Having recently come into acquisition of a lovely, big bunch of flowers (.50 at David's aunts thrift shop!) I spent some time trying to decide where to put them, to get the best effect.
I was inspired today to make a floral hair wreath. I've made these before (hasn't everyone?) out of dandilions, when I was little. My little childhood playmate, Ben, and I pretended all sorts of things with those dandilion wreaths. Most often, that he was the "king" and I was the "princess" (he seemed ghastly frightened of making me "queen" because then I would be his "wife".) We lived in a wonderful fort made in the boughs of a large, dense pine tree.
For this one (not made of dandilions), you will need the following:
Wire (left over from the Christmas wreaths)
Florists tape
Assorted flowers/leaves/vines, etc.
That's it!
Oh, and a pair of wire cutters is handy as well. Raid husbands tool box for wire cutters.
To begin with, decide how large you want your circlet of flowers to be. Make it a comfortable, rather loose measurement, for the flowers will take up some space and you want it to look draped and natural.
Wire together your wire strands to make desired length. Use florists tape and wrap tightly and securely. Try on for fit.
Now, the fun part begins! Cut your flowers into various lengths and begin to attach them to the wire circle by taping them on with florists tape. Lay the end of a wire of flowers against the circle. Tape to the circle, tightly and securely, as you wrapped the initial wire.
Don't wrap the flower up to the head of the flower, since that would make it look stiff. End your wrapping of the flower about 1/2" - 1" from the flower. Bend your flower out of the way and continue to wrap on the other side, adding blossoms and flowers as you go. Continue around the entire circle and securely tape off.
Arrange and bend your flowers to get the best, most natural appearance. Try on!
Wear to your next historical ball, or plan one to compliment your Easter frock. Or, if desired, make a floral wreath for no other reason than to pretend you are a Spring Fairy Maiden of the Forest. (although here in central IL our forests are rather non-existent. But there are two maple trees outside which make lovely pretend places. )
I think I'll be making another one of these this afternoon to add to my Etsy shop. I love these dear little purply-pink blooms too much to sell this one, but I have some pinker flowers I can bear to part with!
Love,
Sarah
The main skirt body is composed for four triangular skirt panels. I really love this look. I had copied it years ago from a thrift-store skirt that was worn out since I loved the style so much. It gives a bit of fullness and flair to the hem while retaining a smooth line at the hips and I like the way the skirt hangs where the seams fall. I have added this feature to many skirts I've made, since then.
I finished off the bottom of the skirt with a 10" ruffle. The lace was a last minute addition as I was reviewing some thrift shop purchases yesterday and realized I had four yards of this lace. I asked David what he thought and he said it looked nice so I went with it. I don't usually put lace on skirts since when the lace is at the hem it tends to get dirty and frowsy looking very quickly. However, being inserted here above the ruffle will protect the lace and still add a feminine touch. The ruffle is 150" around the bottom. It took me watching most of Rooster Cogburn and The Lady last night to get it hemmed and gathered, but, at last, it is done!
A bit late for St. Patricks Day but just exactly in time for spring!
Malachi got into the green mood by lying on the green side of his quilt today. He enjoyed the bright color, and shared some space with me while I got out my mandolin and practiced Little Red Haired Boy. 
If I am very lucky, and stay up very late, I will even have a new green skirt to wear tomorrow. The fabric is a beautiful green-on-green shimmery stripe that right now is washing. Don't you hate it when you go to start a proejct, only to realize the fabric neatly stacked in your fabric bin has not been washed and dried yet? Grr. That was my lot today. And I had so carefully planned out this time to sew!
The pattern was very easy to make since the original rompers are a very basic shape. It was easy to see how the pieces should look and I measured the boys to get the right size. Judah and David both wear the same size (2/3T) but I had to cut the trousers on Judah's outfit just a bit shorter, since he is an inch or so shorter than his brother.
I used the same basic shapes for his pattern but I changed the trousers to be wider at the waist, leaving me room to make a few little box pleats at the top, and I made the legs a little narrower at the ankle. I also made them open at the crutch seam for easy diaper access and sewed the top and trousers together at the waist.
His outfit was made from an old maternity ensemble that had long since been worn out and stained. I used the good parts of the fabric and made his top from a blue shirt and the trousers/sleeve bands/collar from an old skirt. His applique is a wee teddy bear. (in passing, I never knew how fun appliques could be. I've never used them before and now I'm thinking of all sorts of uses for them!) 
Here are some pictures of my darlings wearing their new clothes today, so you can see them "in action". :)
I haven't had very much time for sewing beyond the odd hour or so in the afternoon when the boys nap lately. They've been keeping me quite busy! A few days ago they discovered the 25 lb. sugar sack in one of our cabinets and it is hard to keep them out of it. Little David likes to quietly get into and deposit quiet handfuls into a zippered cosmetic bag he acquired from the purse of his grandmother. Which lead to another problem I discovered over the weekend - ants in the boys room! Sugar deposits everywhere! A sweeping and scrubbing got rid of both - for now. Anyone know good ways to keep determined toddlers from opening a cabinet? Child safety locks last a few minutes at most!