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I am celebrating today. Celebrating the decision of a very special 8 year old niece who has chosen to be baptized. To match my mood I made her a fabric flower "Dazzle" headband. Here's the flower: 
What about you? Are you celebrating anything in particular? Couldn't your life use a little more "Dazzle"? Add Comment 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? It's been a while! Life has been a bit rough with the exhaustion of pregnancy (due in 3 weeks!!) and such, but I have some fun things in store! I am making a nursery for my soon to be baby boy and have some free tutorials for how I am putting it together. CAN'T WAIT! Meanwhile, here's something for ya: 
Do you remember my watermelon wreath tutorial? Remember when I said to save the other half of your green wreath?? Well, this tutu witch wreath is what I had in mind! ALL of the ribbon in this tutorial came from May Arts. It was SUPER fun to put together and the quality of the ribbon is wonderful!! Ready to get started? For the witch tutu skirt, I used 3 yards each of 4 different May Arts ribbons in different varieties. I used nearly all of it! (I saved a tiny bit of the black and white striped ribbon to embellish my witch hat!) Start by cutting a "waist" for your tutu skirt, then start hot gluing lengths of ribbon around your styrofoam. The ribbon lengths should be a few inches longer than your styrofoam and you should cover the styrofoam with ribbon that is not sheer:
Keep going all the way around your skirt. I think that witches, by nature ;), are pointy. Thus I chose to cut pointed ends in my ribbon:
Next, hot glue shorter lengths over the top of the longer ones to give your skirt some dimension: 
 Next, I took 2 yards of tulle and folded it in 4th's length wise. Fold on end like a fan and bunch it up in your hand. Turn your wreath ribbon side down. Next, put a good amount of hot glue along the top, backside of your skirt and making certain that the tulle does not come above the styrofoam, firmly press the fan folded edge of tulle to the hot glue: 
Make sure that the hot glue goes through all of the layers of tulle. Note, you will either want to wait a bit after hot gluing to make certain that you do not burn your fingers. Another alternative is to use a hot glue pad to protect your fingers: 
Hot glue your charming witch hat to your funky witch tutu and... 
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YES!!! I can get 3 adorable little monkeys off my back who say that I haven't done anything for Halloween. ;) What can I say?! I'm pretty busy growing a baby here. Speaking of babies, I can't WAIT to show you some of the nursery tutorials! Stay tuned because I have a rug tutorial coming soooon......  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... Click to set custom HTML Thanks for participating and good luck! 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! :) 
Unlike my other fabric flowers, the "Dazzle" fabric flower pattern requires needle and thread plus a glue gun. Was I thrilled with the needle and thread thing? Ummmm.... well, here's an excerpt from the "Dazzle" tutorial: "Confession: I had hoped that I would not need to thread a needle for a pattern, however, the idea for “Dazzle” sparked my imagination! Don't get me wrong, I can sew (thanks to my patient mother), it's just that I would rather eat some strange concoction that my children made... in the back yard. Perhaps it is my impatient nature or my love/ hate relationship with my always missing seam ripper? I have recently come to grips with the fact that I might not love to sew, but I adore designing. Sewing and I will just have to look each other square in the eye and accept our differences!"
