Making Tiny Bows

I chanced upon this blog while browsing and I found it really handy, as gift toppers, decorations for cards or just general decorations. All you need is just a four-tined fork and ribbons of your choice:

Handimania: How To Make A Tiny Bow

You may click on the link to see the full tutorial and tips on how to make it. I will in time post my own handiwork when time allows for a little DIY. :)

Of organza flowers and life

A nondescript evening at home with the sound of tv in the background and the fan humming quietly away. Mum sat down at the kitchen table next to me, curious about the box that I had placed on the table. It was my "bridal box"; a clear, rectangular plastic box that contained scraps and materials that might come in handy for my bridal D.I.Y. projects, as well as some flora and beaded hairpins.

Giving her a bored look, I told her that I was trying to make something out of those strips of organza cloth which was the result of an abandoned D.I.Y. project almost 7 years ago. It was meant to be made into drawstring bags which never happened. One of the reasons why it never happened was because I was never any good at sewing.

Mum suggested that I tread the needle in-and-out and then scrunch it together. It came out looking ok but I started to improvise and improve. It got better with practice and soon started to look good. I was soon immersed in it, with the humming sound of the fan as my companion, while mum left me to go about her household chores.

It was a very enjoyable experience, learning to be comfortable with a needle and thread. Almost like a child learning to be just a little bit more independent.

When mum was done with her chores, she sat down next to me once again. Seeing the untidy and haphazard way I sewed and tied the thread, she taught me how to tie a secure knot at the end of it. It was rather easy but I just kept forgetting. Every time that happened, she would patiently take over and demonstrate to me once again. Warmth trickled down my whole being like melted honey, sweet, warm and filled with bliss.

At the same time, I felt a little chocked up. Suddenly, I could see the lines on my mother's face and the veins on the back of her weathered hands more clearly than ever. I realised that life has almost come a full circle. Tonight, at the kitchen table, it was not only about organza flowers. It was also about preparing to be a bride, and learning the ropes of a wife and a mother.

I know that my mum was not a born perfect mother but she learnt and she tried her best to be one. In a few years, I will be in her shoes. I know it is a little scary to think about it right now and it sounds like a humongous role but like my mum, I know that I will give it my best shot.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Parents rarely let go of their children, so children let go of them. They move on. They move away. The moments that used to define them - a mother's approval, a father's nod - are all covered by moments of their own accomplishments. It is not until much later, as skin sags and the heart weakens, that the children understand; their stories, and all their accomplishments, sit atop the stories of their mothers and fathers, stones upon stones, beneath the waters of their lives.
- Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet In Heaven

Paper doily backdrop

It was definitely the Law of Attraction. I was just thinking about how to maximise the use of doilies and perhaps contribute to my brother's ROM (registration of marriage) ceremony when I saw this display in one of the shops while window-shopping:

the shop display in one of the malls

I discreetly took a photo on my handphone before going closer to take in the details of how it was done. I liked the concept of it but the paper doilies were arranged too closely together, kind of suffocating the whole look. It literally "cramp the style".

Some of the considerations I had for the paper doily backdrop:

1. the length of the strands;
2. something to weigh the strands down so it does not entangle;
3. how to hold the strands together; and
4. how to keep the individual doily in its place.

In the end, I opted for the strand to be 1.5 metres in length since I only needed it as a backdrop and did not require it to reach the ground.  I also contemplated using small tumbled pebbles as weights at the end of the strand but changed my mind when I saw how appropriate and cheap those heart-shaped plastic beads were selling at Elsie's.

These clear, plastic beads were selling at SGD1.80 for 7 pieces
measures about 2cm

I started on it by taping both ends of the fishing line to the sides of my bookshelf. It was hard to keep the doily pom-poms in its place and eventually, I figured a way to do just that. I tied a knot before I stapled the pom-poms on the line, ensuring that one of the staples is ABOVE the knot to keep it from slipping down.

Finished product for the backdrop.

