Yesterday, I spent a little time digging round in my ribbon box and crafted something similar on a smaller level to add to the grands' and Bridgette's bag tags. I truly just used scraps of ribbon and rick rack and found a few beads to string onto some ribbon and thread. I didn't go for the gigantic size that was my inspiration because, after all, that could get a bit heavy in my mind.
Since Linley is basically a basketball player, I stitched up a little basketball bag tag for her. I know I said I had decided not to decorate the opposite side of a bag tag anymore. I guess I just lied. I just couldn't resist.
Then, I worked on Abby Lee's bag tag by adding a bit of ribbon and rick rack and beads. I found that pony beads really seem to work best and can be threaded onto a narrow ribbon that is knotted at the end.
Like previous bag tags and projects, I searched for tutorials and found one that I liked. I just looped the ribbon over a two-inch split ring and tied the ribbon off with a bit of thread and a a narrow ribbon wrapped round it to make a little tassel.
Knowing that Bridgette is a bit of a gypsy inside, I made hers bright and colorful. Much as I hate to admit it, I do like these little tassel additions! They are a great way to use scraps of ribbon.
My intentions when I went to my sewing room were make a wreath sash for a gift I need later this week and give the ribbon embroidery a try. Well, I had too many irons in the fire, as my dad used to say. I got distracted and made some mess ups.
I put the stabilizer on the wrong side of my fabric for one end of the sash. I didn't even notice it till I took it out of the hoop! My brain was not functioning on all cylinders or I was having a senior moment or something. Of course, I had already decorated the opposite end of the sash. I decided I could salvage it by just cutting off the messed up end and piecing a new end to it. The print of the gingham checks would be forgiving and make the splicing of two pieces together not so noticeable and I had plenty more yellow checked fabric. So, I hooped up another strip and set it up to stitch a second time. When the machine finished embroidering, I took it off and was trimming away the stabilizer from the back side and sliced right through the yellow checked fabric as well. Wah! Wah!
Even though it was almost dinner time, I decided I was not going to let this project beat me. So, I hooped up a third strip of fabric, set it to stitching, and swept and cleaned up my workspace. When it finished embroidering, I stitched the wreath sash together and wound up with a cute, completed project. I had already stitched a cute patriotic themed strip to make the wreath sash reversible.
I think the finished product really turned out cute and was a successful venture despite a couple of setbacks. However, I did not tackle embroidering on ribbon. I decided that was a learning experience that could wait till another day. So, today I gave it a try.
Sometimes my mess ups and mistakes really frustrate me. Sometimes they make me more determined to see an idea through. Sometimes they are a learning experience that nudges me forward. Notice that I was smart enough to try with the granddaughter who has a short name! Since it was a quick and easy endeavor, I've decided that it is worth my giving a longer name a shot. What do you think?
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