french bistro labels tutorial

 

i adore sweet little packages~  a tissue paper bundle, a fabric envelope, or even a brown paper sack with a handmade label.  these French Bistro labels are my favorite thing right now for a quick and darling little gift tag.

here are 7 ideas to decorate your labels that will celebrate the holidays all year long.  after the labels have been decorated you can attach them to your parcels and packages with a glue dot or glue stick.

1. love you valentines day label.
punch 2 hearts from vintage music paper and glue the first one to the label, fold the second in half and glue just along the fold. type or print out the words Love You and cut out and glue on label.  thread a pretty string on a needle and poke it through the top of the heart and back up through the label.  tie on a tiny heart charm.

2. sweet birthday candle
trim the bottom 1/4 inch off a birthday candle with scissors.  layer a birthday candle, bit of tinsel, and a paper flower on the label and tie with tinsel string in a knot.

 3. spun cotton snowman
remove the chenille stem and chenille scarf from the spun cotton snowman and cut him carefully in half using an exacto blade.  cut the back of the paper hat off with scissors.  twist back on the chenille scarf and glue your snowman down to a label.

4. holiday holly berries
tie a bundle of sugared millinery stamens and a lacquered holly leaf on a label with a narrow silk ribbon.

5. summer sequin flowers
arrange 3 tiny daisy appliques in a row across a label. using the seed beads and sequins from your collection or a vintage sequined fruit, sew with a needle and thread through the daisy then the sequin then the bead and back down through the sequin to the back of the tag.  tie off your thread on the back after the last sequin flower.

6. pastel Easter bouquet
clip a little bouquet of forget-me-nots from an Easter hat or posy and tie with a pink silk ribbon to your label.

7. spooky Halloween spider
glue a black glittered die cut halloween spider to a label and type or print out the word Boo! and glue to the top of the spider. 

you can order a set of these french bistro labels in my shop~ Vintage Handmade

happy packaging,
Julie

princess and the pea...

i am cutting some some of my favorite hand dyed and vintage wool felt today for a friend and sat my newest little birdie on top of the pretty stack.  she looks like the princess and the pea with all her mattresses doesn't she....

 a beauty shot~
princess is made using the same pattern as the wedding cake birdies, just using a heavy satin fabric for the body instead of wool. the fabric is actually a vintage coat lining, i just loved the taupe color and the heavy feel of the satin.  nothing goes to waste when i take apart an old skirt or jacket.  i use the linings to sew ruffles and even use the buttons and old metal zipper!   i sewed the pieces right sides together and then turned them right side out to stuff.  tiny bits of wool were cut for the wings and beak.  i added a little ornament string so she can hang or sit in her nest.

happy monday.  julie

wedding cake birdies....

today i am working on some little felt birds to go on the top layer of a wedding cake.  my darling friend Renas daughter is getting married next week and they wanted some little wool birds with heart shaped wire feet to sit on the frosting of their top layer.

 

my first pattern ended up looking like a short, fat birdie with a weird tail....  horrifying!

it is always hard for me to anticipate what a sketch will look like after it is sewn and stuffed.

i slimmed the tummy and tail down, added longer legs and the second one came out much better (thank goodness...)

both birds are handsewn with a tiny blanket stitch and have embroidered eyes. i used a fine even wool felt for both birds.   the 100% wool felt from the magic cabin is perfect for this project. the wings were cut with scalloped scissors and sewn in place so you could position them a bit. i like the bride to look a little flittery.   the bride has a tiny flower applique and a vintage beaded sequin pin, while the groom is wearing a black bow tie.

they are packaged up and on their way.  i think i will use this same pattern for some wool bird ornaments this holiday season.....

you may now kiss the birdie~  happy thursday,. Julie

Celebrate 4th of July Sale....

 

Happy 4th of July all, its time to Celebrate!  Everything in my shop is 10% off today.  Just enter the coupon code JULY4THSALE at checkout and receive the discount on everything you purchase today.

I am feeling especially happy today as my sisters house was spared from the fires last night.   She and her family were evacuated at 6 pm last night.  They moved in with my Mom for the night.  We were all watching the news as the fires moved down the mountain, hoping and praying for them...

Alpine Utah Fire July 3, 2012

The smoke and ash have been so bad lately we have had to turn on our windshield wipers to brush the ash
off the window so we can see!  Much love sent out to all of you who are still facing terrible fires and storms.

Julie