BY REQUEST! A HAIRCLIP TUTORIAL

When my vast readership speaks, I listen. How could I not? With all these people crowding around here trying to get a peek at what I have to say, there's liable to be a riot if I don't respond. So when one fifth of my readership (one person) requested a hairclip tutorial, I just had to oblige. Kat, this one's for you!

Since I have never written a tutorial before (and since my to-do list is 20 miles long), I decided to keep it simple and go out into the vast resource that is blogland and find a tutorial that uses the same technique that I use to create the hairclips. Why reinvent the wheel when your children need clean underwear and holiday card season is fast approaching? So basically, I'm cheating. But you still get the info, so we all win!

So before we head over to the borrowed tutorial, there are some instructions that I need to give here first. 

Supplies for one clip:

Alligator hair clip (these are the pinchy kind that you press the end and they open up)

Grosgrain ribbon (3/8" width)

Scissors

Glue gun and glue sticks (I have tried other glue trying to be fancy, but hot glue works best)

Felt in three coordinating colors

One Button

Embroidery thread in coordinating color

A square of wax or parchment paper (this is used to pinch between the clip so when you're gluing the glue doesn't stick the clip closed)

To create the felt flower, simply cut out three different flower shapes out of three coordinating colored felt. The largest should be about 2" in diameter, the middle 1 1/2" and the smallest about 1". Once they are cut out, stack them on top of each other, center a button on top of the stack and sew on the button in a contrasting piece of embroidery thread. Then you can embellish with the thread if you want to. It only takes a minute to make a few stitches and add a little detail. 

Now put the flower aside and head on over to The Green Wife for her ribbon covered hairclip tutorial but stop before she adds the ribbon bow. You won't need the ribbon bow, you have that adorable flower that you just created. 

Oh, and after you glue the first side (see above photo), insert the square of wax paper between the clip prongs so that you don't glue the clip shut. You'll thank me later. OK, then come back here!

Now your clip should look like this, only it should still have your little square of wax paper between the clips. Now all you have to do is glue on your felt flower, let that dry a minute, remove the wax paper and you're done!

Then your little angel can stuff a cupcake in her mouth like she hasn't eaten in weeks and she'll still look cute doing it! No one will even notice that she was so ravenous that she didn't even bother to remove the doggie cupcake pick. They'll be too busy oohing and aahing over the adorable felt hairclip. See - it's multi-purpose!

Thank you The Green Wife for creating a wonderful tutorial so that I didn't have to.♥

SEEING IN TECHNICOLOR

When it comes to photos of my children, I have always been drawn to black and white photography. There was something about the quirky expressions and creamy skin of a newborn captured in black and white that made my heart skip a beat. But lately, I find myself drawn to the other side. No, not the dark side, the bright and fun side of full-color photography.

This change has been reflected in my professional life as well. Where I once designed photo cards almost exclusively in black and white, I am finding myself creating designs around color photographs more and more. There was a time in the very recent past where I would create a group of prototypes around a client's photo that included just one, obligatory design based on a color photo. Now, I am finding myself designing around full-color photos more and more. This change has come about mostly due to client preference and client request. At first I resisted, wishing they would choose my favorite designs that seemed to always focus on black and whites. 

But now, I'm wondering if my signature style is evolving into one that embraces the vibrancy of color photography. I have a feeling that Holiday 2008 will feature a record number of  full-color photo selections as I see the preferences of my clients evolve. Where they once considered black and white photography "something different", the sweeping popularity of b&w has caused the tide to turn and full-color designs are quickly becoming the new something different.

As for my own personal preference, the jury is still out. I have to admit that I still almost immediately convert my favorite photos to black and white. The difference now is that, once the photo is cropped and edited, I am sure to save a copy in full-color as well. Looking at them side by side, I'm still torn and am not sure which way my heart is leaning.

So what do you think? Do you prefer the color or the b&w photo of each of my girls? And in general, is it black and white or color photography that has your heart? I'd love to hear! ♥

CHEAP CHIC: SHOPPING WITH THE GIRLS!

Ez and Melissa at the beautiful blog Creature Comforts have a running challenge called Cheap Chic. The challenge is to put together a budget minded outfit that reflects your personal style. The theme for the current challenge is Shopping with the Girls! This challenge was just too fun to resist, so I just had to put my mile-long to do list aside for just a moment to put this together. 

I decided to take the challenge a couple of steps further so that it would realistically fit into my life. I would never, ever go from store to store putting together an outfit, so I decided to make one stop shopping part of my challenge. And because I absolutely LOVE a bargain, I decided to shop at a store that is not necessarily known for it's "cheap chic."  Consider it my little way of sticking it to the man ; ) So my cheap chic outfit to wear shopping with the girls is entirely from J. Crew and it is absolutely (for better or worse) something that I would definitely wear. As a matter of fact, I do own many of the pieces shown.

