Custom Printed Ribbon: A Delight on New Year's Eve

I am so excited! I got an Epson Ribbon Printer for Christmas!  My mind is swimming with all of the things I can do with custom ribbon.  I want to use my initials like a monogram for a bookmark. I want to try some with my name and cell number to tie on my luggage. I'm going to have so much fun! Happy New Year, indeed.  

Ribbon-Wrapped Wreath

A ribbon-wrapped wreath.  Say that 10 times fast!  My front door has a fresh coat of dark green paint and I wanted a bright and happy wreath in a contrasting color to really show it off.  Enter apple green.  I am drawn to apple green this season and when I came across this 1 1/2 inch apple green satin ribbon at Michaels Craft store, I knew it would be perfect.

I bought an 18" foam wreath form and 4 rolls of ribbon.  I secured the beginning and end of each roll onto the wreath with flat topped straight pins pushed directly into the foam.  It works like a charm.  The bow is made from one roll of ribbon, plus about half of another roll.  I tied the ribbon onto the bottom of the wreath with a simple knot and then tied two basic loop bows. Then I attached another piece of ribbon and tied another basic loop bow. I made sure to leave long ribbon tails hanging down.   

To finish the look, I used a short piece of ribbon to cover the series of knots (I placed it over the front and tied it gently behind), which makes the bow appear to be one complicated knot.  You too can make this easy but stylish holiday wreath in about 20 minutes.    

Autumn Accents in the Dining Room: Ribbon Wrapped Votives

Garden-staple turned home accent.  Yes, they're real! Those are hydrangea blooms clipped from my "Nikko Blue" hydrangeas in the backyard (they were starting to dry on the bush) and set them waterless in an antique sugar canister.  They will continue to dry while on display.  

Nikko Blue hydrangeas are really only blue if you have the right acidity in your soil.  I have tried to amend my soil for years with MirAcid, but they always seem to stay shades of pink-to-celery green.  In the Fall, however, they are turn a reddish-gray.  Do you have any long-forgotten hydrangea bushes?  

The wood tones in my cherry dining room set, my beloved wallpaper ("Oriental Spring Blossoms (GG4721)" by York) and some ribbon-wrapped votives make a beautiful autumn tablescape.  

You can make these votives yourself with 3 items: wax-filled glass candle votives (sold in a set of 12 at Michael's crafts), a half-yard of beautiful dimensional ribbon (I found this one in several colorways at Joann Fabric) and some double-sided tape.  

How To Make Ribbon-Wrapped Votives:

Choose a ribbon that is just a bit narrower than the height of the votive. Wrap the ribbon around the votive, cut to allow a slight overlap and use a piece of double-sided tape (at that overlap) to secure the ribbon cuff around the votive. Voila!  Tell them it took you hours...

Ribbon Based Flower Arranging

This ribbon and I have been waiting through three seasons for this moment. My Honey Dijon rose is blooming again and the plant is producing bouquets worth of blooms.  Up to this point, I have only been getting single buds, which I have happily tucked into larger arrangements, but now she is hitting her stride and I am getting great bundles of roses at once.  

Remember my (now internet famous) photo of a sweep of Honey Dijon roses?  You can't look for a Honey Dijon online without coming across my picture.  I am very proud of that, someone has to show the world delight, right?

Today's post is to remind you that sometimes your actions can be ribbon-driven. I had a lovely and unusual rose and I sought out ribbon that would make it sing. Now my beautiful 1/2 yard helps me make the most of this rose and it is just as important as a great throw pillow or good lighting.  Design is everywhere and this is an example of how having a master plan in your life can help you find the beauty of everyday moments.

This is my living room on a Thursday morning.  It makes me feel as good as it looks.  

Resort wear Ribbon Watches on Etsy

There was a time in my career when I would have a booth at juried art shows.  One of my most popular items was the ribbon watch.  Each January, in anticipation of travel out of the cold weather, I reevaluate my own personal ribbon watch collection.  Which ones will I take to Florida?  What are the resort wear colors this season? I get excited and I sew some watchbands.  This is where you come in.

I have a small stash of brand new watch faces and brand new ribbon watch bands that I've sewn and am selling on Etsy for only $21.  Since I was sewing for myself, why not make a few extra for the store?  Some watches have a small face and some have a large face (like the ones shown above) so be sure to read the description. Smaller watch faces with band are only $18.50) 

If you are in the mood to add a super cute ribbon watch to your winter escape, you can shop for them here.

