Ribbon Flower Pins

STRIPED GROSGRAIN is available in a variety of cheery colors to make festive flower pins. A heated tool is used to cut a soft. flowing edge along t he ribbon, which gives the flower petals an organic. naturalistic feel. Flower stamens are commonly found wherever bridal supplies are sold. (Vintage pieces make especially beautiful centers.)

Add vintage style to a pretty blouse or plain jacket. with a set of flower buttons

Choose tiny scraps of silk and oddments of embroidery threads to make these sweet flower buttons. Three different flowers are shown here, but try combining other embroidery stitches to create your own flower garden of buttons.

Fabric-Covered Bead Necklace

 

THIS IS a great no-sew project that features batik dyed fabric strips (i.e.. bias-cut fabric fiber). This necklace would look great when paired with cotton or linen fabric, perfect for a casual summer party or any time you want a great accessory with a soft, earthy look.

Fabric Layered Corsage

THIS DELICATE CORSAGE IS MADE BY LAYERING AND then cutting back fine silk fabrics. Fabrics with differing textures, such as chiffons, organzas, habotai, and dupioni silks, are all appropriate.

Rose And Diamante' Corsage

THIS IS ADAPTED FROM A 1950S magazine . Its vintage charm has been given a kitsch look with the addition of diamante stamens.You can make a large and a small rose and placed them together to wear as a corsage, but there is no reason why you shouldn't make several roses as a posy for a hat, or even a whole bunch for a wedding bouquet.

Pollywood IPod Case

THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS PROJECT CAME from watching Bollywood films and from the materials available in Asian fabric stores—a great source of fabrics, sequins, and embellishments. This pouch has a felt inner lining and so will help to protect your iPod and its earphones, while the hanging cord will keep the iPod handy around your neck.

Corded Necklace

THIS IS A STUNNING PIECE THAT WOULD BE wonderful for a special occasion, though is quite an investment in time and materials. Strips of fabrics are fed under the sewing machine to produce cords that are then embellished with beads of various sizes. I have chosen a striking color combination of turquoise and red and a variety of beads, some of which are genuine turquoise and bamboo coral. You could easily reduce the number of strands to just a few, or even one, to make a simpler necklace, or make the cords without the beading. A bracelet using the same process, but shorter strands, or earrings made from just a few fine strands sewn to ear wires, will complement the necklace beautifully.

Wonderful cherry blossom earrings from an old blouse

 THE FINE, PALE-PINK SILK USED TO MAKE these earrings was recycled from a blouse that was destined for the thrift store. Small tufts of thread indicate the flower stamens and the blossoms are finished with leaves made from vintage brocade. The pom-poms are made using a pom-pom maker, but the instructions for using for cardstock circles are given if you want to use those instead. 

Orchid Fabric Belt

1 Draw around the petal and leaf templates onto the cardstock. Cut them out with the paper scissors. Place  the cardstock templates on the suede scraps and draw around them with the pencil to produce seven of each of the four petal shapes