Tuesday 2 March 2010

Brooch-Back Mountain!

 

I decided to make some corsages having seen some very expensive ones on Winchester Christmas Market. I then saw some bags of suede scraps in a fabric shop which I thought would be perfect, but again, very expensive, so the idea went on the back-burner. Then, the other week I was inking up some grungepaper to make flowers and I thought how suedey the rough side is, especially when it has been roughed up a lot with plenty of ink application. The other idea I had in the back of my mind was that I had bought a glossy magazine recently (only for the free nail polish!), and it said that zips and studs on clothes were going to be 'on trend this season'. This fitted in with the look I wanted, as I didn't want to make the kind of corsages you buy for wedding outfits, not that there is anything wrong with them, but I wanted something a bit less conventional and more quirky, whilst still being pretty, that you could wear for everyday with jeans. I had Lynne in mind as a recipient for a corsage if they worked out ok, and she likes pretty and romantic, so I didn't want anything too grungy.

Here us some of the corsages individually:-




For this one I did a running stitch along a piece of lace and gathered it up. There is a floral fabric layer you can just see, stiffened with fabric stiffener, and some leaves made from canvas, with the Artistic Stamper Harlequin stamp on them, then the stamped grungeboard layer.




This one was made with a pink zip, with a running stitch to gather it up into a rose, and some studs on the grungepaper layer, another stiffened fabric layer, and some Stickles.



This one was layers of Stitchels stamped flowers on canvas, with a stiffened fabric layer, and a flower shaped button in the centre. I think I might add a grungepaper base layer to this, but I wanted you to see it as I think the Stitchels work so well for layered flowers, giving the edges definition.




This was velvet ribbon, gathered up as before, with a running stitch.



This one was a white zip, sprayed with purple glimmer mists, then the metal zipper coloured to match with Alcohol Inks, gathered up as before, then a button in the centre, a canvas layer, and a couple of the mini Maya Road Scrolls from the Artistic Stamper, sprayed with the same glimmer mists. When I ordered the skirt zips the shop probably thought I was a bit strange as they didn't have enough pink ones, so I said any colour would do, as I was going to ink them up!



This one is velvet ribbon, a gem brad, and a layer of velvet paper, stuck back to back to give some substance and so it looked prettier from underneath.

  

This one was a gathered ribbon centre again, with a pearl in the middle, two grungepaper layers, some studs, and a piece of chain.



This one had some layers of stiffened fabric flowers, filled with accent beads in the centre. I had some very thick felt, and I felt the petals had more shape and definition with the edges pulled together with stab stitching.

Some of the flowers were cut from a template, some were stamped from the Flower Power set from the Artistic Stamper, and some were Stitchels. 

I have stamped all the grungeboard bases on the reverse with a flourish, and sewn the brooch backs on for strength, and sewn the layers together where possible.



Sorry to be a bit boring, going through each one, but it was an experiment to do each one differently and then decide what worked. I hope you like them - if you do, which do you like best? I have a favourite, but I need to choose one for Lynne.

19 comments:

  1. WOW, these are STUNNING Lucy...we must be minds alike...I have a tonne of flowers on my blog post today...pop over hun, I think you may like them :O)) Hugs x

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  2. I was n't bored at all ... they are all lovely and it's great to know how you made them X

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  3. They are beautiful well done :)

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  4. OOOH1 goody goody they are lovely

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  5. There has been some sort of blip. So will re-type my comment.
    Gorgeous Lucy - now I am so excited! You are on a roll - first the cd case cards and now this - you are setting trends, left, right and centre. Lynne x

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  6. They're gorgeous Lucy can't wait to see them for real :) x

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  7. They are fabulous the idea is a great one and the actual well saw the early stages if these and boy did they work out :)

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  8. oh those are gorgeousssssss Lucy ! you have done a fabulous job !
    maddyx

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  9. ooh Lucy - they're divine. very difficult to chose a favourite here.

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  10. Oh my word - what wonderful corsages -and fantastic Christmas presents too.

    You are brilliant - great for summer!

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  11. They are beautiful Lucy and so original, x

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  12. Fantastic Lucy! I love the zip roses, what a fabulous idea.

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  13. Oh Wow, these are amazing. Especially the ones with the zips! Now why don't I come up with ideas like that???
    xx

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  14. Love these pretty flowers. Great to see them all in such detail.

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  15. These are all just fabulous Lucy! Gotta go & study them again now! Missed you today, wish I could've been there crafting with you & Pauline! Would've been too much sitting though, & my back doesn't like that right now! xxx

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  16. What a fab collection. Love the idea of using the zips like that.

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  17. These are so shabby chic and fun! And it wasn't boring reading your descriptions - I loved it!

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  18. believe me they are even better in the the flesh :) your an inspiration Lucy
    Luv Von xxx

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  19. I am over the moon with my gift and will wear it with pride. Lynne x

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