tiny happy

making journal

 
  Rose 1

Rose 2

Rose 3

I found this great little craft book, Lovely Things To Make For Girls of Slender Means by Eithne Farry, at the library the other day. It is divided into 4 chapters of projects that reflect the seasons of the year, and in the Summer chaper (along with designs for a kaftan, a necklace made from wooden chip-forks and a floppy sunhat) I found this project for making fabric roses. 

Just for fun over the weekend, I made a big red rose according to Eithne's directions from some scraps of red silk fabric, as a pin for my favourite dress.

The book itself has a really light and fun feel to it, and is very creative without getting too stuck on technical sewing patterns or instructions- the reader is encouraged to lighten up and experiment. 

When I have another long and lonely evening in front of me, I'll give her dress design a go, and make enough roses in matching fabric to sew all over the front, as you can see in the picture above.

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15 responses to “petals”

  1. Hannah Avatar

    I got this book out from the library too, and quite enjoyed it. I liked how you couldn’t really go wrong; each mistake became part of the finished item, or was a learning point. And the cute little blurbs? I wish I had had the time to make some more things from it!
    Hannah

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  2. Emma Avatar

    Our library has this book too – it’s so carefree, which makes it more inspiring. I took photos of some pages to make the projects later.

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  3. Emily Avatar

    Looks like a great book, I’ll have to hunt it down in our library. The rose looks lovely too, I like the idea of having a whole cluster of them!

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  4. Christina Avatar

    A lovely addition to your dress! 🙂

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  5. karen Avatar
    karen

    Hi Melissa
    Could you give me some ideas re making this lovely flower? I’m looking for ideas to use with my residents for Melbourne Cup Day?
    Thanks
    Karen
    Newcastle

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  6. tinyhappy Avatar

    hi karen, great idea for the melbourne cup day!
    im not sure if i can repeat the instructions exactly since its not my design. but i did find this tutorial online which is similar- http://www.makingthishome.com/2011/04/13/fabric-flower-tutorial/
    and there are lots of others to be googled. this flower was made up of 16 fabric circles, folded and sewn together.
    hope that helps- good luck!

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  7. Eyecatchers & Wind In The Willow Avatar

    Yes that book looks very inspiring indeed! (And easy to follow instructions, even better!!!) Your rose looks lovely!

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  8. Tania Avatar

    Looks like a great book and I haven’t heard of it before. Love the rose. Very Spring-like.

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  9. Emily Avatar

    Lovely rose and I adore the book’s title – I wonder if she’s a Smiths fan (“I am a man of means, of slender means” from the song Nowhere Fast).

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  10. tinyhappy Avatar

    ha- yes, i agree- the writing is very cute.

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  11. tinyhappy Avatar

    could well be a smiths fan- although she quotes the ‘slender means’ phrase at the start of the book from the book by muriel spark (1963.) 🙂

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  12. Melbourne Road Avatar

    laughing at the title of this one. cute.
    since I dont have the book thank you for the tutorial in a comment above. Cant wait for a chance to make some. first is wedding sewing though and lots of it for my girl Tessa. the first of my daughters to get married. sigh.
    Lori
    xo

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  13. Holly C. Avatar

    I love that-girls of slender means. 🙂

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  14. sew funky Avatar

    I have that book out at the moment too – really neat ideas! Must get on and make something out of it!! 🙂

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