I stapled seven pieces of doilies together in the centre and I started to scrunch them up one by one, leaving the one in the centre untouched. The first and the last piece got scrunched the most. I alternated the length of the strands so that it looked more interesting. I finished off by tying a plastic heart-shaped bead at the end of each strand.

I started out using three pieces of doily paper, followed by five, and I found out that using seven pieces of doily paper gave the best effect. It makes the pom-pom looks rounder and does not easily separate itself into half as can be seen in some of the pom-poms in the photo. If not for the time constrain and tiredness (I just finished my French proficiency test and had yet to pack for Munich), I would have glued the inner part of the centre pieces of the pom-poms together so that they would not separate.

Anyway, it turned out very well as a backdrop, especially against the lush greenery:

It can make for some nice photos too:

My brother getting ready for his ROM ceremony

Himself and I using it as a background for our photo

This was certainly not the best and it could be done better with more practice and time. It was a good attempt nonetheless and I will work on it further for my wedding if it is in a garden setting. The only concern about this DIY project is that although it works nicely outdoors, it will not survive a rainy day.

Another lightbulb moment:

Besides pom-poms, the paper doilies can be made into bluebell or morning glory flowers. Simply make a knot on the fishing line and poke two pieces of doily paper right through from the top. Scrunch the top part of the paper doily and let the detailed and scalloped part of the doily fold naturally to the scrunch.

An alternative to paper doily: paper cupcake holders. Do the same as the paper doilies, and the good thing is, it already comes with folds. Also, there are more colour and design options when it comes to cupcake holders, hence a more colourful and fun backdrop. ;)

I hope that this has been useful. Feel free to share your ideas if you have any to make it better or more interesting!

Braids and chignon

My younger brother is registering his marriage next month and my future sister-in-law has asked my little sis to help her with the makeup and hairstyling. Being the usual midnight owl and having mid-length hair, I was naturally my sister's preferred subject to practise hairstyling on.

My little sis does not have formal training in bridal hairstyling and she learnt all those skills simply from watching YouTube videos or reading up instructions on the Internet. Last week she tried doing a chignon with braids and the photos are as follow:

My little sister trying the same hairstyle for the second time. It was quite messy the first time but she got better at it.

The back view of the hair after she was finished with it.

From the side

Adding a simple tiara is a nice touch, and I like how nicely the tiara sits on the hair.

I cut a section of the beaded lace I bought at Spotlight ($14.99/m), and used it as a hairpiece, instead of the tiara:

If vintage is more your style, place a lace hairpiece on the side. Having some pearls sewn to the lace will give it a more elegant touch. I was feeling lazy, so I just used a really thin plastic hairband and tucked both ends of the lace under the hairband.

Top view of the lace hair piece.

We had a lot of fun exploring the different looks. There were also a few learning points while we were trying out the chignon/braid hairstyle. As much as braids add very nice details to an otherwise plain hairstyle, it can be rather tricky. I ended up with a lot of "bald spots" because the hair were not properly parted and my sister tied the braids too tightly:

Look at that bald patch! I certainly hope that I am not balding! If my sister had taken bits of hair and add it on to the braid as she worked on it instead of just randomly grabbing a bunch of hair and start braiding away, that bald patch would be at least minimised. Loose braids would help too.

I used the same piece of lace and placed it near my collarbone. It will work very well as a choker too. This is one of the DIY projects I have on my list. I ordered some faux pearls and coral beads online and they arrived just before I left for Jo'burg. I will be working on the lace chocker once I find time.

Colours, ribbons and beads

I had lunch with mum around the neighbourhood yesterday and we visited Elsie Dept. Store, the haberdashery shop. The shop has been in business for a good three decades and things are as cheap and good as they can get. Although Spotlight has more selections of everything, I will be sure to get whatever I can from Elsie's before heading to Spotlight.

A new roll of ribbon costs as little as SGD$1.20 (0.5cm wide) and SGD$1.60 (2cm wide). For every adhoc purchase of the ribbons, 1 metre is free from every 5 metres purchased. I am very sure that I can get it at even cheaper prices in Canton or other parts of China, but after throwing air ticket and accommodation into the equation, it simply does not make economical sense.

