Embroidered Denim Tank Top

I bought a denim tank top at a thrift store, and though I liked the shirt, I was inspired to embroider the back of it with little flowers.

 

begin with bright pink/orange flowers; add mini flowers in more neutral colors

add little lavender flowers with leaves

add lavender flowers on another corner

burst star flower, reminds me of Staryu from Pokemon

lavender grains

added stems to the lavender bursts, adding another flower with French dots center

roses like Whitney's "Light Upon the Lake" album cover

my favorite part - little flowers

sunflower petals to fill in the empty spot with yellow

sunflowers for my sister

I'm so happy to have finally finished embroidering this top after sewing over the course of several months... it took almost a year to make, with a few hours for each flower section. I'm very pleased with how it turned out and want to wear it all the time! I plan to only hand-wash the shirt (though my dad accidentally threw it in the laundry when I was in the middle of sewing a flower since I had left the project on my pillow), so that will keep me from wearing it ALL THE TIME!

<3 Mandy

Woodsy Themed Decorations

For a retirement party at work, I was requested to help out with the decorations because of my love for crafting and "artist eyes". There was a woodsy theme for the retiree who loved the outdoors, so I helped to put some plants together, make "Reserved" signs, and make a corsage and boutonnière for the honoree and his wife.

After having a log cut in half lengthwise, someone helped to drill a little hole for a stick to make a standing table sign. I painted "Reserved" with little decorative leaves on the face of each log to make a sign to place on each of the two center tables.

back side, with stick stand

blank faces of the log halves

backs of the log halves

design drafted in pencil

completed signs

Using an assortment of white flowers, leaves, miniature duck figurines, small pinecones, feathers, and some floral tape and ribbon, I made a matching corsage and boutonnière for the honorees. I made a bouquet of flowers, leaves, and feathers and wrapped the stems in floral tape. I wove in some pinecones attached to thin wire, and filled in more flowers and leaves where the bundles looked empty. I wrapped the stems with thin hemp string, and tied a bow with some shimmery light brown ribbon.

completed bouquet with floral tape

completed bouquet with hemp string

wrapped in ribbon

comparison to inspiration I found online

attaching the flowers to the corsage bracelet

boutonniere and corsage, side by side

I had a lot of fun putting together the decorations, and celebrating at the party. Everyone else seemed to be having a great time too. I always love making things, especially when other people can enjoy them too.

welcome/check-in table

continuing the duck theme

<3 Mandy

Pressed Flower Phone Case

At first I thought a plain clear phone case would be nice, simple, and sleek... but then I changed my mind and thought I would jazz it up with some pretty flowers. I simply picked some little flowers, collected from a walk around a neighborhood, pressed them in a book, and then laid them on the inside of the case and popped my phone on top. At first, I didn't glue them down in case I wanted to change them up, and I also was afraid glue marks would show up through the case. However, I decided the flowers would last longer, and be safer away from the elements (rain, heat, etc.), so I cut a sheet of plastic out into the shape of my phone case (with a hole for the camera), and used mod podge to glue the flowers in place. I can make more of these little sleeves, and change them out whenever I want. The pressure of the phone and case on the flowers helps to keep them flat and preserved. Voila!

<3 Mandy

Laminated Pressed Flowers

I love flowers. And to think there's a way to preserve them for *almost* forever, of course I'd jump at the chance.

When I was 6, my parents got me a pressed-flower kit for my birthday, complete with wooden boards, tissue paper, mounting cardboard, and metal fitments. I used to go around picking flowers in the backyard, press them, and then glue the flat flowers onto cards a couple of weeks later.

Today, I still do the same thing.

Using clear contact paper, I laminated flowers from special occasions.

 

 Here are some unlaminated cards I made last year.

Picking Flowers in Galway, Ireland

Ironing flowers: the fast way to press and dry them

 

<3 Mandy