.







Step Five: When finished, add a few more stitches to the base of the flower to secure. Then add a couple of stitches up and through the center. Knot off at back and cut thread. 

Step Six: Choose a couple of coordinating fabric and cut 2-3 leaf shapes. Place on canvas and leaving a 1/4" border cut around your patterned fabric. Rip a few more strips to hang down decoratively from corsage as well.

Step Seven: Play around with your positioning and then stitch leaves to back of fabric flower as desired. Feel free to embellish your leaves by stitching around their edge or adding some buttons or beads. To add dimension to the leaf, pinch bottom and stitch to hold as shown. 

Step Eight: When you've finished assembling your corsage and stitching it all securely in place heat up your glue gun and adhere pin back to back of flower. Hold for a few seconds for better bond.  Alternatively, you could stitch on a pin  back. Make sure to position slightly high on back of corsage so it hangs well.  

Wear with patriotic pride 
(and 'cause you know you look good).

Best Wishes to you and your family- I hope you have a fabulous Fourth of July!!

And here's your Sneak Peek.Enjoy!!!!

4th of July Corsage- 2013

"Seeing Stars" Wreath to Celebrate the Fourth!!!

 It's almost the Fourth and I have a cute little wire wreath tutorial today to help you celebrate in Style. So if you've been wishing for something new to help decorate the porch for the day tomorrow, to hang at the front of your kids' trike in the kiddie parade or to hang on the mailbox this is quick and easy fix. I had all the materials on hand, and if you don't, then I promise they're easily found at your latest craft store.


Fourth of July "Seeing Stars" Wreath
Tools and Materials
wire wreath form (spray painted cream- Valspar)
Martha Stewart brand craft paints in red and blue
paint brush
craft mat (optional)
wooden stars assorted size (comes in a pack)
buttons in red, white, and blue
sandpaper
craft drill with piece of wood to drill into
19- 21 gauge wire
wire cutter
coordinating ribbon






 Step One: Paint the wreath with the red and blue craft paints as shown in top pic. The reason I recommend the MS paint here is that it will adhere to the metal of the frame. It takes a week or so to cure completely but they'll be dry to the touch within 10 minutes.I painted loosely, not covering the frame completely. Set aside.

 Step Two:Paint your wooden stars. I used 3 large stars, 5 medium stars, and 2 small stars.Sand the edges of the stars once dry, if desired.

Step Three: Using your craft drill or regular drill with small bit, drill a hole in the center of each star.

Step Four: Cut a 4-5" piece of the thin wire and bend over like a hairpin. Then, thread through button from top and insert both wires through hole in center of the star.

Step Five: Wire your stars to the wire wreath frame where desired, or you can check out my placements in the pic.You could also stack the stars for a more elaborate look.

 Step Six: Add your ribbon and  you're done!

Some ideas for altering the design would be to add a wire word like freedom, maybe adding some wire stars made from 16-gauge steel wire, or doing a cute little fabric pennant across the center that says something patriotic, instead of the ribbon. Fourth of July ribbon is super cheap at the craft stores right now, and will get cheaper in the next few days. But play around, make one like mine, or make your own! Just have fun and Enjoy the Fourth!!!!!

A New Day and a New Post (With a few new Obsessions as well)

Hello All! I've been away for a while again and have been waiting for the right time to post again. This morning I woke up and really felt like it was time. A year ago that would have meant booting up the laptop, downloading my photos, and grabbing a cup of coffee. This morning, on a whim, I decided to see what I could do with my ipad and wireless keyboard and so within seconds of downloading the blogger app for ios onto the ipad I was up and running on this post. I LOVE THAT!

Why I am supposed to post this morning? I'm not sure but I do have a ton of stuff to share with you.

It's been a while! First, Obsession Number one! I am now on my sixth piece of Alabama Chanin inspired hand embellished clothing. I started drooling over designer Natalie Chanin's work back when her first book came out. But it wasn't until her latest, Alabama Studio Sewing and Design came out, and my Mother-In-Law became interested as well, that I actually attempted any of her work. My MIL did all the hard set up work that comes with any new project. She figured out how to cut the stencils, how to paint the fabric in your kitchen, what paints and brushes work best, and even adjusted a couple of the patterns. THEN, she walked me through some basic dressmaking skills. For instance, the arrow that's on a pattern piece IS important! I thought it was just a hint as to which direction to place the pattern piece on the fabric. My MIL showed me how to use it to measure against the edge of the fabric to ensure the grain of the fabric is perfectly lined up so that the dress hangs nice. I started this dress last July and finished it right before Christmas. I also made a couple of bolero's, a skirt, a couple of shirts, and am working on a long skirt now. It's perfect for picking up and setting down whenever I have a little bit of time.

