Most prospective brides have plans to feature bridesmaids at their weddings but things don’t always go according to plan. I run a bridal shop and I have lost count of the amount of times that the bridesmaids have caused major issues of one kind or another in the shop and so I can only wonder how many other problems are arising generally. If you want the build-up to your wedding to be harmonious it is best to choose your bridesmaids carefully! Continue reading
Your wedding day should be the best day of your life and you will want to have a pictorial record of the occasion. There are many ways to record your special day and what you choose to go for will be in large part dictated by your budget. Professionals don’t come cheap and so you need to broker the right deal for you and ensure that you have engaged the right person to produce your desired results. Continue reading
Every bride looks forward to the magic moment when she walks down the aisle and is eager to wow her family and friends. To make the best possible impression at your ceremony it is crucial that your bridesmaids look great too. There are several things to consider if you are going to find the perfect dresses for the occasion and some advance planning is required. Continue reading
Many brides like to have at least one flower girl for their ceremony but with tight budgets and fussy little ones it can be difficult to choose the right dress for them. There are plenty of options but with so many things to think about it is all too easy to leave this decision until the last minute and cause yourself some problems. If you plan in advance and give yourself a little time you can find the perfect solution that will suit your wedding and not break the bank. Continue reading
Some brides have the luxury of getting dressed on their big day in the comfort of a hotel room. If you are leaving from your own home you do have the advantage of being in a familiar place in the midst of the tension and excitement but it is all too easy to for things to progress slowly in the chaos. No bride wants to be late for her own wedding but that is exactly what can happen if you are not well- organised. Continue reading
There is probably no occasion more likely to produce plaintive cries of “I don’t know what to wear” than a wedding. Apart from worrying if your bum looks too big in something there are a myriad of other concerns to consider as weddings can vary from a casual affair at the local registry office to a full blown event that would rival the Oscars. Nobody wants to look out of place at a wedding but it is not always easy to choose an outfit as often the only information you have to hand is the invitation which may not tell you much at all! Continue reading
Floral foam is the spongy phenolic foam used by flower arrangers to hold and hydrate flowers. The foam construction enables the material to hold flowers and greenery in place and at unusual angles to create interesting and accurate floral displays. Some forms of the material can be soaked in water before use to supply water to the plants and flowers, thus elongating their lives. The foam can be purchased in a variety of shapes with bricks and cylinders being the most common and almost any shape or form can be easily achieved by carving the foam into shape. Floral foam can also be sourced in a variety of colours to suit the design of various displays. Continue reading
Every year Pantone, renowned worldwide authority on colour, designate a particular shade as colour of the year. Whilst rarely launching a dominant new trend, their choice does often inspire designers in their colour choices for fashion, jewellery, watches and interiors. The colour of the year for 2013 has been announced as emerald green, a bright and striking shade which compliments most skin tones and fits with both a modern and vintage theme thus making it an excellent shade to bring into your wedding. Continue reading
If you’re bored with the usual scarves, blankets and jumpers and are looking for something a bit more unusual to knit, investigate the world of knitted jewellery. There is a huge range of options for knitting your own jewellery, some using yarn, some wire and others incorporating beads and complex lacework patterns.
French Knitting
French knitting, using a little doll with spikes on her head, produces a long tube of fabric. Lots of us will remember this technique from our youth, and will also remember how useless the resulting tubes were. It is possible however to make some really interesting necklaces and bracelets using tubes of knitting woven or plaited together. Experiment with different sorts of yarn, try incorporating beads and sequins onto the finished items, and try working with several strands of yarn held together to get different effects.
Knitting Wire
The good thing about knitting with wire is that you don’t need to master any fancy patterns, all you need to be able to do is cast on, knit in garter stitch, and cast off again. Using your basic knitting, you can create a piece of wire knitting which can be transformed into a bracelet or necklace, and its appearance is about as far away from a woolly jumper as you can imagine. Many knitted wire jewellery items incorporate beads or crystal, and the end results can be stunning. For knitters who are more accustomed to knitting with standard yarn it can be hard to adjust to knitting with wire as there is no “give” in it and the stitches do not slip on and off the needles quite so easily. If this is a technique which appeals, there are numerous courses across the country which offer basic tuition.
Collars
If knitted wire seems too fiddly, you can made a stunning collar to liven up a plain top using ordinary yarn too. There is a huge range of metallic and other expensive looking yarns on the market, and using these and standard knitting needles you can create a rectangular-type piece of knitting which you can join at the ends with a clasp or ribbon to make a collar. If you are using fancy yarn to make a collar, keep the pattern simple to let the yarn shine through, but if you are using plainer yarn, you can go wild with the pattern.
Brooches and Corsages
One great way of using up scraps of King Cole DK and other yarn is to make little flower corsages or brooches. You can knit or crochet your flower petals, and there are lots of online patterns which you can use to help you. Try layering lots of flowers on top of each other for a more 3D effect, or use lots of different colours to make your brooch. Each flower, depending on how large you make them, uses very little yarn so dig out all your scraps of King Cole DK and see which colours work well together. Once you have finished, stitch the corsage together, and glue or stitch a small brooch fastening on the back.
Article by Keen knitter Morag Peers
Florida is one of the most popular destinations for British tourists with the majority flocking to experience the theme parks of Orlando. Whilst there is no denying the fun and excitement to had at the parks, this is state with a lot more to offer with many regions making excellent honeymoon destinations. Continue reading