Easy Does It....

I promised to show you how I decorate the hat stands this morning. Here it is.

I did have one tiny problem. I couldn't find my roses or my rose making tool.

There are other ways to make flowers.

I resorted to ruffles. Did you know that silk ribbon can be gathered without sewing? I am sure that some of you do, but for those who didn't, this is how.

If you want a single ruffle, like the top example in the photo, you just pull on a thread at one edge of the ribbon and keep going until you have a ruffle the length that you want. When you have it, you simply put a spot of glue on each end of the ribbon, making sure that you cover the thread that you pulled. The hardest part is getting a hold of the thread in the first place. I use a pair of needle nosed tweezers to do this.

The second option is to pull both sides of the ribbon at the same time, like the bottom example. It gives a more orderly, pleated look.

I use the first method for the ruffle around the bottom of the last stand and for the flowers too.
Those, I just pulled into a circle and glued the ends together.

I really like roses better on these hat stands, but when you can't find what you are looking for, you improvise...At least that's what I do.

I did one other thing yesterday. I decided that the outside of the cottage needed updating. I painted the plaster with Trail Tan Ceramcoat. It still needs some ageing, but Tessie seems to like it so far....

Her only question when I finished wasn't even about the paint. She asked, "Can I sell helmets in the shop? They are hats, and witches need helmets for motorcycles as well as for brooms! Both can be hazardous to your health without a helmet."

She has a point. It is going to be difficult to make a helmet that will fit over her bun.....And her pointy hat. Maybe a pointy helmet is what we need. I am going to look into that.

See you tomorrow.