Fabric Flowers for the Hair

I have been making fabric flowers using different kind of fabrics some of which looks more natural while some is more elegant. I couldn't wait to turn them into head bands and took some pictures.

I wish I had a live model and a good camera. No need to a photographer; I believe I can take some pretty good photos..:)

It's been a strong wish since some time; you know the times when you just want to throw the camera into the wall when you're trying to shoot your items. And it makes a huge difference when you display them on a model and if you do it with a good camera and a good light..What more could you want?

Maybe when I put them in the shop I can give the alternative to turn them into a headband, hair clip or a brooch..

Still I am looking for ways to improve them..Can I add something to them, like leaves, feathers? Or should I add a smaller one near the big one? Or maybe they are just fine the way they are.

If you re also interested in making fabric flowers I have a "how to make a lotus flower" recipe which I am going to write here in another post.

Ribbon Embroidery

Here are some ribbon embroidery samples my mother did for me to hang up on my wall when I get married! That means it is part of my "çeyiz". I think I'm going to give a little bit of information on this later. But now, here are the ribbon embroideries witing to be framed :)

There are 3 more in different designs which she considers to sell in her Etsy shop but we have a crisis deciding on what we should transfer them into. Pillows, frame, wall hang..or what? We should also consider in which way it can be sold best..as a pillow or wall hang?

Improving My Shop

I wrote about the importance of good packaging in my previous post. So I was off to buy some lovely supplies for a beautiful package after I wrote it. I got lemon green wrapping paper and a big bunch of raffia for only 3 Dollars. And I made a cute package using a tutorial I came across on internet. I am going to give that tutorial and the easier way I came up with while I was doing it in the coming post. Today it's just the result.

Oh by the way, I have just learned about a really cool promoting tool on Etsy Forum. It is a 30 second-video you make with images and a song you like in the background. (You can make a longer version as well, it's up to you!) If you own a shop and would like to feature your items, you pick 12-15 images, you choose the song and bam! there's your fun to watch video consisting of your items. CLUE: You know it is the music which creates or stregthen the feeling, so make sure it is matching with your items or your style. I picked a latin song called "Havana Rules" and I think it came out perfect! Here it is:
http://animoto.com/play/4s5MZvMxjlVpF1gqDMzX7w

I would love to hear your comments. You can leave there (under the video) as well!

I made a trade with an Etsy seller AddieDesigns to have a banner in exchange of one of my earrings. The banner came out great and now I know a great Etsy seller whom I can advise to others. She reminded me the importance of good treat to customers. You can see this is the way she works looking at the feedbacks left for her. You can see the new banner here.

I've been working on hair accessories for a little while, but the thing is I am desperately looking for a model to display them. (and the necklaces I have made before) I couldn't find yet and I think I won't so I guess it will be me in the end. Hope mom can take photos good enough! (She has no talent or experience taking photos at all!!)

And finally, we opened a second shop where there are only the works of my mother, meaning we seperated Derin Mavi. Her shop is called deiledesign. There are patchwork and cross stitch pillows, Turkish slippers and patchwork quilts for now. There's so much more to come.

Stay tuned :-)

"Packaging Says Something About You"

For those who are selling their handmade items online: I have just read this great article in "Etsy Storque" about "Packaging and Shipping" and got angry with myself having made the same mistake of undarvaluing something. If you also want to fix your mistake like I did, here's the article: Service Tips for Sellers: Packaging and Shipping

The package belongs to celestefrittata's shop.

Delicate Beauty: Needlelace (Oya)

I am a big fan of needlelace- and traditional clothing in general. I will make posts of needlelace samples I come across around or online from time to time. Needlelace is a traditional Turkish handcraft made to decorate cloths. I will start with some of them I saw two weeks ago in the "Mobile Turkish Culture House" built in Taksim Park where the "European Capital of Culture Istanbul Gathering of World Cultures and Youth" organization was held with guests from 20 countries for one week.

The woman I talked with in the "house" showed me needlelace decorated scarves and brooches which she collected from all over Anatolia. All of them were at least 30 years old and there were even 80 year-old ones. This pink&yellow flowered one on top is a bride's crown and 50 years old. Isn't it just beautiful?

Sea Gulls on my Sweater

I liked this idea I saw on a blog so much and decided that moment to do it. It came out just how I wanted. Here's how I did for those who want to try:

-I drew the birds myself since I didn't have a pattern sample.

-A plain white or white fabric with little patterns on (like flowered) results better on a dark colored cloth. First I cut the birds out of a flowered red fabric but it didn't have that effect. I guess they look like sea gulls that way so white looks better.

-I made them smallest to biggest, and stitched the smallest begining from the shoulder, that way the birds look like they are coming from distant creating a perspective.

-There are three birds on the original one but I made four, you can increase it if you like!

-First I tried to stitch them on the sweater directly but the threads on the edges came off as the pieces are very small. So I fixed an interfacing. You can find interfacing in fabric stores. It is a supply which is fixed in the back of the fabric by ironing and keeps the fabric stable.
(First I drew the birds on the fabric, cut them out and then placed them on the interfacing)

Place the pieces face up on the shiny face of the interfacing and iron it. Warning:put a fabric under the interface while ironing, or it sticks to the surface you are ironing on.

-After ironing, remove the fabric you had put under. The interfacing sticked to the reverse side of the birds.

- Cut the birds out again.

-If you don't fix the birds with a pin while stitching them on the sweater, they slip and change direction unnoticed.

-Please send the results if you try, I will be happy to post here!

-Good luck! :)