Thrift Store Finds Painted with Chalk Pain

Next, Obsession Number two! I admit I have fallen hard for Annie Sloan's line of Chalk Paints. This one was my own mother's fault. She took a craftsy class last fall about upcycling furniture and started encouraging me to try painting some pieces with her. I had heard so much about Annie's paints that it wasn't too hard to convince me to give them a try- one thrift store chair later and I was hooked. It's another down time sort of activity. And it's quick. A small table or chair takes just a few hours. The colors are beautiful and the finish is gorgeous and I'd highly recommend you give them a try. I'll tell you more about that later.

The other extra time user up for me has been my volunteer work for the arts ministry, Art 2 Heart. I'm on the leadership team and it has been such a gift from God to pair me with this group of women. I'm part of a team there and love the companionship and sense of purpose we all share. Being an artist is lonely business sometimes and if you're somewhat introverted like I am, with a light deprivation sensitivity it's  easy to crawl into a shell in October only to emerge in April or May. This year I struggled, it was so so grey and spring took so so long here in MN. BUT being involved with my sisters at Art 2 Heart, bible study, and my family all really kept me from completely cocooning.

The June Ladies' Night at Art 2 Heart

I think the biggest reason I took a break from blogging wasn't that I was occupied elsewhere, or struggling with my moods, or had new hobbies, or new relationships to explore, but because my life has really changed and I wanted to have the opportunity to step back and see what was really important to me. Who I have become. Who God has led me to become, in the last couple of years. When I first began this journey I was a frustrated new mom struggling to find myself in that new role. Then I was a scrapbooker, a knitter, and then a wire and fabric fanatic. I was taking chances in a big way for the first time in my life, I had my first magazine submissions, my first magazine publications, my first audacious thought about writing a book, and then a couple of years after, my first book was published. I thought that was the end all be all but realized that it wasn't. There was more but I needed to discover what that was. What comes next? The world says make a big deal of your self, promote yourself, market yourself, at the expense of privacy. And it didn't feel right. I really believe that it's God and the Holy Spirit working in me that has led me here. So how to give Him the glory?

So I've stepped back from it all, done some searching, some reading, some writing, kept up with my magazine submissions, and my volunteer work but not much else. Now, months later I really feel like I'm on much firmer ground. 

prototype ideas for Art 2 Heart

This post was an update post. What I'm obsessing about, what I've been creating, what I've been struggling

 with; it's not my favorite kind of post. I like teaching and inspiring and sharing, but sometimes, I just want you to know what's going on. What's real and authentic. So will I continue with the blogging? I think so- especially now that it works into my day a little more conveniently then it did before. And especially now that I feel I have a voice again that's authentically me. It's just taken me a little while. Thanks for your patience!!!! 

UPDATE: 9:23pm So the oh so convenient ipad/google+ way of blogging that I thought was going to work so well ended up with my deleting several hundred photos. Some of which were on this blog so please bear with me the next couple of days while I update. 

Cream and Red Very Vintage Wreath Tutorial

So it's kind of funny- I haven't been a good blogger for quite a while now but I keep taking pics like I am. So every project I think you might be interested in I step out as I do it. My hearts here, it's just the rest of my life that conflicts. Anyways, I made this wreath before Christmas but I think it's something that fits better now, at this time of the year. Very Valentine's-y Enjoy!!!

Step One: Gather materials and tools. I used a straw wreath form, strips of heavy muslin, vintage and found buttons, some vintage trim, a glue gun (with extra glue sticks), and a scissor. 

 Step Two: With your strips of the muslin, wrap your wreath form. If you want to put a dab of glue where it first overlaps you can. I wouldn't advise gluing to the wreath unless you removed the plastic covering the straw. I didn't.

