Crafting Session: Lattice Pattern Hand-Beaded Bridal Sash

 Updates from the latest crafting session of hand beading a bridal sash/belt to be added to the Etsy shop!

This particular project actually took several sessions of about 1-2 hours each.  It features a lattice pattern that is essentially comprised of a total of 4 zig zagged lines spaced evenly on the beaded portion of the sash/belt.  I was inspired by Victorian and Edwardian style beading.

Supplies needed:
-ribbon (here 3 yards were used as it was to be a sash/belt for an adult)
-glass beads of the larger size
-sturdy thread (it doesn't have to match the ribbon color)
-needle

This particular image to the right show 3 of the lines and, at the very top, you can see where the last zag hasn't been finished yet.

 To the left and at the top, you can start to see the finished pattern emerging as the 4th set of zig zags are added.

 I think the back of the piece comes out nearly as pretty as the front!  You can see from the picture on the right all the intersections.

 Voila!  The finished piece!

Step by Step: Hand Beading Ribbon for a Headband, Choker Necklace, or Sash

Okay, I know this may look like a difficult project, but it really isn't!

Here's a step by step guide on how to make this project.  I made up the pattern off the top of my head, but there are lots of inspirations out there that would be easier than this one.

Step 1:  Supplies

-Scissors - I use a small sewing scissor as it is easier to get in there with the smaller blades, but any scissor will do the job
-Quilting thread - in whatever color most closely matches the ribbon color (or it could be interesting to use, say, black thread with white ribbon)
-Sewing needle
-Beads - here I am using a yellow/gold and clear/silver bead but any color could work and even using a seed pearl would be nice too
-not pictured are pins

Step 2: Measure out the ribbon

Take the ribbon and lay it out around your head, neck or waist if you are making a sash.  The two finished items above, which are actually the same piece, use a satin ribbon that is 3/4" wide and I ended up measuring it out to be about 37".  The beaded portion is about a foot long which was about from ear to ear over the top of my head.

Step 3: Measure out the area to be beaded

This is where the pins come in handy to mark the portion of the ribbon that you want to bead.  Somewhat important is to make sure it is relatively centered on the ribbon as well.  If it is off by a little bit, don't worry, because you can always go back and trim the ends afterwards.  In the piece at the top of the article, the beaded portion is about a foot long.

Step 4: Thread Needle (and knot the end!)

Give yourself a long piece of thread to work with but not too long that you are poking yourself in the eye as you are working with the needle and thread.  I generally pull out about an arms length or approximately 3'.  I keep the tail end of the thread so long that it is only an inch or two from the area that gets finished as I am working.  If the thread is too short, you will keep having to finish off and start new lines which, if the knots aren't strong, could cause sections of the beads to unravel and fall off.  Don't forget to add a thick knot to the end so it doesn't pull through the ribbon!

Step 5: Begin beading!

Starting at one end of the portion of ribbon to be beaded, begin by pulling the needle through the ribbon and making sure the knotted end doesn't pull through as well.

Once the knot holds, string your first bead on.

Secure the bead by pushing the needle through the ribbon about the beads' length away from the entrance hole by the thread so that it is going to the back of the piece.  This way, the bead will have enough room to be tightened in to a position that doesn't show the hole of the bead and will show the decorative side (which is generally what you want to see anyways).

Here is a side view of the first bead.  I have stopped midway with the needle from the back of the piece to the front to show the distance away from the first bead if you want to make a continuous line of beads.  If there is supposed to be space, then a further distance would be applicable.

String your second bead on.

Using the same principle as the first bead, leave about a beads' length away from the entrance hole.

Here is what it should look like for a continuous line of beads from the front.

And from the side.

Continue on with your pattern until you hit the end of the portion to be beaded.  There may be some previous planning needed before actually starting to make sure the pattern fits on center!

At the end, make a secure knot, even out the ends of the ribbon, burn the ends with a candle so they don't fray, and enjoy your new ribbon headband, necklace, or sash!

