Patriotic Swag

I’m getting more comfortable designing pieces to cut with my Silhouette Portrait. However, when an expert designer offers a free cut file -- well, who am I to turn that down? Birds Cards is a wonderful site! So much good information & how-to-do-its for newbies like me…
So, I “borrowed” Bird’s box:I cut some stars:
I cut some stripes:
I added some velum:
I added some battery tea lights:
I added a little ribbon:
Oh my!

twinkle lanterns

Did you get your invitation

to the Dress Form Ball?Millie (thoroughly modern…) received hers the first week in January.She usually graces the wedding shrine in our bedroom; but lately she’s been out on the town, modeling costumes. In fact, she was so busy with a Cinderella production until the end of February,I didn’t know if she’d be able to make it to the ball! That was when Miss Dorothy decided to crash the party.Now, Miss Dorothy is not what she appears to be. (I found her at the suggestion of our hostess, Carol, right here.) Dorothy is quite shallow & perhaps a little flat, as well.But, like Cinderella, she so wished to be at a party, so Miss Dorothy checked herself in the mirror,donned a pretty necklace & some lace and beguiled some Fellowe to take her to the ball.

(such an adorable chauffer!)

Here she is, posing with Millie:Now, go check out some other lovelies at the party…

Also this week

I found time to "slave away" on a quick project.

While digging through the rubble that is my sewing room, I came across an ancient heart wire form. (I bought it in the mid-80s... It came as a kit that you threaded it with lace then added ribbons & dried flowers.  I think I had ummm --a little bit extreme French country decor back then...)

Didn't have to rummage too far in my stash to find the perfect fabric:



I tore strips.
I folded them in half.
I stitched a casing down the fold.
(I re-shaped the wire form to a better-looking heart...)
I strung the strips onto the form.
I fluffed. and fluffed. and fluffed.
I tied my pretty sheer ribbon.
I re-fluffed.
I hung it on the door.

You want to know my sophisticated method for door-hanging?

(shhhhh! don't tell!)

Everything old is new again. I see so many of these ruffle-y things all over, & I agree with Solomon that there is nothing new under the sun.

the Sewists

Big changes at our house this fall. H & A are schooling online. I decided to embellish their "curriculum" with life-skills...

...whip stitch...

"Mom, why is the thread too long?"

...form the knot...

...pull it taut...

...and display...

And they lived happily ever after. 
The End

I lied!

I did do some fabric crafting for the wedding, but they were kind of "afterthoughts."

My friend's youngest son got married, so I monogrammed a hankie for her.

I embroidered a bookmark/ornament with the date.

So -- here are the non-thread-involved (& much more time-consuming) aspects to my gifts: 

I bought a cake box from Party City & splatter painted it with black, cobalt (her wedding color) & silver.  Tulle ribbon & a satin rose complete the exterior. (I did handcraft the card -- but neglected to get pics, due to time...)  I used tissue paper in black, blue & silver to protect the gifts.

The first project I completed was a framed poem.  I used a picture from the couple's engagement day for the background of the poem by Philip Sidney.  The frame was a plain old every day blond wood thing. After several coats of paint, culminating in a silver top-coat; the frame was ready for application of silver leaf.  I love that stuff! I wanted a modern sophisticated -- yet antique look...

Last (& most labor-intensive) were the monogrammed blocks.  Would make a few changes to the process next time I attempt, but I'm pleased with how they turned out.  Now I'm going to make a set for moi!