Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Busy!!

I've been so busy that I can't decide whether I'm coming...


...or going.


I am infatuated with these miniature strawberry mice and am currently designing a project to go along with them. The mice are quick and easy to make and best of all, you can't have just one. Before you know it, you'll be building yourself a whole colony. I'm pretty sure of it.

I did want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your encouraging comments and emails. I'm always taken aback by your generous and kind words. I will be back as soon as I tend to a few pressing matters. Until then....take care...be well!

Aloha!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Fleur de marguerite

**This tutorial is intended for personal use only.**

A bouquet of delicate daisies. Quick and easy to make and oh so pretty to look at.

To create these daisies, you will need scraps of fabric approximately 3" x 6" for the petals and 1-1/2" square for the flower center. You will also need a 3-inch square and a 1-1/2-inch square of Heat 'n Bond Ultra Hold, a 5/8" button, hot glue, floral tape, and floral wire. If you would like to add leaves to your bouquet, you will need green fabric, Heat 'n Bond, white glue, floral wire and floral tape.


Begin by making the following circle templates from cardboard:
Flower Petals--2-3/4"
Flower Center--1-1/4"


Fuse the 3-inch square piece of Heat 'n Bond to the wrong side of the petal fabric. Remove the paper backing.


Fuse the fabric to the wrong side of the remaining petal fabric.


Place the 2-3/4" petal template onto the fabric and trace lightly with a pencil or disappearing ink pen. Cut out the circle along the traced line.


Place the 1-1/4" flower center template onto the non-glue side of the 1-1/2" piece of Heat 'n Bond and trace with a pencil. Fuse to the wrong side of the of flower center fabric. Cut out the circle along the traced line.


Remove the paper backing from the 1-1/4" circle and fuse it to the center of the 2-3/4" circle.


You will be cutting 12 slits evenly around the outer circle. Cut ONE slit all the way to the flower center. Cut and remove completely two sections of petals, one from each side of the slit.
Follow the diagram for cutting.


Trim off a thin sliver on both sides of each slit. The space between the slits should measure between 1/16th and 1/32th of an inch. This will give you a slight separation between the petals. Keep in mind that each petal does not need to look exactly the same. Mother Nature's own work is seldom duplicated.


To create the flower stem, run the floral wire (approx. 18" or whatever size you'd prefer) through the button hole starting at the bottom of the button and back down through the other hole.


Twist the wire securely to keep the button firmly in place.


Place a small glob of glue onto one of the tabs(where the petals were removed).

Bring the tabs together around the stem, overlapping the tabs until the flower petals are close to each other.


Optional: Adding stems of leaves to the bouquet.
To make a simple pattern, start off with a 1" x 2" piece of cardboard. Round off both bottom corners. Cut to a point at the top. Use this pattern to trace onto fused green fabric and cut out on the traced lines.


Glue a 4" piece of floral wire to the underside of each of the leaves. Let dry completely.


Create the stem with a double strand of wire (approximately 12-1/2" or whatever size you'd prefer). Wrap with floral tape, adding leaves as you go around.


Create several stems of leaves to act as filler in your bouquet.


As you can see, the addition of leaves adds fullness and interest to the bouquet.


There you have it, a whimsical bouquet of fleur de marguerite to brighten your day.


This would make a wonderful bouquet for Easter or for Mother's Day or simply to welcome in Spring.

Take care, everyone!

Aloha!