NEW Bliss Flower Pattern!  The art of millinery fabric flowers has long been regarded as an artisan craft until now!  With the "Bliss" flower pattern you will learn how to make beautiful millinery flowers with household supplies!

Bliss can be small or LARGE.  I even show you how to make a large bliss flower in to an elegant single flower bouquet:

Guess what?  No flame is involved.  You get beautifully shaped petals without a lighter, candle, match, torch....or whatever!  I'll show you how.

Don't you think your life needs a little enjoyment?  Perhaps a little Bliss?

Every bow maker starts somewhere.  Whether you are your own little business, a mom who loves children's fashion or a huge enterprise... you have to start... somewhere.  

One of the basics of making headbands is learning how to attach a stretch headband.  The material can be stretchy lace, stretchy ribbon, OR the most common is called FOE (Fold Over Elastic/ band knit).

Today's post is sponsored by Shana of Hobovian.  Hobovian carries many different choices of FOE.  Additionally, I have purchased from Hobovian and I think that Shana must live at the post office... because my order not only arrived quick... it arrived LIGHTENING quick.  Keep reading because Hobovian has a giveaway for my readers, but first I want to show you how to make a stretchy headband.

I started with a Glory Flower, FOE, a heart cut out of fleece (note: your cut out can be a circle, square or most anything) and a label (COMPLETELY optional).  Oh yes.  You will need hot glue and a glue gun as well.

Turn your flower upside down and put a couple strips of hot glue through the middle of your flower:

FOE has a shiny side and a dull side.  Near the center of the glue strip, place one end of your FOE shiny side down:

Making certain that your FOE is not twisted, bring your other end around and match up the blunt ends.  It is NOT necessary to sew your ends together:

Glue your fleece cutout, leaving a little edge so that the glue can seep a bit to the edge.  (Note that you can use felt, but if this is for an infant I highly recommend fleece or minky fabric.  Wouldn't you prefer soft fleece to itchy felt on your bare skin?)  Any fabric that does not fray should work great!:

The fleece cut out is to give your back a finished look.  If you have a label, now is the time to use it:

Add a smidge of maraboo and a satin bow and...

Now that you've seen how simple it is to attach a stretchy headband, hop over to Hobovian and get some of her lovely quality FOE!  Did I mention that they giveaway FREE color samples?   Hobovian, is also offering my readers 5 FREE yards of solid trim with ANY order that mentions you saw her here on Fancy Schmancy.  Just send her a message!

OK!  Now for the Linky Party and Hobovian GIVEAWAY!

Here's the 4-11:  Hobovian will giveaway 10 FREE yards of FOE to the top 3 visited participants in this weeks Linky Party!  That's right, you will get 10 yards (1 yard each of 10 different colors) mailed to you lightening fast if the link you add to the following party is one of the 3 MOST visited.  That means send your friends over to vote. :)  Follow the rules and here we go...

Thanks for participating and good luck!

My love/ fall back/ favorite seems to always be fabric flowers, BUT today I am straying from my norm. 

It all started when May Arts announced they would be holding a competition.  Competition, huh?  The materials... silk ribbon.  Mmmmm hmmmm....  I normally am so busy that I pass on such things but I just couldn't resist trying out that gorgeous. silk. ribbon.   

By it's very nature, silk lacks a bit of stability so I began by soaking it in fabric stiffener and hanging it to dry:

When it was dry, I took my 3 thinner strands and knotted them together then braided a 12" length.

After I knotted the end of my braid, I grabbed my hair straightening iron and on the lowest setting (silk burns easily) flattened the braid so it looked more finished:

I used the concept from the headband tutorial on this post to add an adjustable or stretchy band.

Ok! Let's make the curled bow!  NOTE: It is important to have treated and dried your ribbon with  fabric stiffener as your bow ends won't hold a curl if you don't.  

Cut 3 lengths of 1.5" wide ribbon: 9", 9" & 6".  Angle cut one of your 9" lengths as shown (reverse angles).

You may want to mark the center of each ribbon length, but being a free spirit I eyeballed it.  ;)

Fold one end of your 6" ribbon up and just past the center, then do the same with your other end.  Sew the center to form your bow:

Repeat this process with the 9" regular ribbon.  Without folding in the ends, sew your angle cut ribbon in the center.  This is what all 3 ribbons should look like:

Take your hair straightening iron on a low setting and curl your angle cut 9" ribbon ends.  I curled my ends opposite ways.  To curl ribbon (or hair for that matter) with a straightening iron simply put the ribbon between the iron plates, twist your iron in a curl and gently pull the ribbon through the plates:

When all 3 layers are finished, stack and sew them together.  I liked this skawompish :) way of layering them:

I finally glued my bow to my headband and threaded a fancy button on a ribbon and wrapped/ hot glued it around the center of my bow and headband.  

Here's another look at the finished headband:

WAHOOEY!  My adorable model put on her sweet side today.  Either that or I was more patient (ehem) after reading this post.  

Thanks for a fun challenge May Arts!!   We'll see how well I fair... or fall.  :) 

In just a minute I've got a free watermelon wreath tutorial for you....

But first...

