Name Cards for the Tables

Tags

crafts, mother of the bride, name cards, ribbon roses, tutorial, wedding, weddings

I discovered that some beads are not what I’d thought so the ring pillow will continue pending until I get the right ones. Instead I’ve been working on the name cards for the tables. We decided that the best idea was to make the cards and then print the names onto adhesive labels and add them a few days before the wedding. This way we can keep the last-minute work to a minimum and late changes to the guest list won’t become a drama … A VERY GOOD THING for mothers of the bride!

HOW TO MAKE:

Elizabeth’s Name Cards

1. Galeria Acrylic Pad 300gsm
2. Ribbon Roses
3. Paper covered stem wire
4. Guillotine, bone folder, needle and thread, glue

Cut up a sheet of the textured paper into 10 x 10cm squares.

Score through the centre of each square to make a fold line.

Stitch on the two ribbon roses and glue on the tendril.

Fold on the scored line to make an A-frame card of 10 x 5cm.

 

The Ring Pillow

Tags

beading, bride, crafts, Dorothy Wood, mother of the bride, ring pillow, wedding, weddings

The beads for the ring pillow arrived today and I can’t wait to get started at the weekend. I’m adapting a design by Dorothy Wood who deserves to be lauded for her fabulous work. She’s written a load of books and contributes to many magazines. I don’t know her but why shouldn’t she have a plug anyway and if the ring pillow works out the way I want I’ll send her a photograph and a thank you note. http://www.dorothywood.co.uk

Guest List Blues

Tags

bride, guests, mother of the bride, reception, wedding

Annabel calls: “I’ve had 2 people who said they were coming who’ve now emailed to say they can’t make it.  I’m worried we won’t have enough people for the ‘White Room’.”

The reception is going to be at this beautiful seaside hotel. Its events rooms overlook the ocean: the ‘White Room’ requires a minimum of 60 guests; less than that and we’re in the ‘Blue Room’. It’s a more intimate space but it has the same stunning views through its full length windows. Annabel really, really wants the ‘White Room’ with its crystal chandeliers and grand entrance. The guest list has been an endless juggle of people and budget. Louise says that they had cancellations a couple of weeks before the wedding and had to call friends who had been left off the original list. She says it was a bit embarrassing but she soon saw who her good friends were! I suppose this scenario is the same for most weddings. Anyway, back to Annabel’s call.

“Oh dear,” I reply, “we’ll have to invite the second tier cousins but there are rather a lot of them and if they all accept we’ll be beyond our budget.” I say it soothingly. trying to placate the quiver of tension that’s shooting up my torso like a rocket from a launchpad.

“We’ll find some people in the road, some strays we can herd in if we need to. The hotel can give them ties and at least they’ll get a decent meal.” says Annabel.

“Yes,” I say, “what a good idea. I can see the doorman ushering them into reception and handing them over to the floor manager … ‘Come this way, Sir … we just need to get you into a tie and jacket before you can go upstairs. Shame about the grubby pants and I’m afraid we don’t have shoes for you but no one will notice when you’re sitting down.'”

“I think you’re losing it, Mum. I was being facetious, you know.”

Whatever ‘it’ is has already gone. Why couldn’t they just elope!

I sit down at my table and reach for a length of lovely satin ribbon and a new stem wire and after a few roses I’m as calm as Buddha under the Bodhi Tree.

Ribbon Roses – How To Make Them

Tags

bride, crafts, mother of the bride, ribbon roses, tutorial, weddings

Elizabeth’s Way to make Ribbon Roses

Materials: ribbon, floral/craft wire, needle and cotton, stem tape

Method:

1. Poke the wire through the ribbon at one end. (Seal the ribbon end with a flame if you choose.)
2. Bend the end of the wire over the ribbon and flatten. Use craft pliers if needed.
3. Fold the corner of the ribbon over the wire and hold with a couple of stitches.
4. Start to roll the ribbon round the wire. If you bend the wire a few centimeters below the ribbon it makes it easier to twirl the wire. The rolled ribbon should be tight. Catch with a couple of stitches.
5. Fold the ribbon away from the ‘bud’ and turn the wire to roll the ribbon around itself. Catch with a couple of stitches.
6. Continue to fold and roll, stitching as needed.
7. When you have a good looking rose cut the ribbon. Seal the end with a flame. Fold the end inwards at an angle to make a slightly pointed ‘petal’ and catch the bottom in place with a stitch or two. Wind the cotton around the bottom of the rose a couple of times, stitch through and cut the cotton.
8. Cut about 10cms of stem tape. Start folding the tape at an angle around the wire just below the rose, Pull it gently as you wind it up in overlapping turns; this releases the glue and allows the tape to stick to itself. Wind it around the base of the rose, covering your stitching. Fold it down at an angle once or twice for an attractive finish and then continue winding down the wire stem. Roll between your fingers to seal.

Stem tape and wire stubs are available from florist suppliers. I use 24 gauge wire. Once you’re happy with making roses on wire you can use the same technique of folding and stitching to make unsupported roses to use as embellishments.

My List

Tags

family, mother of the bride, ribbon roses, wedding

After getting the jitters about how much time I have I decided to make a list of the things I’ve committed to make:

1. Annabel’s bouquet – she loves the brooch/jewel ones but as she hasn’t decided on her dress I must wait until she has that so we can match to it
2. Bridesmaid’s bouquets – we’re doing matching ones for them so I can’t start on those until Annabel gets her dress!
3. Groom and groomsmen buttonholes – I think I’ve made a start as they’ll be based around ribbon roses, see below.
4. Ring pillow – they’ve decided on one pillow for both rings (probably because they know I won’t manage 2 identical pillows. How does a single pillow work? Will the best man throw it over to the best woman when it comes to the bride’s turn to do the ring bit? Note to self: Make sure to stitch the tying ribbons really well).
5. Annabel’s garter – I have the idea in my head. I must ask Annabel if she wants blue ribbon here. (Or a blue ribbon rose? See below).
6. Favours – sugared almonds in tulle bags. I have the tulle somewhere; it’s in a safe place if I can remember where that is.
7. Name cards – I’ve made a start on them just because they involve ribbon roses, see below.
8. Design and print menu cards, table numbers and tags for favours. When guest list is finalised print seating plan and names for table cards.
9. Make my dress.

In the beginning … no, I don’t mean that … someone else started a book with those words and I don’t want to be accused of plagiarism. So … at the start of the wedding plans I had a mad idea that I’d make some ribbon roses to use here and there. Yes, I know you can buy packets of the things made by unfortunate people in over-heated and ‘over there’ sweatshops but I wanted to make a few with love and attention using pretty ribbon. These roses are truly therapeutic to make so maybe those ‘over there’ people are actually rather fortunate. Well, in my occasional attacks of the vapours over the last few months I turned to the ribbon roses for therapy … and ended up with rather a lot of them! I even made some blue ones and a pink one (that was a bad day when I’d run out of ribbons relating to the ‘white/ivory/cream/dash of silver’ colour scheme of the wedding and it was blue and pink or the gin. Anyway, here’s what they look like:

Four Months and Three Weeks

Tags

family, mother of the bride, wedding

I am talking to Louise on skype; we’re having a lovely chat about family things and then she says,

“You must be getting very excited … just 3 months to go.”

“What … the wedding? Can’t be.” I count on my fingers and say, “It’s 4 months and 3 weeks away.”

“Yes, but pretend it’s less; then you’ll get everything done.”

She’s smug, is Louise. Her son was married 6 weeks ago and it’s all behind her now. I take a quick breath and say,

“Thanks for the advice.” Then I make ‘must go’ noises and get off the line.

My heart is bleeping away and I can’t sit still to answer my emails. I imagine ADHD kids trying to cope in the classroom without their Ritalin and this is how it must feel. Good grief! And it’s still 4 months and 3 weeks away. How will I manage?