City Series: Atlanta, Nicholas Kniel Ribbon

To say I was overwhelmed, would be an understatement.  When I finally found the Nicholas Kniel ribbon shop in Atlanta (a small shop tucked on the upper floor of an unremarkable shopping center), all I could think was "hidden gem!"

Twice, I had torn out a magazine article about Nicholas and his fine European ribbon collection (most recently here in Victoria magazine) and I knew that someday I would visit his shop in Atlanta, Georgia.

But nothing prepared me for the selection.  Nothing.  It is the finest collection of ribbons I have seen anywhere on the planet.  And you know how many ribbon resources I have seen in my day.  I actually asked the saleswomen if they provided oxygen for customers who felt woozy (she didn't get my humor), the collection was that gorgeous.

In the end, I settled on just a few yards to play with.  The pale coral print will become a watchband, to match a Summer sweater I love.  The narrow taupe and pink stripe is to make a ribbon-wrapped bouquet of pale pink roses and the mulberry plaid will become a ribbon-band bracelet with a crystal buckle cuff for the holidays.  After deciding all that, my mind exploded and I had to leave. 

To my great relief (and discovered just today), Nicholas Kniel offers most of his collection (by-the-yard!) online here, so I do not have to have any regret about "the one that got away."  Do you love ribbon too?

Beet It

I always like to have a portable project that I can take along with me when I have to pass the time (waiting room, jury duty, airport).

I am in love with my latest scarf because of its cozy rosewater color.  I was drawn to it in the knit shop and was "sold" when I found out that it was dyed with beets.  Real grown-in-the ground beets.  Isn't that neat?

The color is gorgeous, natural and a great conversation piece - what more could a girl want?

If you are interested in seeing products by this small-batch yarn producer, visit Vibrant.  Or contact the store, Wool & Honey to see what they have on the shelves.

Did you notice the yard of silk ribbon coiled in the back?  I bought it to sew into a cluster of roses that I can attach at one end of this scarf.  So pretty!

Tinsel Trading

I have wonderful memories of my Fall trips to New York City and this time of year always makes me long for a chance to get my "ribbon fix." 

When I am in New York, my first stop is always Tinsel Trading (and their ribbon-only shop called "The Store Across The Street").  What a selection! And I love to shop in a store of like-minded people.  Nothing I say sounds crazy to them and that makes the hunt for the perfect ribbon all the more fun.

When I am here, I can hardly carry on a conversation over the noise in my head and I often have to sketch my ideas so I can remember which ribbon is for which project.  So much fun!  I always end up buying a little of this and a little of that for sewing projects, jewelry design and home accents.  

There is no such thing as too much ribbon. 

Master Plan

Why does this look so great? Because it is all part of the Master Plan. I will let you in on a decorating/gardening secret:
You have to imagine what you want in order to make it happen.

Long before my roses were blooming, I was at the ribbon store making plans. I decided to take a minute an concentrate on my gorgeous "Honey Dijon" roses.

I decided that the best way to show off their magnificent Country French color was as a small bouquet in a glass jar.

All I needed was a piece of ribbon that would highlight the light mustard petals. Voila! I have been saving this ribbon for 2 months and I was finally able to make my little bouquet.

The next time someone compliments your efforts, you can think to yourself, "It's all part of the Master Plan."

Paris: Shopping for Ribbon

Buttons & Ribbons & Trims, oh my! I love to shop for ribbon and fabric in what I call the "sewing district" of Paris - a shopping area at the foot of the stairs to Basilique Sacré-Cœur. You'll find store after store of all the things I love, but bring your French. These lovely shopkeepers are specialists in fabric, ribbon and trims and simply don't get a lot of tourist traffic. Just be patient and kind and you'll have no trouble. I have always found that they will bend over backwards to help you - as long as you are willing to muddle through in French.

I decided that I only had time for a "condensed version" of ribbons & baubles on this trip, so I headed straight for the famous department store Le Bon Marche on Rue de Sèvres. They have an incredible "mercerie" filled with all kinds of trims, buttons and yarns. I stayed for almost two hours and took my time considering everything...what a delight!

Escape to New York

I have 2 different friends on trips to New York City this weekend and I am feeling a touch jealous. I sent one girl to Tinsel Trading, a glorious store loaded with velvet, cotton and paper flowers and a wall of ribbon!   

Can you imagine standing in front of this wall of ribbon? It's like Baskin Robbins and their 31 flavors...how do you choose? 

When I was shopping with my friend here, I actually had a hard time hearing her. The ribbon screaming to be used was simply too loud.