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 FREE Fancy Schmancy Flower Pattern? Yep! This one was so simple that I want it to be a gift to you!! Let's get going!! First of all, you should know that unlike my other flower patterns, this flower will eventually fray. Supplies & Tools: Enough Fabric To Cut 9 bias cut (cut to a 45 degree angle) Squares, that are your choice of size (My squares were cut to 1.75") A Small Square of Felt or Fleece Bling For the Center Scissors Hot Glue Hot Glue Gun (You can substitute needle and thread) Step 1: These fabric flowers can be made in to ANY size. Simply adjust the size of your squares. My squares were cut to 1.75" each. Cut 9 equally sized bias cut squares:  Step 2: Next, round the corners of your 9 squares:  Step 3: Take a rounded fabric piece and turn it to be in a diamond shape. Then, put a small dab of glue on the bottom left side:  Step 4: Fold the bottom left side towards the right side and press:  Step 5: Turn your petal face down and put a dab of glue on the bottom left corner:  Step 6: Fold over and pinch the end:  Step 7: Repeat until all petals are rounded and glued. Collect all 9 petals and your square of felt or fleece:  Step 8: Put a puddle of glue in the middle of the felt/ fleece:  Step 9: Place 5 of your petals on top of the glue in a circular fashion to form your base:
Step 10: Put a puddle of glue in the center of your 5 petals:  Step 11: Place your remaining 4 petals on top of the glue puddle in a circular fashion, then glue your "bling" to the center:  Step 12: How are you going to use your flower? Mine is a hair clip:  I can't wait to see yours, I'd love for you to post your completed projects on my Facebook page. Want to see more fabric flower tutorials? That's simple! Just visit my Fancy Schmancy shop! Have you entered the Fancy Schmancy Giveaway? You could win Fabric Flower Patterns, Curly Ostrich, and a special piece designed by me (Jeni Brockbank :)). Enter for your chance to win! It ends tomorrow.... Guess what?! You can make elegant things!! Yes. you. can. What? The thought intimidates you? I totally get that. Let’s start with something small; just a teeny tiny pillow tie. That’s a simple enough craft to make, right?  Peacock feathers are all the rage lately and my parents were gracious enough to give me the feathers from their peacocks. (I didn’t even know they have peacocks; It’s time to go home!) To make this pillow tie you will need the following materials: 1. 1- 3″ Pouting Princess Fabric Flower 2. 4- Jessica Fabric Flowers made to 2″ (approximately) 3. 3 Peacock Feathers (you might want to have a few extras just in case they break while you are learning to curl them) Peacock feathers can be purchased by doing a search on line. I know Etsy has some listings. 4. Bling (the bling in this tutorial measures 1.5″ but smaller works just fine) 5. 2 yards of coordinating or matching ribbon (you will likely only need 1.5 yards but it is better to be safe than sorry, right?) 6. a piece of coordinating or matching felt or fleece to cover the back. Mine measured 4″ by 7″.  Supplies you will need are: 1. All purpose hot glue 2. Glue gun 3. Sharp scissors 4. Butter knife 5. Matches, lighter or wood burning tool Begin by prepping your peacock feathers. Treat the long/ stray feathers that are around the eye like curling ribbon. Working in small sections, use your butter knife and pull outward. (Note: this part might take a little practice. Do not pull very hard as the stray feathers will break off.)  Continue all the way around your feather:  (Beautiful, right?) Repeat with the other 2 feathers. Mark your ribbon in the center. (You can mark it with a pen or simply fold it in half and crease it a few times with your finger and thumb nail.) Arrange your pieces on top of your felt/ fleece. Start by laying your ribbon down and then working from the center marking on your ribbon. Begin first with your feathers:  Then add your other elements:  Make certain that you like your results and then glue your pieces down. (Note: Make sure to not glue your ribbon to the felt/ fleece where there are no flowers.) Place your hand under the Pouting Princess flower and note the space between this flower and your Jessica flowers. Glue near the base of the Jessica flowers to secure them to the Pouting Princess Flower:  When the glue is cool, turn your piece over and carefully cut away the felt/ fleece:  Heat seal your ribbon ends by running the raw edge near a match or lighter or directly touching the raw edge with a wood burning tool. Tie your pillow tie to your pillow:  (I know it! That stray feather is bothering me too!!) Inform your children that this particular pillow is not to be sat on, used for pillow fights, taken to their bedrooms or used to make life comfy while outside. Maybe add a threat about making them eat brussel sprouts and okra with every meal for 2 weeks. Just saying! I hope your pillow turns out gorgeous! Here's mine:  Stay tuned and/ or check out my store for more crafts to make! | F. S. Pattern Shop:
"No other success can compensate for failure in the home"
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