After doing some comparison, I conclude that most of their items are cheaper than Chinatown. The downside is, it is a rather small shop and certain items might not be available. If interested, Elsie Dept Store is located at:

Blk 709 Ang Mo Kio Town Centre Avenue 8 #01-2607 (Tel: (+65) 6451 5519

Here's my steal from yesterday:

All from Elsie's! I have big plans for all these! From bridesmaids' corsages to brooches, shoes embellishments, to invitation cards!

The colour theme of the wedding had been a real head scratcher because everyone has a different opinions of what colour reflects me best. The polls are as follow:

- Himself: deep, royal purple 

- my little sis: turquoise and gold

- my batch girls: bright yellow

- Merv: lavender (I think it is a very sweet and beautiful colour, but it is a little too sleepy for me)

Although I may seem like a very bubbly person who is positive and gregarious, I think that deep inside at the very core, I am a quiet, sensitive and pensive person. After giving it some thought, I felt that somehow, the warm, soft tones of pink resonate more with me. I love bright colours for my accessories and clothes, but not for my wedding day.

Another consideration while deciding on the colour theme was my bridesmaids. Although I am not particular about what my bridesmaids might end up wearing, I would love to have a colour that would compliment everyone. Peachy pink was my best choice - it will bring out the glow on tanned skin as well as the subtle radiance on fair skin. As long as none of them have sallow skin, it will work just great. The second colour of choice would probably be purple in the shades of bluebell flowers or jacaranda flowers.

With my mind somewhat made up on the colour theme, I bought those rolls of ribbons in different widths. The shade of the green ribbons (in small amount) will compliment the peach pink ribbons beautifully. The ivory ribbons are there to make the overall look, well, more wedding-ish. I will choose ivory over white any time; certain shades of white can come across as very harsh and sterile.

I was at the supermarket with Himself when I picked up a bunch of fake roses and asked him if this colour is for me. I personally love it very much though. <3

Although yellow is a very happy colour, Merv who is a freelance photographer for weddings, explained that in a garden wedding setting, yellow will simply blend right in with the greenery. Good point, thank you Merv!

Everything is still somewhat tentative till we confirm a venue. Meanwhile, I am enjoying the exploration process and I am extremely grateful that I have the luxury of time to plan and be creative.

Ideas for corsages

Having been a bridesmaid a few times, I am so far not very impressed by the ready-made corsages loaned by the bridal shops. This is a typical example of one I have worn as a bridesmaid two years ago:

I gathered some ideas from assorted websites and Pinterest for inspirations:

Rose corsages:

Corsages with faux pearl bracelet(s)

I like the idea of using faux pearl bracelets. Adds a touch of elegance. Works well with pastel colours. For richer colours, perhaps a bit of diamante details will work better.

Lace or Chiffon Corsages:

This is my favourite so far. I love that it is girly and stylish at the same time. I think that it is not very suitable for very strong colours as it will look too heavy with the overall look, unless there is a certain type of style you hope to achieve. A little streaming ribbons will soften the overall look.
On steps on how to do this corsage, go to:
Martha Stewart corsages

Other Variations:

This can be used to make into a cute necklace for the bridesmaid too.

A very fun and bright corsage. Perfect for the sunshine and fun-loving bride and bridesmaid.

A bit too much frill for my liking but it looks very nice from a distance. They somewhat remind me of peonies and I think that it will work for a bouquet though.

Crocheted Corsages

How adorable are these?! I have to remind myself that I am almost 30 and these are just a tad too cute. ;)

These are too cutesy, using some faux pearls and hot-fix rhinestones might just work. It can be used on little flower girls. They can be reused as a hairclip after the wedding, so nothing really goes to waste. It is a corsage cum a small souvenir for the flower girl.

