Tray, tray chic!

We're taking these vintage handkerchiefs out of the closet and making them part of the everyday.

How can you not with prints pretty as these?

Just like yesterday's project, we'll put one of our favorite hankies inside a frame.

But this time, we're turning the frame into a useful tray!

More Hanky Panky

Happy Monday Everyone! I hope you had a nice & sunny weekend.

Last week, we played around with some vintage handkerchiefs that any blushing bride can use at her wedding. I hope you gals who aren't brides-to-be didn't feel left out. Good news! This week on blah to Tada!, we'll get into some more hanky panky...the wholesome kind of course!

I have this stack of floral handkerchiefs sitting inside my sock drawer. In a not so distant past, every lady carried one and I bet, if these hankies could talk, they'd be muttering, "Bring us back in style!"

Part of that stack is this handkerchief I got from a pink & green swap. Isn't it pretty? The pink rose really grabs your attention.

I love it so much, I think it's worthy to be framed.
It brightens up my desk, giving me the feeling of having
a vase of flowers!

Heirloom Hankies

Horay it's Friday! Let me cap wedding week with a final blah to Tada! transformation dedicated to the bride and all her best friends.

Here's the blah...an old handkerchief.

Here's the Tada!...an old handkerchief, but one that's personal & sentimental.

It's meant for best friends to share and pass on.

Each lady's name and wedding date are written (or embroidered) on the handkerchief.

It marks that special day when she was a bride.

Then it's passed on to the next bride!

This has all the elements a bride needs for her wedding day:

Something OLD: the handkerchief
Something NEW: the NEW bride's name & wedding date
Something BORROWED: the handkerchief that's passed on
among friends
Something BLUE: the embroidery thread

The current bride keeps it in her care until a new engagement is announced. It can be presented to the bride-to-be at the engagement party or bridal shower.

This handkerchief can also be a wonderful heirloom piece from mother to daughter or shared among sisters.

Who says new wedding traditions can't be created?

Have a Tada! weekend everyone!

A Bride's Buddy

Planning a wedding can be one of the most stressful things a woman can go through. Too many lists to make & cross out, so many details to think about. So to all the brides out there, I'm offering to you this vintage handkerchief...

Not to wipe those tears away, though!
We're turning it from blah...

...to Tada! -- it's now a bridal pouch!

Just fold the handkerchief in half, then in thirds.

Sew the edges and add a button with an elastic loop to the flap.

The blushing bride can use this to carry the important things
she will need for her big day like
tissues & blotting paper (no shiny faces!).

Add a small bottle of cologne, a compact, lipstick and a sewing kit.

Let the maid of honor hang on to this -- she'll be there with you
for touch ups and small emergencies.

Here's wishing you a wedding that's truly Tada!

With this Ring...

It's the month of June and it's wedding week here at my blog. Vintage handkerchiefs like these are getting a blah to Tada! makeover:

Once a blah...

...now a Tada!
It's an outfit for the pillow that will hold the precious wedding rings.

It's easy to make: Just sew two same-sized handkerchiefs together (or one hankie on top and a regular piece of cloth on the bottom), leave a big enough hole on one side, insert the pillow and seal the hole by more stitching. Sew on a piece of ribbon (use a color that matches your theme) at the center. I suggest you sew through the pillow to achieve that little dimple at the center.

On the wedding day, all you need to do is tie the wedding rings securely. And the "I Do's" aren't far behind.

Judge the Book by its Cover

We're celebrating brides this week and I've got some ideas lined up to transform an old handkerchief from blah to Tada!

A vintage handkerchief, whether received as a gift or found in a flea market, is a perfect accessory for a wedding. Weddings are also a good time to break tradition...

Don't use the handkerchief the way it's supposed to be used (use tissues instead). Use it to cover a book (ex. Bible) that you want to be part of the ceremony. Another alternative is to cover a handmade booklet that holds your vows. This way, something simple turns into something special!

This One's for the Bride

Happy Monday Everyone!

As the month of June comes to an end, I'd like to give a shout out to all the brides out there. I'm dedicating this entire week to you with a bouquet-full of blah to Tada! ideas you can use to personalize your special day.

This week's blah is an old handkerchief.

Well, it's not exactly a blah when it's a special gift from an aunt or grandmother.Turn it into a Tada! by incorporating it into the wedding!

Make the handkerchief part of the bouquet.
Wrap it around the flowers & secure with a ribbon.

Tada! Something old & something new for the blushing bride!