 Step Three: (Step 2 1/2 should be hit your local thrift shops for some vintage tablecloths, dresser scarves, etc.) Step Three resumes with cut apart the vintage linens you have. Just randomly in pieces that would wrap over the wreath frame but not necessarily around it. Why waste material where you can't see it- right? Hot glue these to the covered wreath frame. A few dabs at the edges should do it.

Step Four: Hot glue buttons to the covered frame. Again, I covered the three sides that show. No pattern, just random.

 Step Five: This is where you improvise. I used some vintage crochet trim I found at an occasional sale. If you had lace you could dye it red, or you could just use some red ribbon, or if you happen to find red crochet lace then you're golden. To make the rosettes I just coiled the lace in my hand and then holding the shape tightly I used hot glue to adhere it to the wreath form. I had to add some glue inside the rosette here and there to hold it's shape as well. Then add a pretty vintage button to the center, a few lengths to the side as tails and you're done!!! Step back and admire the bright shot of red and lace this adds to your home.

Mother of Pearl Garland for your Tabletop Tree

So those little tabletop trees seem to be all the rage right now, or you'd at least think so if you walked through the Christmas section of your local craft store. A whole row at least, dedicated to decorating these sweet little diminutive trees. It reminds me a bit of the book, the Borrowers, where everything is little and cute and miniaturized, except they were using what they found. And they were much smaller. Ok, so the comparison's loose at best, but are they not the cutest when done right? Done wrong would be buying the shiny little fake looking plastic ornaments that come by the dozen. An example of done right is this little vintage mother of pearl button garland. A quick supply note: mother of pearl buttons, also known as shell buttons, aren't as uncommon as you'd think. Check etsy if you don't find you have a bunch already, they're usually fairly inexpensive. I was lucky to have my parents pick them up at a couple of garage sales for me. LOVE that my parents thrift together!!!

M.o.P Garland for your Table top Tree
 Tools and Materials
Shell buttons of various sizes
Small thin wire ( I used 20 gauge from my hardware store)
Wire cutters

Step One: Cut your wire to desired length. Then, create a couple of little kinks at the end of the wire. Slide 3-4 buttons onto wire and let fall and rest on kinks. The kinks act much like a knot would at the end of a piece of thread.    
 











Step Two: About an inch or two above the buttons you just added, create another couple of kinks in the wire. Again, this works as a knot would. Slide a couple of more buttons on to the wire.












Step Three: Continue to add buttons and then kink the wire until you are either at the end of the wire or at your desired length. Just a design note though, you'll notice that I didn't do the same number of buttons, or the same distance between sets of buttons either. I liked the more irregular look and purposefully tried to create a more whimsical design pattern by varying these elements as well as my button sizes. And there you have it! Pretty cute- almost makes me want to go out and get one of those little trees.



 Merry Almost Christmas Everyone!!!!

MORE Book Pages Christmas Decor

So yesterday I had a little tinseled garland out of vintage dictionary pages. Today I wanted to show you a few more ideas. You can also check out my pinterest board Remaking the Book for more ideas of what other people have done. But here are some of mine....

First, check out the SUPER cute little book paper snowmen!!! My dad cut these out of Lemony Snicket books I found at the thrift store and then my mom took over and hot glued the spine to create a circle and then between each and every page so that they fan out. She has WAAAy more patience then me. Talk about tedious and man does it use up the glue sticks. But as it was my mom and not me being tedious, I was lovin' them and had my dad cut eight more. After she did the tedious part, I got in on the act and used the spine and cover of the book to made a little hat for it and a little nose. I was trying to reuse as much of the book as possible. We also added a little scarf and two little birch stick arms. Then my mom had the BRILLIANT but again tedious idea of adding a little mini banner. So she punched out all those cute little triangles with a nifty little punch that she has. Next, she brushed on some glitter paint. I mean, these turned out SO DARN CUTE!!!! Can you believe it?  I took the first nine and brought them into Art 2 Heart, where there are a few left should you want one. But THEN, can you believe it, she kept going and she went and made the cutest little trees for them as well. These were from book pages again, but she mounted them onto old candle holders for a truly sweet vintage look.

 IF, you don't feel like rushing out and trying this out for yourself, my parents do have an etsy shop, The Old Shop Teacher,  where they are selling a few more of the snowmen and trees that they JUST finished. She made one with a little gnome hat, and another is looking debonair in a cap. She got pretty creative- don't you think they are absolutely adorable???