OK.  It's time to have a Fancy Schmancy heart to heart.  You need to know something about me that you don't likely understand... unless you know me.  I am going to come clean about something... (deep breath).  Here goes: I am not Fancy Schmancy.  Well, at least if you came to my home you would not think that my home reflects the beautiful creations that I make.  


I would rather give away beautiful things then display them in my home for a few reasons but the main one is that I never want people to feel like I am better than they are.  I want people to come here and feel warm and welcome, not like they have to sit with their legs crossed and say a boring "Yes ma'am" when addressing me.  BTW, "Yes ma'am's" still apply to my children though! (Should they ever read this. :))  


I have decided that I am capable of more when it comes to my home and that I can still have the warm and welcome atmosphere that is important to me.  I have decided that I can better minister to my family and make them feel more important if I make my home more lovely.  The reason that I wanted the name of this site to include the word "Living" is because I want my business and the things that I write about to be more than just accessories.  I want them to include... living, which means that I can hopefully inspire you (and especially me) in your own homes and possibly lives as well as with fashion.    


I do understand that I have good vision and talent, for which I owe gratitude to my dear Heavenly Father.  I do not say that to be prideful.  I am simply recognizing what I have to work with, where my passion is and who put it there. I am also recognizing that I have not used my talents (for the most part) for the benefit of my family and would like to change that.


Having said this, please understand that I am more than a little busy. I am a mother of 3 with 1 on the way. I run a small business out of my home (of which this blog is a part of ). I am happily engaged in responsibilities at church and I am tossing around the possibility of homeschooling my wonderful children this fall. (This summer is a trial run. AAAAAH!)  My God and my family come first... everything else comes second.


Phew!  Now that I got that out of the way let's get to the FUN stuff!!  When I looked at my bare door, I realized that I can start small. So without further ado, I have a FREE tutorial for you on how I made this glittery Watermelon Wreath:

Start with a wreath.  I used a 14" circular wreath with a flat front.  Cut your wreath in half (note: SAVE the other half... I am dreaming up a halloween wreath that I think I will use my other half for. & yes, my mother will not likely be pleased to see a bread knife used in such a desecrated fashion.)

Trace around the bottom of your wreath and then use a straight edge to draw a line across the top:

Using an exacto knife, cut the cardboard smaller then you drew your watermelon shape by about 1/2". 

Next, using your watermelon shape as a pattern, cut an exact sized piece of fabric that does not fray such as felt/ fleece or velvet.  I used velvet simply because I had TONS of it after realizing that I do not want to use it for backdrops.  (Too high maintenance!)  This will cover the back of your wreath for a nice finished look.  Put this fabric aside as you will not need it until the very end.

Then cut a piece of fabric in your watermelon shape that adds about 2 inches all the way around:

Place your larger piece of watermelon shaped fabric face side down and then lay your cardboard watermelon shape on top.  Hot glue the edges of your fabric all the way around your cardboard:

Next, cover the ends of your "rind" with the same ribbon that you will wrap around your rind.  Secure the ribbon with hot glue:

Start hot gluing and wrapping your ribbon around your rind, making sure to not have spaces where you see your styrofoam wreath. Secure often with hot glue.

Then, hot glue your rind to your black watermelon shape: 

I next cut 2.25" wide ribbon (love the sparkles!) to 8" lengths (I used 8) then hot glued the ends to make circles:

Next, hot glue your ribbon circles to your black fabric with the seams down:

To make the "seeds" I take strips of tulle that measure approx 2" X 15" and roll them length wise until they make a little bud.  I then hot glue the bottoms, wait a few seconds and pinch the bottom together.  (I amde 5 seeds.  You can also sew the bottom shut with needle and thread, I am just a little crazy):

Hot glue your tulle seeds throughout.

Next, turn your wreath face side down and hot glue a ribbon to the top corners (to hang your wreath) then cover the entire back with your last cut of fabric to finish it off:

(See what I mean about velvet being high maintenance?!  Look at all that lint!  Thankfully it is on the back... and I have a lint brush.  :)

I tied a cute polka dot bow on a corner. The last (and best) step: Hang your wreath and let everyone "Ooooh" and "Aaaah" at its' cuteness.  Maybe I'll try a different empty door...

Well, I think I am off to a good start!  I hope to see your wreaths as well!!

Oh my, how I love my new "Dazzle" fabric flower design!  

I had so much fun photographing and writing this "Dazzle" Fabric Flower Pattern... except for some frustrating computer issues that is.  (Guess what?  I am super proud of myself because I even sewed the outfit with the red sash... without a pattern.  I do love to design! :)

My "Dazzle" Fabric Flower Pattern is 23 pages of step by step pictures, detailed instructions and product pictures.  You will learn how to make the "Dazzle" fabric flower in no time!  Plus you can always contact me with questions.  I love to brainstorm!  Ok, just one more dazzling image:

Want to see more fabric flower tutorials?  Please visit my Fancy Schmancy store.

A lovely customer asked how to make the tails down bow as shown on this pink and gray bouquet in my "Glorious Bouquet" Tutorial:

I thought that more readers might like to know so without further ado, here is a FREE tutorial for my Tails Down Bow. 

I wish you a Fancy Schmancy day!!