Leaves

I decided that leaves needed to be added to all the bouquets. The leaves consist of two or three pieces of felt which were sewn together with blanket stitch:

A piece of wire was cut and inserted into the leaves to make them malleable:

Each leaf was put in place before a hot glue gun cemented their home.

Alfie got bored watching on...

A strip of brown felt was glued in place around the handle: 

I think I can finally cross these off the list!

A bouquet for a bridesmaid

My bouquets have been quite a process, it started with the thought I didn't want a "traditional" bouquet combined with my housemate in London and his vintage button collection.

I started by painting three polystyrene balls (the one for me is slightly bigger than the other two). The stems are made from an old wooden broom handle, sawed and sanded, and I've glued them into the base of the balls:

A lace bouquet holder was stripped back to the plastic base. I then covered the top with 'leaves' and the bottom with 'stems':

Many hours of cutting felt flowers produced this bounty:

Which then needed sewing together:

After some experimentation (with hidden pins), I chose to use my hot glue gun to attach the flowers to the ball:

I think the base still needs some leaves which overhang so my brain is running overtime. The flowers also seemed a bit flat to me so I added some wired pearls. What do you think? 

Buttonholes

Some time ago I completed four buttonholes and needed to make two more before the task could be crossed off my 'Projects to Complete' list.

I cut the felt out using a paper template and layered them over each other:

Punching small holes through the felt, each was threaded onto a piece of wire:

The wire was then twisted at the back:

If the wearer does not have a buttonhole, I wanted a nice finish to the stem so that it could be pinned on. To do this, I used a soft plastic covered wire and twisted it around the other wire:

 Some stitching detail on the leaf completes each buttonhole:

My little collection:

The votes are in...

... and green was the winner.

The ring pillow has now been completed:

Place names

Today I started the place name cards. I already knew that it would be quite a time consuming project which is why I started. I now know that anyone with a name longer than 6 letters has to be scratched from the invite list.

The tools for my afternoon of crafting:

I cut little bits of bunting from the felt, stamped them with individual letters and then stuck them onto blank place cards.

The 'definites' have been done and I'll wait until the RSVPs come in before I complete anymore.

I have kept them flat for easier storage. I'm quite fond of them!

Ring Pillow

I have another assignment due so I have had time (read: procrastination) to design and cut out the felt pieces for our ring pillow. It's the same felt that has been used for the bouquets/buttonholes.

Here are the felt pieces cut and placed on the 'pillow' before I stitched them:

I was in love with the little felt bunting but not so keen on the shape of my little bird so I cut him out again and added another colour felt for a different dimension. Before sewing the pillow together and stuffing it, a decision has to be made: which is better, the brown or green? This decision has divided the household...