Feel free to contact me for any help with this project!  Visit my Etsy shop if you want to purchase one already made ;-)

xx - Kaitlin

I'm Gunna Pop Some Tags...

...Only got twenty dollars in my pocket!

Thanks to Signor Christopher Columbus, the company I work for closed their office for the "holiday" (the fact that we were, like, the only business to officially close for Columbus Day is another thing to wonder about on a rainy day) therefore giving me a fabulous 3 day weekend!

Since the S.O. has to work, along with the rest of the professional world, I also had the day to myself.  So, what better way to occupy myself than go on a thrift shop tour to two of my favorite thrift shops that are relatively close by!

My first stop was Second Chance Thrift Store located behind a church in Gladstone, NJ.  I always forget, but the key thing to remember is that they do NOT take credit card.  Gladstone is one of those beautiful old money areas with huge, historic mansions settled amongst rolling hills of a mix of woods, horse farms, and crop fields.  I always try to hit up the stores in these old money areas as you can find some real gems in their stock piles.  Today's mission was vintage materials such as jewelry and clutches that could go straight in to the Etsy shop.  The proceeds go to benefit a local hospital.  Overall, the store holds a mix of everything.  They have small selections of everything you can imagine: women's, men's, and children's clothes, shoes and accessories, jewelry, household items, china, decorations, furniture...if you're looking for it, there's a good chance they've got it or might get it soon!

After sitting in traffic on the back country roads because of some emergency construction work, I finally arrived to my second stop at the Bargain Box Thrift Store in Morristown, NJ.  Another one of those stores with a donation source of old money attics, closets, and basements.  They have an astounding collection of quite usable and fashionable clothing that was hard to avoid (had to stick to my Etsy shopping mission!), a lot of books, some household items, and a decent supply of vintage and nicer jewelry.  Whoever is sorting in the back has a pretty good eye for picking out the good items as their pricing can be very close to the retail value of some of the items.  Proceeds benefit the hospital across the street so it can be hard to reason against their pricing but it is not conducive to making a profit from reselling!

This Saturday I will be attending a rummage sale in Summit, NJ for the first time so hopefully there will be some more goodies to find!  I'm sure it will be nothing compared to the biennial VNA rummage sale in Far Hills but sometimes smaller can be more manageable!

Check out the Etsy shop for all my finds from today: http://www.etsy.com/shop/QueenAnnesLaceDesign

Where are your favorite thrift shops??

xx - Kaitlin

Wine Makes The Creativity Flow...

 I love this ecard.  A friend just sent it to me and I started cracking up.  With a reception upcoming in spring of next year (Mother's Day weekend to be exact), I ambitiously decided to hand make corsages out of ribbon (it lasts longer!) to honor each of the mothers attending the event.  Doing one would be OK, but holy cow can it take it forever when there are 17 to do!  Never known to go the easy way, most of the flowers have intricate parts and pieces that require multiple steps to fabricate...17 times over...  Unfortunately, I JUST finished crafting all the flowers last night otherwise I would have put up a tutorial on how I did it.  But, don't worry, there will be a picture of the final product :)

And speaking of the final product, there's something to be said of the old fashioned sewing circles and doing it right.  I quickly realized that it would be way more fun, and I would look less like a lush, to invite some girlfriends over to help out on my quest of mother's day ribbon flower corsages!  After finally picking a date, we are all getting together this Friday for crafting, sangria drinking, and gyro eating.

They have varying degrees of craft ability or, more importantly, desire to craft but having them there for conversation and laughs is the main goal!

Do you prefer crafting alone or with a group???

xx - Kaitlin

The Start...

I began this journey just a mere week ago when I decided to open my Etsy shop, QueenAnnesLaceDesign, to feature my own handmade and rummage sale found vintage bridal accessories.

This shop combines my enjoyment of crafting and finding vintage treasures with everything wedding associated.  Please stay tuned as I detail my journey with new crafts and rummage sale finds...

Visit my shop here...

xx - Kaitlin