Don't Forget

                                        Sparklethot's Ribbons Don't Forget Ring

Just a reminder: I'll be mailing out Valentine's Mixtape CDs to any blog readers who want one. Just leave a comment here with your email so I can contact you for your mailing address. 

The playlist is here.


Follow my blog with bloglovin

I Heart Hearts Headband DIY

It takes less than an hour (or maybe a bit more time if you are hand sewing) to stitch up this adorable velvet 'i heart hearts' headband! After I made the heart garland earlier today, I began to crave a stylish little something with hearts to wear...I've been meaning to attempt a headband for a while now (to keep my unruly bangs in check), and those hearts were just the inspiration I needed to set out.

To make this sweet and simple headband, you will need the following supplies (most of which you probably have on hand):

• 2" velvet ribbon in a rich red
• felt: i used a sparkly red and cotton candy pink - and since i didn't have wool felt on hand, just used the squares you find at the craft store.
• vintage cotton scraps, cut out into hearts
• coordinating all-purpose thread (or embroidery thread if sewing by hand)
• pink, scalloped elastic

1. To get started, make two heart templates on paper, one large and one small.
2. Using your templates, cut out hearts (one big, one small) from your vintage cotton.
3. Using templates again, cut out hearts from the felt, but make both big and small hearts about 1/8" bigger all around.
4. Pin the vintage cotton hearts on top of the felt hearts and sew.
5. Use a sewing tape measure to determine the circumference of your noggin. We'll pretend it's 14". You'll want to cut the ribbon to be 10" and the elastic to be 4". Be sure and cut your ribbon with a "V" at the end so it looks pretty where the elastic attaches.
6. Determine where you want to place your biggest heart, and pin. When sewing to the ribbon, try to trace the stitches you made when assembling the heart - this looks nicer.
7. Place the smaller heart layered slightly atop your secure big heart. Sew.
8. Secure the elastic to the ribbon with a pin, leave about 1/2" excess. The excess inch of elastic is to make sewing easier - you want the finished headband to be 13" so it's not loose when you wear it. Sew the elastic to the ribbon.
9. Repeat with other end of the ribbon and elastic. Trim off the excess elastic.
10. Wow! You're all done and you made a super-sweet headband! Wear and smile!

I Heart Hearts

I've been a bad little blogger: about a week ago, I made promise of a Valentine's Day Mobile tutorial. Prior to beginning this little project, I had a magical concept in my mind of silk-wrapped branches, gemstones, hearts and birds. Upon execution, it looks like a couple of sticks with a lot of notions and bobbles dangling from them. Call me crazy, but I doubt you'd want (or need) instructions to whip that up.

In a hopes to make it up to you all, I tried to rework the concept; but it's a concept that's either meant for another time - or another life. Instead, I made a sweet and simple little heart garland perfect for adding some life and color to my studio supply armoire:

{there are those little butterflies I've also been loving lately...(not sure what to do with them, but they are fun to doodle for now!)}

...which, since I love hearts so much...is giving me more ideas. We'll see how those turn out, and I'll post the results later...

Ooh La La Love - A Mixtape

Valentine's Day isn't a holiday that I feel usually merits much attention, so it's a bit odd for me, that I find myself completely fixated on reds, pinks, hearts, and love songs. This infatuation is quite contrary to my standard perspective that V-Day is a contrived holiday designed to make women of both single and coupled status alike feel like crap. But this year, I am definitely feeling Valentine's Day - not the holiday so much as the spirit of the holiday, as only children can understand it. They know that it's not about expensive jewelry, fancy restaurants, and the like. The kids seem to have this one cornered: handmade cards and gifts for loved ones, parties with friends, and lots of heart-shaped sweets!

In that spirit, I want to share the love with everyone this year - so I've put together some valentines for all of you! In a few days, I'll be posting a tutorial for a Valentine's Day mobile, in a couple of weeks I'll share a recipe for some sweetness, and today - I want to give you a lovey-dovey mixtape. The playlist is below, and unfortunately for all of us, I'm not savvy enough with Web 2.0 to know how to make a mixtape online. So, if you'd like a copy - just leave a comment here & follow the blog - I'll email you for your address and mail your mixtape to you wherever you live!

Ooh La La Love - A Mixtape

1. Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
2. I Hear A Symphony - The Supremes
3. The Saturday Boy - Billy Bragg
4. Make A Plan To Love Me - Bright Eyes
5. (You Knocked Me) Off My Feet - Sondre Lerche & the Faces Down Quartet
6. Simply Beautiful - Al Green
7. Samba De Bencao - Bebel Gilberto
8. Razzle Dazzle Rose - Camera Obscura
9. All My Stars Aligned - St. Vincent
10. Something - The Beatles
11. My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder
12. That's How Strong My Love Is - Otis Redding
13. You're My Best Friend - Queen
14. You're All I Need to Get By - Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell