I'm in fabric corsage love

Last week's retail therapy, brought on by Grace's first day of preschool, resulted in the purchase of this strapless linen Theory dress for $4.99.    

It was nearly perfect but it was missing a belt {this isn't just my opinion, it had loops for a belt, just no belt}.

In attempts to think outside the box {or belt loop}, I pulled out a fabric corsage I had made back in January and some brown grosgrain ribbon...

 and I made my own belt.

 Not bad for a $5 dress and a homemade belt.

I hadn't really looked at this fabric corsage since I had made it back in January so it was like a renewed love affair was happening.  Barry White music was playing in my head.

This poor forgotten about fabric corsage was now getting some some love.

I pinned it to an elastic headband and tested it out in my hair, thinking, why oh why had I forgotten about you, little fabric corsage?

This is where my love affair turned to an obsession.

I remembered a vintage handbag I bought from Goodwill for $2.99 back in April.

I loved the simplicity of this bag, including the label.  What I didn't love, the scuff and the stain.  I guess that's to be expected and maybe the reason it was donated {no belt = donate, scuff and stained = donate...both of which obviously equals, I must buy}.

So, I made myself another flower corsage and glued it over the marks.

Since my fabric corsage is on the verge of considering me a stalker, perhaps my handsome husband will romance me with a date night, where I can wear my no longer beltless dress or use my no longer stained vintage purse.

Linked up and a big thanks to:

 

Fabric Flower Corsage or Barrette

A perfect accessory for little girls...

And big girls too.

Want to make one? Gather the following supplies:

Scrap Fabric *I used silk for the cream flower, cotton for the grey flower and polyester blend for the purple flowers
Scrap piece of felt
Scissors
Needle and thread

Cut out roughly 20-30 circles {about 3 inches in diameter}. They do not need to be perfect, as you can see from the circle I cut below.

Fold your circle into fourths and cut the sides {cut down towards the center but not all the way through}.

When still folded in fourths, cut the corners so they take a rounded appearance.

Then, unfold your fourth of a circle and it should look like a flower.

Repeat 20-30 times.

Attach a round piece of felt {approximately 1 inch in diameter} to the back center of one flower.

Pinching your next flower petal closed

Start to sew it to the front of your flower, starting in the center.

Repeat with the rest of the flower petals, working from the center out, adding enough to get the size and shape you want your corsage to be. When completed, add a pin to the back and start to accessorize.

Though I love the cream colored corsage, my favorite is the purple corsage. The big difference between the cream corsage and the purple corsage, the material. The cream corsage was made out of silk, the purple was made out of a polyester blend.

The edges of polyester blend can be seared to give your flower a more realistic organic shape. The trick is to bring the polyester blend close to the flame NOT into the flame. The heat from the flame will melt the edges of the polyester.

I used this technique in my very first post for a Flower Brooch and or Barrette Tutorial. You can see the difference between the silk flowers {which you can NOT sear, it will burn, not sear} and the polyester flowers.

This really is a quick and fun afternoon craft. Have fun accessorizing!




*If you do decide to sear your flowers, use great care and attention to detail. Do NOT try and sear cotton or silk fabric. I have only had success in searing a polyester blend.