Handmade Wednesday: Fabric Bookmark

Well, the day has finally come. Perhaps you guessed it. The day when I actually came up with a craft and made it myself! And here I am sharing it with you. How fabulously creative of me. I have always been a rather crafty person but have lacked the time and financial resources to make my own wonderful concoctions. So, I hope though I have not -in the past- been making the crafts I share here, that you can find it in your heart to forgive me and follow me as I begin a new journey of creating pretty things to inspire my life and yours.

This weeks handmade beauty was actually inspired! I have been in the mood for reading over the past few months. This is a new and noteworthy time in my life since I have never ever ever been a reader. Obviously, I can read so let's get that right out of your minds -I am writing here!! But as a child reading was so monotonous and boring to me that I just could not stand the thought of having to pick up a book. Even if it was suppose to be good. This terrible -in my opinion- habit has carried over well into my adult years. But as of late, this strange and insatiable desire has cause me to find myself at many a book store and library, wondering just what I was doing there. Okay, okay, so I'll get to the craft already. But I just had to preface this craft with a bit of a story. I am just so excited about this!!! Can't you tell? Needless to say I am reading and realized I have no bookmarks! I hate folding corners of pages if the book does not belong to me and so I decided to make one. And here it is:

I started with the only vintage-ish fabric I had, flipped it to the wrong side giving it a more worn appearance and cut two pieces for front and back. Cutting them 7' x 3' will give you room for sewing as well as a little edge when you're done. I also recommend using a piece of cardboard or sturdy poster board in between your fabric sheets to help the bookmark maintain it's sturdiness. I cut that piece to 6' x 2'.

I wanted a piece of fabric down the center of the bookmark for writing a word or just a little depth and color change. All I had was some ivory ribbon so that had to do! As you may notice in the picture, I sewed the two pieces of floral fabric together on one side. You don't have to do this to start, I just did so that I could be sure of the exact location my ribbon would go (based on the threading).

Next, I wanted to add a bit of interest to this bookmark of mine by adding a little more ribbon off to one side. I will be adding more detail below but wanted to make sure this pretty green thing stayed in place, so I hand stitched a quick thread through to attach it.

And here's that detail I promised you! I have a ton of silk flower arrangements that I never use and so I stole one itsy bitsy baby flower from one of them and took any plastic remnants off so that it would lie flat. Of course it was a tad tired looking and I have half a drawer full of buttons, so I thought one would be a nice touch. If you don't like the button idea, scrounge around your home for things you can use. Seriously! That junk drawer can be a crafters treasure trove.

This is just a photo of my sewing on the ol' machine. I threw it in here for fun and to see what my Finepix S1000 is capable of. Not much, unfortunately. I love photography and would die for a better camera! This one will have to do....

Lastly, you will probably want to add some sort of tab to your bookmark to help you open your book and see where you are. But it's not completely necessary. This is your bookmark and your craft. Be creative with it!

And walla! I wanted to do so much more, but with limited resources at home and a wallet that I've had to hide from myself in order to be able to pay the bills, this is what came out.

And right along side is the newest book I have been unraveling, Captivating. It is a book about women and who God created us to be. The Eldredge couple has written this book for anyone of any age and gender, for both sexes need to understand each other. I am only a few chapters in, but loving every page of it. I plan on passing it along to my husband Movie Star when I'm done. Then I'll pick up Wild at Heart (it' their book on men...) I am also considering blogging my way through this book because so many feelings and discoveries have been coming up. Would you all like that? Let me know.

Wedding Trends: Bouquet Decorations

Now we move onto a truly pretty element of the wedding: the bouquet. Today I'll only be talking about the bouquet decoration. As weddings become more original and couples take more charge with their own DIY touches, each detail of the wedding is becoming more ornate and thought out. Proof of this is that bouquets themselves have decorations now. They can span from simple white satin ribbon enveloping the flower stems or more intricate designs including feathers, pearls or photographs. Designs are differing greatly as originality and uniqueness abound. No matter what though, the overall trend is a return to classic elegance and intricate, yet simple designs. It's a rejection of clean cut modernism and a new emergence of old-fashioned simplicity and delicate beauty.

