Rolled Paper Roses
Welcome to flower week – five days of simple and delightful flower projects. I could probably do three weeks of flowers because there are so many different ways to create them, but I’ve limited it to five of my current favorites. Before we get started, let me make a few disclaimers: 1. I find inspiration for projects all over the place {online, in shops, in magazines}, then figure out how to re-create them on my own.
Tsumami Kanzashi Flower Hair Clip
I have recently discovered these beautiful folded flowers, and I absolutely cannot stop making them. Tsumami Kanzashi are traditional Japanese folded flowers, made from small squares of silk, that are typically worn by women as hair ornaments in traditional hairstyles. They seem really complicated and intricate, and they can certainly be that if you really want; but it completely doesn't need to be! I love to make them out of cotton prints that are fun and bright, in addition to scraps of silk and other light fabrics.
Pattern Runway: {Project} ~ Rosette Bib Necklace
This post is in no way original! Fabric rosettes and necklaces have been doing the rounds in blogging sphere in a big way. You only have to google “Bib necklace” to find an array of D.I.Y tutorials and blog posts devoted to this project. Its a little bit crafty and a little bit shabby chic, but… its popularity in no way diminishes the desirability of this delightfully sweet, simple and fashionable adornment. ~ How to create a Fabric Rosette: Cut a strip of fabric about 1.5″/ 3cm wide and about 50cm /20″ long.
V and Co how to: jersey knit bracelet
i don't know what it is about this time of year that makes me just want to have my bare feet in the sand, be watching the sun setting into the ocean, and breathing in the warm salty air of the beach...as i get older, more and more i find myself missing that place i used to go to almost every.single.day. as a teen. (my skin doesn't miss it. as a matter of fact, i now wish i listened more and DID put SPF on my face...hindsight is 20/20). my mom calls me from her walk on the beach almost every morning...*sigh*yeah, i get a little homesick around this time of the year. heck on my pinterest my "dreaming of summer" has the most pictures in it. ah yes. i miss my ocean. case in point. this bracelet, brought a flood of memories, not because i used to have one like it but because i can totally see me wearing it by the beach, not caring that it's gotten salty and wet, because i can totally make another one in like less than 5 minutes flat when i get home. *sigh* okay... *cut off excess tails!
Centsational Girl & Blog Archive & DIY: Paint Stick Sunburst Mirror - StumbleUpon
My friends, if there ever was a bandwagon, this carefree DIYer is jumping right on it. For months, I’ve seen fabulous versions of the sunburst mirror pop up all over the blogosphere. And for weeks now, with every stop in the paint department, I couldn’t help but notice how those paint stir sticks might just make a very cool version of this decorative favorite. I couldn’t figure out how to stack them nicely enough around the center to make it worth my effort, but that little road bump didn’t stop me from snagging more than my fair share of free stir sticks at a time, like 8 or 10, over the course of a month.
Paper Flower Tutorials & Templates
Here’s a lovely assortment of paper flowers to make, I’ve organized them in a few sections for easier browsing: Bouquets & Centerpieces, Tissue Paper, Crepe, Origami and the rest under general tutorials. Many of these have free templates to download and most are surprisingly easy to make!
Silk Lotus Flower
The silk lotus flower is easy to construct, but looks very luxurious. You can make it in any size, but pick fabrics that tend to be stiff, like silk taffeta or dupione. You can singe the edges of the petals with a flame, or just leave the cut edges raw. After you master the basic technique, you can experiment with different petal shapes. Become a Threads Insider today to get access to this and other exclusive Insider-only blog posts. Become an Insider and enjoy unlimited access to:
Ruched Fabric Flower Tutorial
At the International Quilt Show last week I saw a Baltimore Album quilt with lots of appliqued flowers. There was one flower that caught my eye. The attendant {there to make sure no one was taking photographs} told me it was called a ruched rose. It was exquisite! Bright pink and perfectly shaped into a fluffy, little disc atop a perfectly stitched leafy, green stem.