Category Archives: Make

Scrap Hexagon dress

by . Posted on
13 Mar

Scraps of fabric take up a lot of space and I have never been sentimental enough to waste any of mine on a basket of scraps. I have however cut hexagons out of most of them and kept them for quilting.

For Breakfast at Tiffany’s this past year the theme was inspired by using recycled materials and I was inspired to see if could make them into a dress.

Hexagons like this always need to be sewn together by hand. Very time consuming but has the advantage of being portable so I can work on the couch.

I pieced the hexies together over my dress form set to the measurements of the model for the bodice. She came over for a fitting to refine the shape around the neck and arms. The skirt was one large rectangle draped into pleats at the front and joined at an angle at the back allowing the skirt to flare out more and create a little train.

Watercolour

by . Posted on
04 Jan

 

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Floral dress is Zac posen – on runway

 

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For the bridesmaidsLovely watercolour look fabrics from talented Japanese designer Nani Iro

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Try Etsy for invitation designers using…..

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Here is a simple tutorial for making watercolour table numbers, the technique could be applied to any of your wedding stationary. The lovely textured paper is essential and it should be available at any art supplier along with the latex masking agent used.

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Here some lovely watercolour dipped paper cups used for holding lovely little floral arrangements.

 

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Apple season

by . Posted on
03 Mar

If you have driven between Canberra and Bega recently you may have noticed that all the road side apples are coming into fruit. This is good news for anyone who likes to make free cider or anyone who is having their wedding this time next year and is looking for something unusual to include in their flowers.

In truth the apples were probably best to use for floral arrangements a few weeks ago, if they are too ripe they are more likely to drop off their branches.

Above are some apples growing between Candelo and Bemboka. These are red but I have also seen green apples in places if that will match your colour scheme.

Apples included in a bouquet.

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Here apples are included in the table setting.

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Banskia

by . Posted on
27 Feb

The banksias are coming into flower. soon I will grab myself a huge bouquet to enjoy indoors. If you are not lucky enough to have your own supply here are some for you to enjoy.

I am assuming a blow torch was what has given the wonderful black char to these banksia pods. Just keep them away from the dress.

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Lush bouquets mixed with softer foliage and smaller flowers. Most native flowers will last well when cut so arrangements like these can be made days before an event.

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I included this lovely print by Australian artist Margaret Preston. The graphic lines on this wood block print are the perfect inspiration for invites. Printing paper with that soft natural colour is available from any good art shop.

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Single stems with their leaves are an easy choice as they last well and can be arranged by anyone.

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I had some fun playing with banksias from my mum’s garden.

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It’s not even my Birthday

by . Posted on
27 Jan

Arriving at my mum’s place yesterday there was a present waiting for me. An amazing lady who keeps amazing poultry had been putting aside feathers for me.

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I knew she kept chooks and peacocks but I was surprised to also find Galah, sulphur crested cockatoo and a mix of rosella feathers too. When they arrived they were a bit of a mess but I wiped the dust out with my finders and helped the barbules to line up and they look lovely. Even the damaged ones will be perfect clipped.

I love to work with natural feathers, they tell you what they want you to do with them instead of the other way around.

 

 

Twigs

by . Posted on
30 Dec

Try including a fragile little twig in your wedding, They offer the contrast of a solid line against the softer blooms included in a bouquet. consider painting them as a way to add some colour. Green twigs will be less fragile as they will bend before they break but sometimes only the dry ones will do as they are more delicate.

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Sticks used for decoration of the reception. Firstly was a marquee so there was no issue with the bride suspending an incredible stick chandelier. The second is in a restaurant so may require some sweet talking to your venue owner. Lastly twigs painted gold for some extra glamour. These would look wonderful used in a vase with lots of white and coral pink peonies, highlighted with foliage and their little yellow centres.

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Twigs wound into hair. Etsy has an incredible selection of jewlery made from cast silver or gold twigs if you would like to buy one but I think that with a little time and spray paint a crown of golden twigs could easily be made. If you use fresh green twigs they won’t be so brittle so will last well all day.

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Crepe paper beauties

by . Posted on
29 Dec

My day has been improved by coming across the floral beauties of Artist/blogger Tiffanie Turner.

These incredible flowers are so inspiring. Imagine something like this decorating your reception or being carried by your flower girl.

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I love this photo because it shows the scale of these flowers.

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Her blog has some fantastic DIY flowers for anyone who wants to bring some of this loveliness into their celebration.

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Crepe paper floral headdresses

Basic crepe paper flowers

I discovered through reading her blog the source of the paper she uses. I have tried to make some flowers with the sad crepe paper from the newsagent and they were not what I hoped for. I think I am going to have to order some of this thick and stretchy paper if I want to make dynamic and curly petals like this.

Carte Fini – Italian crepe paper.