Flowers on Fabric

According to the weatherman, we are experiencing the coldest Spring  in the recorded history of Seattle dating back to the 1800's. You can't always trust what the weatherman says, but this time I KNOW it is true! There are rain, and clouds and cold most of the time, it's like winter never ended! But, more and more days are breaking through the clouds with sunshine and blue skies--just barely enough for me to get my flowers potted and a few things ready in my planter boxes for the garden. However, those days are not coming around enough for us to warm up and really enjoy the beauty of Spring like I want to.

So what have I been doing instead? Well, without realizing it, I've been making small purchases here and there of things that bring a little Spring inside, where I can enjoy it. My Grandma Mac has been in town visiting for my brother's fabulous wedding (remember that wonderful news?) and so together we have ventured with my mom to several fabric stores.

I picked up a little bit of this...

 

Sway - lime,  from Pop Garden by Heather Bailey

and a little bit of this...

Pink - Depression Era

And I might go back for a small piece of this...

Cultivated Flower Orang from the Modern Workshop fabric collection by Liesl Gibson of Oliver + S for Moda

I can't say that Spring is my favorite season, because as each season begins I feel like it's my favorite. But right now, there is nothing I want more than to spend my days outside in a world that resembles something like the flowers on these pieces of fabric. So, until we can finally do that, I will continue sewing with a little bit of this...

 

Mellow Yellow from the Hunky Dory Collection by Chez Moi for Moda

and of course some of this...

Bud Sparrow from the Hunky Dory collection by Chez Moi for Moda

and I'll make something to snuggle up in and stay warm during this cold, cold SPRING!

Easy Fabric Flowers

I know there are tons of tutorials all over the Internet for these, but people keep asking to have a tutrial here, so I learned how to make some. THEY ARE SO EASY!! I was terrified, really, they look so hard, but I made one in ten minutes. Seriously. Easy Peasy! Supplies

Fabric Scissors, or a Rotary Cutter (I would have used a Rotary Cutter, but mine is missing)

Thread

A hand needle

A Ruler or something to use to measure

Cut your Fabric into 5 Squares. Any size will do. I made a few different sizes, but i really like the smaller ones I made with 2.5 inch squares

Thread your needle and make it long enough to fit five "petals" on, before they are cinched.

Fold your squares into a triangle. You can press them if you want, but I didn't and it worked fine.

Sew the open ends of your triangle loosely so that it can be gathered.

Thread them on, one by one until they are all attached. Cinch them together as tight as you want to form your flower.

Tie the ends together.

Add a button or another embellishment to cover the center.

Ta-da! A easy fabric flower!

With fabric flowers, there are endless possibilities!

Speaking Beauties

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Have you ever wondered what your favorite flowers might mean and what you could be saying when you send somebody a special something from your local florist or your own garden?  I have and after doing a little bit of digging I came across some of the meanings behind the beauties I love the most and the ones I like to have in my home.  It was fun to see how perfectly they fit into that part of my life. For example:

 The Gerber Daisy (my wedding flowers): Innocence, Purity and Cheerfulness

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The Pink Peony (ones I love to gush over and admire): Bashful

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Ranunculus (my favorite to have on my window sill and if I can ever get the knack at growing some I would love to give them away just to say): "I am dazzled by your charms"

Dahlia (the confusing flowers in my garden): Dignity, Instability

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Scarlet Poppy (the wild flower I can't seem to grow): Fantastic Extravagance

and...

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Lily of the Valley ( These sweet little bells remind me of my Gammie and my Mother): Sweetness, Return to Happiness, Humility, "You've Made My Life Complete."

What do some of your favorite flowers mean?

To Be a Girl and To Have a Girl

If you have a girl or if you love being a girl then your hair probably plays a pretty big role in your life.  It somehow is the one thing that can make us feel pretty or make us feel well...less then pretty.  The time that can be spent on it is endless and the fact that it needs to be done everyday can be daunting sometimes.  So let's see if we can spice it up this week!  Throw in a flower or a headband or even a scarf and see if it brightens your outlook on your day.  I am not much of an accessory girl myself but I think, in honor of hair week here on Praiseworthy, I might try to add something fun and see if I change my mind.  Why not right? 

Will you do it with me?

 

Oh,and  let's doll up our little girls too. They're not going to let us do this forever so let's be sure to do it now.  Because my little munchkin doesn't have a whole lot of these luscious locks on her sweet little head I tend to make sure people know that she is a girl by adding something everyday.  Here are a few tutorials I love.  Make something special for you or your bug this week and see how easy and fun it is.  It's spring...the perfect time to let your style bloom.

 Click here for tutorial

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