One piece finding its way into the majority of bouquet adornments is jewelry. This is a wide field, but because it is a classy occasion, usually only high-end and sentimental jewelry is used. A classic item now being repurposed for the bouquet are pearls. They make for a beautiful decoration that match any color and most designs. Obviously, it would be hard to pull them off with fabric such as linen, but anything is doable if you use some ingenuity and true design expertise.

Another classic and sentimental element returning is the brooch. I think I love this adornment the most, because it can work on any color and on minimal or ornate designs. It's also an old-fashioned touch that never goes out of style and a perfect way to add your 'something old'.

A new way of incorporating jewelry into bouquets is to simply tie a small bracelet around the bouquet. It can be gorgeous if done well. Bracelets with hearts dangling from it around your bouquet will only add to the sweetness of the day and the simple elegance of the ceremony.

As originality increase, so does the use of new decorations. One design beginning to become popular is the use of feathers. This is a new and truly unique bouquet design, and actually has quite and old-fashioned feel. It beckons the feel of the days when boas and feather headbands were popular in the 1920's. For a very classic elegant feel, this is a great option.

Lastly, no matter what the theme of your wedding is, be sure to include the season into your motif. If you incorporate your bouquet in this, use elements specific to the season (and possibly the location). For spring, use flowers that are in bloom. For summer, a homey, unique option is to use small amounts of wheat. For fall, use leaves changing colors or dark berries. And for winter, consider using pine branches, ornaments, or ivy. The season doesn't need to rule wedding motifs, but it shows consideration for your date and location to use elements of both.

As I said above, bouquet designs are increasing in originality all the time. One thing that I've realized above all is that regardless of motif or wedding colors, white always wins. The majority of bouquets that I see involve white lace, ribbon or other fabric. I love seeing new ideas, but also homage to traditions. This may be due to the return of old-fashionedness, but above all, for bouquets, the trend is white in some way. A truly imaginative bouquet would be to find a new way to include the traditional white, but that seems almost impossible :-)

Bouquets are one of the details of a wedding that is entirely the design of the bride, and is becoming a showcase for her personality and style. Use ideas, but truly use your originality to make them your own, and just remember that white and elegance never go out of style.

Want to see your wedding highlighted on Inspiring Pretty? Just submit it to us for review here. Then be sure to check out our new Wedding of the Week every Saturday!

Friday's Fab Etsy Finds: Neckwear

There are some days when you feel like standing out. You want to wear something with a little extra oomph. If your closet is leaving you less than inspired, neckwear could just be the missing element in your wardrobe. Neckwear is a fairly foreign concept to most women. Now I'm not talking a tiny little gold chain or rayon scarf. I am talking bold, unique statement pieces that can only be found in a marketplace like Etsy. Whether you are looking to set the next fashion trend or break out of your shell of shyness, these fabulous Etsy finds can help you achieve your fashion goals.

This dramatic neck ruffle is made from a rare and intricate soft French lac and tied together with two rows of cognac orange velvet ribbons. It would be perfect for adding a romantic flair to your work attire. Just pair the ruffle with a plain black or beige pant or skirt suit and a white button down shirt, leaving the top few buttons open.

This elegant neck shawl is crocheted from soft, white acrylic ruffle yarn with silver thread. It would be a great pairing with a low cut evening gown or satin cami.

Here is a floral bib made of ribbon flowers and yarn. I especially like this one because it has more of a casual feel. I would wear it with a white or lightly patterned crewneck or V-neck tee.

This necklace boutonniere displays a delicate arrangement of ivory and beige chiffon flowers with a maroon button center and is offset by the chunky gold-plated chain. This is a versatile piece that can dress up a refined outfit or bring a little funk to a casual one.

Christmas Decor: Clever Ways to Display Those Cards

Seeing as how it is a week until Christmas, I am sure you have been receiving cards by the basketfuls from friends and family wishing you a "Merry Christmas", a "Happy Holiday's" and a "Happy New Year". I know I have, and they all look so beautiful. I'm always trying to come up with new and practical ways to display Christmas cards so that I can look at them as well as use them to decorate my home for the holidays. If you are in the same boat as me, welcome! Not only is there room on this boat, but there are also many ideas splashing on board from the vast sea known as the internet. Check out what I've discovered and please use them for your cards too!

