Post of Many Things

When Other Noelle was here recently, she introduced me to two new things of win; silk sewing machine thread (omg, if you’ve never used it, go try it…..it’s a heavenly experience!!!), and a book called “Ribbon Trims” by Nancy Nehring.

I just received my copy in the mail a few days ago, and it is so fabulous!

Also, Holly and Gypsy spent an unexpected night this weekend, and I begged them to look at my stash and help me figure out the Turkish robe trim & jewelry; both of which was accomplished! We ordered supplies I didn’t already have in my stash and had them delivered to Holly’s address.

She’ll be doing my jewelry for the red velvet gown, and Gypsy will be beading the crap out of my trim with crystals and pearls. (Below: the crystals are the right size on the left, right shape on the right……I ordered crystals of the right dimensions, all the pearls will come from my enormous stash of pearls I got a year or so ago. I just KNEW I would need them some day!)

Unfortunately, the chapel I posted about earlier is prohibitively expensive, and I’ll be going back to my original ‘sun shade’ plan:

I drew in fixed Savonarola chairs (or “Dante chair” or “x-frame” chair, or whatever you want to call ‘em) because that was the style I found for sale that didn’t completely break the bank, but I found someone locally that I could commission to make what I really wanted, folding Savonarola chairs!

I spent the better part of today running from place to place gathering all the little odds and ends I’ll need for upcoming projects:

• small wooden stool to be stained and becushioned (potentially embroidered, but that’s TBD at the moment)
• padding for stool (Just regular old high-density foam)
• wool roving for PPoD….I AM going to finish this thing if it kills me!
• red wool felt for velvet gown bodice & hem
• red silk buttonhole twist for gown eyelets
• red silk sewing thread
• fleur-de-lys stamps for curtains
• gold/silver tone paint for stamping curtains

I think I’m more or less ready to start on things – I’m having a hard time deciding where to begin, though! (hence posting instead of working…..)

Purple Pincushion

Once again, I got distracted on the internets and decided I needed a pincushion, all due to this tutorial found on Crafty Pod.

I won’t rehash the tutorial here, or how to do yo-yos (unless someone really wants some details on how to make yo-yos?) since I did pretty much the same thing, with only a few small changes.

I also stuffed the pin cushion with 1/2 polyfil stuffing and 1/2 walnut shells. (Walnut shells help give it weight, and protect the needles)

I went a little nuts with the yo-yos though, and decided the ones on the side needed some décor. Things got a bit out of hand, and got a little rococo.

I made 2 different yo-yos for the sides. The first kind are a floral pattern with a little bow held on with a button.

To make a bow, fold ribbon with edges overlapping, and run a stitch down the middle.

Pull the stitches tight , and voilà! A pretty bow!

The second color is a darker purple with a ribbon cockade held on by a button.

To make an easy ribbon cockade, fold over the raw edge, and run a stitch along one edge.

I don’t have any good rule of thumb for how long the stitches need to go, I just kept checking every few stitches to see if it looked right.

Once the gathers are beefy enough, I stitched the overlap, being careful not to go through the front of the cockade.

Then snip off the excess ribbon, and there your have an easy peasy gathered ribbon cockade thing!

And just because I think they’re cute, here’s the whole string of yo-yos all lined up.

I couldn’t decide which fabric to use for the top & bottom, so I did a reverse of each.

I’m trying to decide if I’m going to whip the edge of the large yo-yo to the cushion – I kind of like the way it ruffles!