I also made up a wire and paper tree that I couldn't wait to show you. I saw one in a shop and completely unable to afford the $100+ price tag I went ahead and made my own version. I mean, it was wire- I felt I had to be able to figure it out or I couldn't claim to be a wire artist. I did figure it out, but it was another tedious project and for this one I was on my own. So I stayed up really late one night and made one. I am EXTREMELY happy with how it turned out, and would you believe it's only my same old 16-gauge steel wire, some more dictionary pages, and a small wooden block? The block I painted with gesso, wrapped with some patterned washi tape and then sealed it with medium. The star at the top and the sweet little garland on the tree are vintage mother of pearl buttons. I have a quick little step out for you of that. I'll post that tomorrow. It's my 3 or 5 days of Christmas projects blitz- ENJOY!!!!!

Making Snow Scene Jars

Whilst I've been working merrily on the poinsettia projects (putting them on wreaths, tweaking, making wire words etc.) I've been fitting in some of the fun Christmas projects that have been swirling around in my head like a little snowstorm. One of these are the cute snow scene jars I've run into on etsy, pinterest, etc. I found a link to a tutorial on Rhonna Farrer's blog which you should really hop over and see, but I've also stepped it out here for you as well. :) Cause it's fun.

Snow Scene Jars- Shaken and 

Stirred Glittery Fun

So disclaimer, I had my son help me with this project. I was shamed into it by a friend who crafts with her daughters all the time. Never mind that they're a minimum of 3 years older then Jasper who's seven. Never mind that they're sweet creative souls, and my son is well, a boy; I thought it was a dandy plan. So last Sunday after a quickie trip to Jo Ann's for some glitter, and mason jars we were set. Here's the supply list, we had much of it at home already.

Tools and Material List
Glass jars (we used different sizes but I decided I liked the wide mouth jars best bc of the proportion when tipped upside down)
Fake snow/batting tuffs
Glitter
Little woodland or arctic animals (check your local bakery for the cupcake picks or buy one of the forest or arctic animal toobs from the craft store- we had a huge container already.)
Bottle brush trees (BIG hint but these are cheapest at Home Depot- $6.97 a 21 pack vs. $19 at craft stores)
Little twigs, rocks or other natural elements
Hot glue gun with ammunition
Surface to hot glue on
Some little bits to create height, little sewing spools, glass pebbles, corks, etc.
optional: Paint and brush for lid of jar or to paint decorative items like twigs. Glitter paint is fun on animals too!

Step One: Gather all supplies and clear a surface to create on. I put down a craft mat and was super glad I did. Everything peels off those and their heat resistant.

Step Two: Unscrew lid from jar and on inside, hot glue in center of lid, your spools, corks, pebbles whatever to create height you want. The higher the trees and animals are raised up the more snow you have to add to hide that area. But the more they're raised the closer to eye level they are and it looks like big snowy drifts which is cool. You can also tuck in tufts of batting to hide spools and corks.




Step Three: Hot glue tree, animal, igloo, whatever you have on top of height creating items.Make sure it all fits within circumference of lid top. If you'd like to paint, or glitter your items do that before gluing them in place.






 

Step Four: This is the step your boy will like so much they won't want to help with any of the rest of it from now on- just this part. (This is also the part your husband might walk in, notice the glitter, the hot glue cords stretched to the table, and the seven year old shaking lots and lots of glitter, some of it into a jar. Don't worry your husband will probably get that deer in the headlights look, spin around and head back to his office until dinner). In jar, add fake snow, toss in a couple of shakes of glitter if you'd like, and gently insert decorations into jar and screw lid tightly down. Now, if you're lucky you have just enough snow. If you're more trial and error (or distracted by your child), you'll have too much or too little. Don't take everything out and off, just invert jar so it's right side up and unscrew top. Pull open enough to shake out some excess snow or to add more. Then screw tight again, and invert. At this point I also decided I wanted to paint my lids so I did it with them all ready assembled. But I'd probably recommend doing this at the beginning. They'd look really good glittered too I'd think.

Can you see the giddy boy glee as he shakes?

Step Five: Make lots more. Looking at his old box of animal toys my son's decided we need a killer whale snow scene, a cow snow scene, and a manatee snow . Yup. Display and Enjoy!!!! Oh, and clean up isn't nearly as bad as you'd think. ;)