Here is the breakdown! (note: some things sold out while I was posting, so I was unable to create a link)

Ruffle Collar Pique Henley: $19.99

Petite City Fit Chino (petite on sale - woot!): $19.99

Mendocino Jacket: $19.99 (no, that's not a typo!)

Broken-in Madras Sneakers: $19.99

Soiree Laminated-canvas Bag (so practical!): $49.99

Glass Beaded Lobster Necklace: $69.99

GRAND TOTAL: $199.94!

Ok, now I admit that I would consider the bag moderately priced - not necessarily cheap. And the necklace? Even though it's on sale, it would be a total splurge for me. But I did so well on the other pieces, I just had to finish off the outfit with something great and that necklace just had to be included.  So I could have done better with the accessories had I gone to Old Navy or Target, but I would never shop that way. I just do not have the time or the inclination to go running around town. And you have to admit, a complete outfit from J.Crew for under $200 is pretty fantastic!

GOING, GOING...

I'm not sure if you've noticed the sign over there on the sidebar ==>

but we're having a sale over at Wish Upon a Necklace! Our first sale ever and it's a really big one. We're selling off all of our sterling silver wish necklaces for only $20 each (that's a saving of $8!!!!) to make room for a whole new line of wish necklaces to be introduced this fall! That's right, after four years, we're going to shake things up a bit at Wish Upon a Necklace. The new line will coincide with an exciting new redesign of our online shop! Big doings here at corporate headquarters. ; )

So if you've been meaning to buy a starfish, shamrock, flower, heart, ballet slipper, cheerleader megaphone or Hope wish necklace but just haven't gotten around to it, you better act fast. Because once they're gone, they're gone! Except for the shamrock, those are sold out already but my friend wants one and I couldn't stand the begging and pleading any longer so I said that I'd make it for her. Her name is Colleen - how do you tell Colleen that she can't have a shamrock? Seriously. Anyway, since I'm making one for her, I'm happy to make one for you too. Just let me know by comment or email that you want to ride on the coattails of Colleen and get a last-minute shamrock wish necklace. Then go ahead to the Wish Upon a Necklace website and make your purchase and I will make it for you right away. But after I make up this batch of shamrocks - that's it! (and this time I mean it).

BRILLIANT!

Have you ever looked at something simple and thought: "Oh my gosh, that is genius!"? (confit set courtesy of  Bailey's.) My mother's birthday party (not until June - it's a milestone, I won't say which milestone) is now being planned around this little bit of brilliance. And you know I'm totally serious. Why didn't I think to bend a spoon like that?

MONOGRAMS and SILHOUETTES

There's a lot going on here at Pumpkin Petunia, including a good dose of wedding fever! In the midst of party guy painting our entire downstairs, I am diligently working on designs for several weddings. So I thought I'd give you a peek at what I've been doing while woefully neglecting my blog. 

Here are some samples for a breathtakingly beautiful wedding that I am working on with a very formal, uptown vibe. The exclamation point on this design is a beautiful silhouette of the bride and groom used very sparingly on just the right accents for maximum effect. (names and dates have been changed to protect the innocent). Isn't the bride lovely in silhouette? She is lovely in person too, but her silhouette - classic beauty.  (I'll post more on silhouettes and how I create them sometime next week, so keep checking back.)

The silhouette will be coupled with some lovely monograms on the table names, escort cards and other details throughout the ceremony and reception.

Every time I get a call from an excited bride, the first thing I do is ask her about names: her name, her fiance's name and the name they will share or the individual names they will be keeping. As she gives me the rundown, I am  picturing the flow of the names and initials in various typefaces and scrolling monograms. (dork - I know! but I can't help it). 

Often brides will use a combination of monograms to tie together several events taking place over the course of the weekend. They may use a more casual monogram for hotel bags and luncheons while saving the more formal designs for the ceremony and reception. I love it when I can pass on my obsessions to an unsuspecting client. 

I looooove creating monograms for brides. Really, I'm obsessed with it. Sometimes, even after they have chosen their designs, I keep creating just because their names are beautifully balanced or the last name has just the right letter combination. It's a sickness, I know. But if I'm wrong, I don't wanna right! ; )

PARTY GIRL

A sweet little party for a sweet little girl with matching invitations (not pictured), custom cupcake toppers, personalized water bottles and adorable hairclip party favors. 

And we can't forget the coordinating thank you notes. This is girly-girl style at its absolute best - sweet and fun!