Here are more ideas for corsages for the young ones:

I will use thicker ribbons for the wrist. The thin ribbon looks too stark in comparison.

Paper Corsages:

These are very pretty but very fragile and hard to maintain throughout the wedding. It will be alright for an indoor wedding, but for outdoor wedding, it might not be so ideal as it will disintegrate if it rains.
To learn how to make this, go to:
Martha Stewart paper-crêpe corsage

Learn how to make them at:
How to make origami flowers

With a little creativity and complimentary colour scheme in mind, these origami flowers can be made into beautiful handheld bouquet

Beach Weddings:

This is a wonderful idea for a beach wedding!

These are perfect for a beach wedding. Frangipani flowers will do just fine too.

Themed Weddings & Others:

For the "greenies" or an exotic wedding held in the desert. Just be sure not to use cactuses (unless you do not like the guest)! ;P

A very sweet colour for a X'mas-themed wedding.

There are many other possibilities for themed weddings. For example, pinecones and glowing red autumn leaves can make very interesting corsages as well. Speaking of which, I once came across autumn leaf tempura when I was in Japan! It will be a very interesting canapé to serve at an autumn-themed wedding. ;)

Buttons, anyone? ;)

Shoe woes

I just met up with Germs, one of my friends from church. There is nothing icky about her despite what her name infers; it is simply short for Germaine. ;) She is getting married soon but her older sister, Fiona, is getting married sooner - this December!

Fiona has entrusted this big responsibility to Germs, and look to her to make the big day a success. It is rather stressful because of the time constraints as well as many other important and nitty-gritty issues. Venue has yet to be booked, and gown not yet chosen!

Germs and I were discussing about how her sister needed a pair of flat bridal shoes because she is almost as tall as her husband-to-be and has no desire to tower over her husband on her wedding day. That was when the lightbulb lighted up.

We all know that bridal shoes with heels are much easier to find than flats and with such a short time to find a pair of ideal bridal FLATS, any brides-to-be will feel a certain amount of anxiety. Fret not, tall brides, I am about to share with you an idea.

I was discussing with Germs the possibility of buying a pair of PLAIN flats. This will give the flexibility of matching the bridal shoes to your gown or flower/colour theme. You will need:


1) A pair of plain flats
2) craft glue or fabric glue that dries clear
3) Embellishments (for example):
   - ribbons (white or to match your colour theme)
   - lace (plain or already beaded)
   - rhinestones, beads or sequins
   - charms
   - silk/cloth flowers (to match your floral theme or hand bouquet)

Last but not least,
4) A touch of creativity, fun and humour.

Here are some examples that I found on the internet. They could very well have been manufactured but I am just trying to give a rough idea here on how to turn plain shoes to a unique pair of wedding shoes:

Using lace, rhinestones and ribbons:

A similar look can be achieved by using crocheted placemats or tablecloth, trimming it and using a good craft glue that is waterproof and dries clear, then adding some rhinestones and ribbons to finish the look. 

The rhinestones/glittering sand help the shoes to stand out but the lace ribbon balances the whole look by softening it. It's chic and girly at the same time.

Using silk flowers or floral shoe clips:

A similar effect can be done by using either floral shoe clips or desired silk flowers to stick on a pair of plain heels. As for the rhinestones, it can be achieved, with some meticulous hard work. Lace can be used instead of rhinestones. Lace compliments the flowers very well.

a simple pair of sateen peep-toes are instantly transformed with the clever use of some pearl strings and chiffon flowers

The lace on its own is good enough, but shoe clips, silk flowers, ribbons can be added according to your preferences:

It will not take a lot of your time, at most a day to scout for materials and a day to do it. It depends on how resourceful or creative you can get. For example, if budget is an issue, some of the lace placemats are rather intricate and cheap (I got mine at SGD$2=USD$1.30). That can work well as an alternative for lace! ;)

Unfortunately, I have no personal samples to show at the moment. I have just volunteered myself for Fiona's bridal flats! If she agrees to it, I will have something to show soon! Keep checking in!