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

little spun cotton baby bird...

this week at my art group we are making spun cotton ornaments....
yipee, i have been dying to learn how and our friend Cheryl Burton is going to teach the class.

i have made a few attempts so far but there are so many variables~
what to use for the armature--plain wire, wrapped or coated wire, pipe cleaners
what kind of cotton to use--loose cotton, medical cotton, cotton roving, cotton balls
what to hold it together with--spray starch, liquid starch, watered down glue mixture

barn door pjs with little buttons

it will be very helpful to learn what really works!  this little guy was just made with cotton balls from Walmart if you can believe it.  he is a bit chunky but i am figuring out a few things as i go.

kitten was a bit harder to photograph as her tail sticks out weird making her so i can't lean her up against the paper.  she is made with a cotton roving and has a much smoother finish.

here are a few figures waiting for paint and decoration.  the bunny has some artificial eyes that might work out, don't know yet.  the bear needs some sort of nose, i'll have to add something on...
and the owl/wild things creature has cool feet but is pretty squishy, not enough cotton for
his figure. 

there is a 2 day drying time i think for the figures so i will be posting next week what we made at art group.

if anyone has any suggestions, ideas, or experience making spun cotton figures please email me, i would LOVE to know!

happy wednesday, julie
                                                                                                        

the wreckage...

i'm having trouble dealing with the wreckage...

i had all my spring and easter projects all loaded up in this silver picnic tote along with my spring paints.  i never got around to painting all the pieces at easter time so they have been just sitting here and there.  it was easy to pick up and move the whole batch with the little cut out handles.

the whole thing was sitting on the end of a table that i tried to drag down the hall.  a corner of the caddy caught the wall and everything fell.  most of the little bunny and chick pots broke, even the ones i had finished.  it looked like plaster carnage all over the floor.  what a mess.

 i am not sure what the moral of this story is yet.  finish what you started, don't leave things lying around, stop trying to drag tables down the hall....

there were a few little pots left mostly undamaged that i am finishing tonight.  maybe that will make me feel better.

hand dyed embroidery floss tutorial...

i am finally finished with school, my daughter is graduated, and summer has arrived.
welcome june and sitting by the pool, traveling in the car, and enjoying a cool summer evening. what i need is a little traveling sewing kit to tuck in my purse at a moments notice. it all started with this bag of horrible embroidery floss i bought at the thrift store for $3.99. this mess was tucked in an old Bucilla embroidery kit. usually i would just pass on that nightmare but there were a couple of vintage thread skeins in colors i just loved... so i bought the bag and decided before i threw the 'uglies' away i would give them a second chance. warning~ hideous before photo~

i had a bowl of coffee on the counter i was using to dye some fabric pieces so i experimented a bit. a more concentrated coffee or tea will create a deeper color, a watered down mixture gives you just a hint of color.

i use gloves to protect my hands from the dye (bad experience in the past) they actually work really well. i wrapped the floss around my fingers and dipped it in the dye bath. after working the dye in the threads i squeezed out the extra liquid and blotted it with a paper towel. to heat set the dye i placed the floss on a paper towel and microwaved it until it was dry.

check your samples every 20 seconds or so to avoid overcooking them. i really liked almost every color.

the rest of the awful thread mess i just threw in the dye, labels and all. i left that bunch a while to soak. i squeezed out the extra dye and placed in on the counter. the darker colors were mostly unchanged, a few were still so awful i just tossed them out. but surprisingly after i microwaved the rest i was thrilled! biggest surprises were the variegated threads, they will be so fun to sew with. ~after photo~
 all wrapped up pretty and tucked in my traveling sewing kit.


here is one of the pieces i embroidered using a piece of linen for the base, vintage millinery stems, and dyed wool and cotton embroidery threads. a blossom passing fair....
  here we are with our graduate, love to her and happy june all, julie

tiny fabric chicks tutorial....just in time for spring

this darling little chick tutorial is just in time for spring. make a whole little nest from just a few scraps of fabric and a bit of stuffing.

my little chicks are featured on the cover of this new book that came in the mail this week! make me i'm yours...just for fun has 20 little handmade projects inside including my little ipod sweater. both of my projects are from my book pretty little felts. this collaborative project was put together by northlight. love the little size only 7 inches square.



you will need:
cotton fabric scraps, wool felt scraps, black beads for eyes, embroidery floss, stuffing, and any little ribbons or accessories.


step 1.
click on the pattern image and print the pattern. i'm trying something new here, including the pattern right in my post. would love to know if it works for everyone. the chick pattern should be just over 3 inches tall.
cut out cotton and felt pieces. i like to trace the pattern on the wrong side of the cotton fabric and sew right along my lines.


step 2. sew the wings together using s short stitch length. turn the wings right side out and stuff. pin the wing pieces to the body as shown and lay the other body piece on top, pin together.


step 3. sew around the body leaving an opening at the bottom as shown on the pattern.


step 4. turn the body right side out and stuff. sew the opening closed with a needle and thread.

step 5. cut out the felt pieces for the eyes, beak and feet and pin in place until you get the expression you like. sew the eyes, beak and feet in place by hand using one strand of matching embroidery floss and a blanket stitch.


step 6. using a thin needle and strong thread sew tiny black beads on the eyes. finish by adding a tiny ribbon bow or rosebud if you like.

here are some other ideas for inspiration...
a little owlet

and mim the cat designed by my daughter.


hope you all have fun making your little cheepers. send me a photo of your little chicks and i will include it with this post with your link for more ideas.
happy spring day....
julie

easter bunnies and chenille chicks....

3 little bunnies for your easter basket....
their names are sophie, josie, and lulu.

made with vintage fabrics, ruffles, and buttons. each has a sweet little hand embroidered face. i have a whole little basket of these so far....

sophie loves chocolate foil eggs, easter parties, and walks in the woods. her sister josie is crazy about carrot souffle, loves to gather flowers in her basket and keeps wishing she wore ballet slippers. lulus favorite thing is to make pink lemonade cupcakes. she loves to decorate easter eggs and hates to sing at parties.

had to show you their little vintage pom tails.


these little chenille chicks swing in their own egg baskets. how sweet is that!
i adore their little crackled eggs and the darling vintage chenille stems and velvet blossoms.




some chenille baskets and paper mache bunny and chick containers are in the works. these two just made it into the photo.


i got an old wooden collapsable drying rack from my grandma and put it to use this week when i spent a whole day dying crepe paper ruffles. love these 5 new colors together, sunflower, summer peach, strawberry pink, bluebird, and mint green.
yummie.


with all the sunshine happening here its a wonder i am getting anything done at all.
hope you had a lovely spring day...
julie