Archive for March, 2008
Spring Peaches
By Kristin
1. Satin Ribbon
2. Grosgrain Ribbon
3. Polka Dot Ribbon
4. Organza Ribbon
5. Hand dye silk ribbon
6. Double Face Silk Ribbon
7. Double Face Midori Satin Ribbon
8. Organza Ribbon With Satin Edge
Spring time is finally here and all the spring brides are putting the finishing touches on their weddings. While there are many popular colors year round, Spring seems to bring up thoughts of pastel colors. Peach is an excellent color for a spring wedding. Everything from your invitations, programs and favors can be decked out in this beautiful shade.
You could have a peach martini or desert to even tie the food into the color! Try wrapping the favors with delicate peach organdy ribbons and make your flower girl glow with a girly little peach satin bow in her hair. There are so many ways to incorporate this color into your big day, give it a try.
Add comment March 26, 2008
Creativity Mixed In A Blender
By Dara
With hundreds of people visiting M&J Trimming in NYC everyday, you can image how busy the store is. Every person who walks into the store has a mind for creations of his or her own.
Customers storm the store with amazing ideas on using M&J’s products. It’s great to know that our products can bring their creations to life.
I wanted to share with you today what some customers have been using the products for. For instance, last week a young lady stepped into the store in search for some sequins and matching organza ribbons. While assisting her I had asked what the items were going to be used for. She said that she works for a make-up company and they were holding a special event promoting a new product. Therefore, she wanted to artistically embellish the sales girls with some sequins along the side of their face and tie the organza as a bow around the neck. I would have never imaged using the items in this way. It’s amazing how creative people’s mind can get.
Some of the more popular trend is of course, bedazzling cell phones with Swarovski rhinestones. None other than Paris Hilton started this addictive trend. Today, many customers storm the store in search for the perfect color to match their phones as well as ipods, headphones, shoes and clothes. The list goes on forever when it comes to bedazzling projects and garments. It’s so easy and the sparkles are definitely irresistible.
At M&J we try very hard to place all of our items online. However, it’s not as easy as many may think. The process is long due to the fact that we must precisely take photos that best represent the true item, but today I’m able to share with you some photos of items that are available for purchase by calling our customer service.
The items you see are cute little sew-on cotton appliqués. I saw these and wasn’t sure what to use them for yet, but you can be sure that I will use them in my future projects. Some costumers have been using these for knitted projects such as scarves, hats, blankets, sweaters and the list goes on forever.
I’m sure you also have some creative ideas. I’d love to hear about them. There’s no need to be shy.
1 comment March 24, 2008
I am not a plastic bag… but I eat them for breakfast
By Eleah
Earth-friendly canvas tote bags are all the rage right now, however it is nearly inescapable to wind up bringing home a plastic bag or two during the week. Throwing them away defeats the purpose of any attempt to be green with your fashion-approved little canvas tote. Remember those plastic bag dispensers from days of yore? Their day has come again and it is time to bring them back into your life. They compact the plastic bags into a smaller space and provide an easy system for reusing what would otherwise go to waste. My collection of plastic bags has grown to the point where I suspect it may be developing it’s own heartbeat. It’s time to take control and I will do that by making my own plastic bag holster that is both useful and aesthetically pleasing.
You will need:
(my color/fabric choices are inspired by Spring Picnics that I’ve never actually been on)
- Cotton based fabric 17×21 inches (butter yellow double faced cotton)
- 2 yards of 38mm ribbon (33mm Imported Gingham Check Ribbon in nave/white)
- 2 yards of 2mm Rattail Cord (in beauty to compliment the navy and yellow)
- Sewing Machine + Thread
- Straight Pins
- Scissors
- Iron + Ironing board
To Make the Holster:
- Press a 1-inch fold on both 21-inch edges of the fabric
- Cut Rattail Cord in Half + sandwich into the crease of the folds + pin down
- Hem the cord into the fold without stitching over the cord; it needs to be free since it will later be used as a drawstring
- Cut and lay out the 38mm ribbon of choice on the front of the fabric in a pattern that is suiting to your taste…. Pin along all edges of ribbon + hem onto fabric
- Fold fabric in half so the two raw edges line up, with the applied ribbon facing in
- Sew a hem 1 inch from the raw edges, creating a tube
- Cut any loose thread + turn the tube inside out
- Pull the Rattail Cord drawstring on one end and tie into a double knot and bow
- Stuff saved up plastic bags into open end and tie a single knot (this will be the top of the holster)
- At the end of the rattail cord tie a knot and small bow, creating a loop to hang your holster from.
- And Serve!
4 comments March 21, 2008
Happy Easter!
By Dara
In just a couple of days Spring will arrive and before you know it, it’ll be Easter this coming Sunday. This year, Easter falls on March 23rd. Can you believe it’s already the end of March? Where has time gone? Next thing we know, we’re celebrating New Years again. Okay, maybe I’m way ahead of myself.
Since, I won’t be back home in New Mexico this Easter, I’ve decided to dress up this boring basket and brighten it up. I’m definitely using it to send some flowers back home to my Mom. You can get a basket like this at any local dollar store. Also known as the 99-cent store. Sounds like a good deal, right?