Better Homes and Gardens shows us a great way to place those cards on the mantel with decorative ease. Pick up some wire garden edging (used to border flowerbeds) and tuck your cards into the arches. The great thing about this idea is that the edging is so easy to decorate and bring into your christmas decor. Add some ribbon, tree trimmings and garland. Even adding some hanging ornaments to your garland will give the mantel the finishing holiday touch it needs.

If you're not one who receives many cards, this idea may be best for you. Again, Better Homes and Gardens suggests placing evergreen branches placed in a metal urn or short vase. Set the cards in the branches. To add a little more intrigue to the set, pick branches with pine cones still intact, attach pine cones or small ornaments to floral wire and then stick them in the vase.

I know many folks who struggle with creative decorations and just want some simple easy ideas. Well, here's one! Set a basket on your table and when a card comes just set inside! Now when your friends and family are over, watching you cook, they can sift through the cards in holiday enjoyment!

The gal from Shorely Chic has some great christmas card display ideas as well, one of which I am a huge fan of. Hang Christmas cards from your staircase! So beautiful. With this idea, you would attach clothes pins to the hand rail on your staircase, which you can hide or enhance with garland.

My favorite way to display your cards is by placing them on hanging ribbon. I first saw this idea at my sisters house and fell in love! She had taken 2 long ribbon strands and sewn stitches every so often to create little slits for the cards to slide into. She hung them from the sides of her fireplace. In this case, it seems as though buttons were sewn onto the ribbon with a paperclip type product hung over the button. Then you can use the other end to attach your card securely. But you can also use clothes pins or tape to achieve a similar affect.

Lastly, there are a few wire card holders that you can buy to hang on your wall. They aren't overly inexpensive, but they are easy!

Wedding Trends: Centerpieces

Changing the pace again, I'll be talking about centerpieces. The traditional centerpiece is usually big flowers of one or two colors maybe with some baby's breath. This is obviously overdone by now, making people long for different flowers, flower lengths, colors or something completely different from flowers altogether. This is truly an area of originality for bride (and maybe the groom) to let their design skills shine. As with other aspects of the wedding, there is a return to old-fashioned beauty, intricate elegance and a down-to-earth feel.

Most centerpieces nowadays are not simply flowers. They usually incorporate one or several other elements, depending on the motif of the wedding. If it is an outside evening wedding, the centerpiece could involve a lantern for an old-fashioned yet elegant charm. With white roses, it could truly add sophistication to the wedding. If the wedding has a more natural ambiance, then maybe a bird's nest, bird's house, or branches tastefully laid out with wildflowers. For a whimsical approach, consider many other elements such as several colors of ribbon, and perhaps some candy with bright colorful arrangements. My favorite unique centerpiece was a group of tiny green roses (which I've never seen before) with four tall feathers encircling it. Now that took some creativity to come up with and even more to tie it into the wedding motif!

Some newer centerpiece designs don't involve flowers at all. Some give the illusion, which can be very original and fit the couples' personality. I've seen this usually done by using paper, yarn or feathers. Another major trend emerging is simply using fruit for the centerpiece, especially for summer weddings. The blending of yellow lemons and green limes works splendidly for warm summer affairs. It's an original and much cheaper option. For a more festive wedding, a beautiful idea is porcelain eggs of many bright varying colors a nest or straw box/container. The last huge centerpiece trend that you see at debatably most weddings now are small trees. They're especially prevalent when made of metal and painted white (white for weddings ;)). It's cute fad, but is becoming quickly overdone. I advise that it is better to avoid this for a more original idea.

No matter which centerpiece you choose, the size of it will almost certainly differ from the traditional size. Think about the old photographs of the table centerpieces from your parents' or grandparents' wedding. They were probably an array of several flowers or roses with baby's breath that were a good height in the usual vase. In the modern day, that customary set up is out the window. Yes, some over-the-top weddings opt for the massive almost-baby-tree size flower arrangement, but the trend presently is a more quaint display. Along with simple and unique features (yarn, ribbon, feathers, etc), and a sundry of unexpected flowers, the arrangement size has shrunk substantially. There is an abundance of charm in antique, simple flower arrangements.

Use this area of your wedding to let your personality and true design for your wedding shine :) It is one single thing that you can point at and say 'this is our wedding motif'. And just like every other element of your wedding, have fun with it!