The first one is always the hardest

I love all the beautiful decorative tassels I've been seeing. I wanted to make one but didn't want to spend any money since I didn't know if I'd be able to pull it off. My total cost for this was $2. I only used things I already had. I used the bottom of an unfinished nesting doll (which I had purchased many years ago) as the base. The fringe was left over from any earlier project, the ribbon was in my stash so I only needed to purchase a topper. I bought the bird that's on this tassel and another smaller one which I felt was the better size and I planned to use. They were $1 each at dollar tree. I bought the extra one because I didn't know how hard it would be to drill a hole in the top of it and knew the odds were pretty good I would break one. I did break the smaller one, but not while drilling. It just slipped out of my hand, hit the tile floor and shattered into a hundred pieces. I'm actually okay with how this turned out, although in my head it was supposed to be much prettier. At least I have a basic knowledge now of how to put it all together. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Repurposing and preserving a memory

The other day I was retrieving some books from a closet and noticed 4 formal gowns that belonged to my mother. My mom passed away over 4 years ago. These were gowns she had worn to her grandchildrens weddings so I really did want to preserve them, but in a way that they would bring enjoyment to other family members rather than just hang there behind a closed door. I'm here to tell you cutting up a perfectly good gown is a really hard thing to do. First I removed the trim that was on the empire waist (notice the beaded flower embellishment) and cut a one flower apart from the rest of it. Then I cut a square from the very bottom of the dress. I traced a pattern on it to make a cone shape. Stitched some lace and the piece of the trim from the dress onto the satin fabric. I sewed the side, filled with some fiberfill and some potpourri, stitched the top closed and added a bow, some flowers and pearls. The gown had a toile petticoat and I had had cut some of that which I planned on using for the top and then forgot to add it, but I'll remember on the next one. I'm thinking of finding wedding pics where Mom is wearing the gowns and making some square sachets, printing the picture on fabric and attaching to the sachet. I have 4 long gowns to work with so please share any ideas you may have. I'm also thinking tooth fairy pouches for all the great grandchildren who have been born since she passed away.