A blind hem is actually a fairly simple hem to create on your sewing machine. Jennifer from Window-Valence-Patterns.com shows how to do it in a video tutorial. Go to the video tutorial.
[via Picking Up Threads]
Independent craft blog since 2007
by Anne Weaver
A blind hem is actually a fairly simple hem to create on your sewing machine. Jennifer from Window-Valence-Patterns.com shows how to do it in a video tutorial. Go to the video tutorial.
[via Picking Up Threads]
This dried flower bouquet is a fun twist on a traditional gift bouquet, combining preserved flowers, fragrant lavender, and mini alcohol bottles into one eye-catching arrangement. It has that lovely handmade look, but it is also surprisingly easy to put together.
The dried flowers give it a soft, rustic feel, while the miniature bottles turn it into more of a gift bouquet than a floral one. It works well for birthdays, celebrations, thank-you gifts, party table displays, or as a creative handmade present when you want something a little different from the usual bottle-in-a-bag approach.
Because the mini bottles are the stars of this arrangement, the flowers work best when they look soft and airy rather than too bulky.
A good mix might include:
Try not to use flowers that are too stiff or heavy, otherwise the bouquet can start to feel crowded.
Start by attaching each mini bottle to a skewer or thin dowel so it can sit inside the bouquet like a stem. You can also uses these ready made stickers and the skewer just slips inside the tip. A faster and neater way to prepare your bouquets.
Use floral wire to wrap firmly around the neck of the bottle, then twist the wire around the skewer to hold it in place. Once secure, wrap floral tape around the wire and skewer to tidy it up and help everything blend in with the flower stems.
Make sure each bottle feels stable before adding it to the bouquet. You do not want one suddenly dropping out halfway through wrapping everything, because that changes the mood of the craft project very quickly.
Choose one or two mini bottles to form the center of the arrangement. Hold them in your hand and start adding dried flower stems around them.
Cross the stems naturally as you build, turning the bouquet slightly as you go. This helps create a rounded, balanced shape rather than a flat bunch.
Add a little baby’s breath or lavender between the bottles so they do not sit too tightly together.
Once the center is established, add the remaining mini bottles around the bouquet. Spread them out so they feel balanced and visible from the front.
It usually looks best to angle the bottles slightly outward instead of standing them perfectly upright. That makes the bouquet feel fuller and allows the labels or bottle shapes to show.
Keep the heavier bottles closer to the center where they are better supported by the stems.
Now tuck in more flowers between the bottles to soften the arrangement. Use lavender, baby’s breath, grasses, and small dried blooms to fill gaps and hide any visible wires or skewers.
This is the stage where the bouquet starts looking more polished. The flowers help blend the gift elements into the arrangement so it feels intentional rather than like a bunch of bottles with a few random stems shoved in.
Add eucalyptus or other dried greenery around the outside edge of the bouquet. Longer stems work well here because they create that loose, abundant shape and help everything look more layered.
Greenery is also very useful for disguising the mechanics of the bouquet, especially around the bottle stems.
When you are happy with the overall shape, wrap the stems tightly with floral tape near the base. Make sure the bottle skewers are fully included and secure.
Once taped, tie the bouquet with twine, ribbon, or jute string. Trim the bottoms of the stems and skewers so they are a similar length and sit neatly inside the wrapping.
Lay out wrapping paper or florist paper on a flat surface. Place the bouquet on top at an angle and fold the paper around the stems.
Kraft paper gives it a rustic feel, while white paper creates a cleaner modern look. Soft tissue paper underneath can make the bouquet feel fuller and more gift-like.
Secure the wrap with clear tape, then tie with ribbon or twine.
Finish the bouquet with a tag, a little handwritten note, or an extra sprig of lavender tucked into the ribbon.
That final detail makes it feel complete and gift-ready.
You can easily change the look of this bouquet depending on the style you want.
Try:
This type of bouquet has all the charm of dried flowers, but with a fun gift-bouquet twist. The flowers keep it feeling soft and handmade, while the mini bottles make it feel special and a bit unexpected.
It is one of those projects that looks much more complicated than it really is, which is always a nice bonus. And because dried flowers last so well, the bouquet can be enjoyed long after the celebration is over.