Using about 1 ½ yard of wired ribbon, I started wrapping the basket’s handle. With another 1 ½ of the same-wired ribbon, I added it along the basket using crafts’ wire to hold it down every 3 inches. This created the little bubble like form you see. To finish it off, I took the same-wired ribbon and a yellow organza ribbon and tied a bow on top of the handle.
I filled this basket with some silk flowers because that’s what my Mom likes. However, you can fill yours with anything you’d like such as candies. If you were planning on giving it to a child, I’d recommend some items like crayons, coloring books, barrettes or even some educational books. This might take them away from all those sweets that can cause cavities.
If you’re planning on giving this basket to a friend, family, co-worker or partner, you can fill the basket with items they might like. Maybe some CDs, DVDs, reading books, cook books or accessories.
I hope everyone enjoys your Easter!
Add comment March 18, 2008
St. Paddy’s Napkin
By Eleah
It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day, and if you’re like me, your days of armature night pub-crawling are over and green was never really your color anyways. The next logical approach to a holiday where everybody is Irish is to host or attend a dinner party. It’s no secret that cloth napkins are slightly more sophisticated than paper, so this year I’m going to step it up a notch and make my own cloth napkins. Tasteful St. Patrick’s Day fabric napkins are hard to come by, especially if by tasteful I mean “not covered in glitter, scary lepricons, and a poor font choice spelling out exclamatory remarks on the holiday at hand”. You are only hurting yourself by allowing these objects into your home. What’s a person to do you ask? Make your own napkins! If you follow the instructions below you will soon have your own set of home made fabric napkins, and yes they will be machine washable.
You will Need:
- 1 yard of cotton fabric (or) pre-made plain fabric napkins from the store of your choice (I used a light gray since white is always risky)
- 68” of 3/8” wide grosgrain ribbon in a darker shade of green.
- 34” of the same width grosgrain ribbon in a lighter shade of green.
- Three 13mm buttons (I chose a 2-hole white fresh water shell button for their slight shimmer and organic appeal)
- Straight pins
- Sewing Machine
- Needle + thread to match the ribbon/fabric.
- Iron and Ironing board
(The above list of supplies yields 4 napkins…multiply as needed.)
Making The Napkins:
- Begin by pre-washing the fabric. (Otherwise the final piece could deform when washed with ribbon sewn on.)
- Iron Cotton fabric and cut into 17×17 inch squares.
- Arrange the ribbon along two neighboring sides of the cut squares. I think they look nice if they are about ½ inch from the edge and each other.
- Weave the ribbons over and under each other in the corner of the napkin where they intersect.
- Pin down ribbon with straight pins
- Fold over each edge ½ inch, press with iron
- Fold over edges another ½ inch, press and pin with straight pins
- Hem both edges of each ribbon (One stitch down the center is fine too, you will just need to iron them after washing)
- Hem the edges of the napkins (about ½ inch in from edge)
- Sew buttons where you think they look best….
- And Serve!
Add comment March 13, 2008
Ribbon Baby Picture Frame
Have you noticed that people who are interested in arts and craft can’t seem to sit still when we have an idea on our mind? I know that’s the case for me. It seems like I try to find something to do for every occasion.
For instance, a couple days ago my cousin called and told me that she’s having an addition to the family. You know what that means. It’s time to start planning the baby shower. Okay, so it’s still a few months away, but it doesn’t hurt to get started.
I came up with this idea for a baby frame set as a gift. Basically, I’m using an O ring and wrapping it with some of my favorite plaid wired ribbon while leaving some space between the ring and the ribbon so I can mold the structure. Of course you can use any style and design of ribbons you like, but I strongly recommend wired ribbons because they help keep the structure in place. I also used the Unique Stitch glue to hold the ribbon in place as I was wrapping it around the ring. The glue worked great for bonding the fabric to the ring and the best part is that it’s safe to wash.
I made three frames and set it aside to be gift-wrapped for the baby shower. Once my cousin has her baby, then she can take some pictures and add it to the frame. It’ll look very cute in the nursery room or even on the wall at her work.
The frames aren’t restricted to just gifts for baby showers, but they can be made for many other occasions as well. They can also be used for weddings, birthdays or just to keep for yourself.
If you have any other suggestion or ideas for gifts, please do advise. I’m always open to making more keepsake gifts.
3 comments March 6, 2008
Toasting Flutes
By Kristin
Everyone knows that the toast is an important part of the wedding reception. It’s a time for those closest to the couple to express their feelings and let the rest of the guests know just how special the couple is. The Best Man/Maid of Honor, the parents or anyone else who is special to the couple could do the speech.
Now comes the hard part of finding just the right toasting flutes. This is a great place to express who you are as a couple or just make them simple to match the wedding theme. You could buy a simple pair of flutes for cheap at any store and embellish them with rhinestones, ribbons or a charm. They could have your new monogram or a simple design. These are one of the best things to make because they won’t cost a lot and will look gorgeous after the wedding displayed with your photo.
Try drawing your design out on a piece of paper and see how you like it. Change things here and there to get it just right. When you are certain you have what you want, it’s time to be creative! When you are done, you will have a one-of-a-kind toasting set sure to impress.
Add comment March 5, 2008
M&J
Dara
Eleah
Milton
Nicole Cohen
