Hi everyone! 

I'm a crafty lady getting married in July 08 to my uber-geeky man, and we're pulling together some ideas on how to involve our wedding guests into the ceremony. Our wedding is very DIY and casual.. held outdoors in the middle of the woods. Think lots of trees, summer flowers, black cotton dresses and shirts, indie/geek rock music, all you can eat BBQ, cupcakes, and local Oregon brewed beer!

I read about an idea earlier this week, where a couple had asked their guests to write some best wishes for the couple of a small piece of paper. The notes were placed in little envelopes and then hung around the alter, surrounding the couple in best wishes as they said their vows to each other.

The best part? Each envelope was numbered from 1-20.. On their first anniversary the couple would open all envelopes marked #1, on their second anniversary they'd open the #2 envelopes and so on..

I LOVE this idea, and so does my fiancé. I would really like to put this project together myself, instead of purchasing pre-made, but I'm having trouble getting started..

So I come to you my beloved craftster mavens, seeking your wisdom! Are there simple envelope tutorials out there that I am not finding? Can you think of a creative way to pull off making this an easy and meaningful activity for our guests?

I'm thinking hanging the envelopes on each of the chairs, but then how to manage writing implements? Perhaps they could all be set at a table near the entrance, but then how do we avoid crowding or missing people?

I'm also trying to write up something sweet as an introduction to attach to the envelopes, or to display near the table, explaining the envelopes and how we will be using them.

What do you think? Can I pull this off??

Much love!
-Laura

He began as a mission.. It was nearing my brother's birthday and I wanted to create something spiffy to carry the travel-moolah I wanted to give him for his up-coming trip to Japan. After two months spent picking out the perfect colors, postulating the best way to make yarn dreads, and poking myself in the shin too many times for comfort with that darn felting needle..

..Mr. Pretty was born!



I made him up as I went, starting with the same shaping used for the marsupial tote (from debbie stoller's SnB) as a base for the body. When I finished his body I stopped twisting the corner stitches so he'd have a naturally round head. At the top I binded him off, stuffed him almost-full of polyester fiber fill, and folded the corners in before sewing him up to give him a nice round head.

 

A few extra details.. like bright blue DREADS, some tiny little feet, t-shirt-like stitching around the neck and a back pocket to stash the cash.. and he was ready for the wash!

Before..


Mid-wash.. poor little dude. (you can see a lot of his stuffing came out in the washing machine..)


..and all done! well, almost.. he needed a good shaving after all that agitation! 


Close-up of the needle felting on the back of his head..


Now that I've made him, I would have done a few things different.. For one I'd figure out some kind of lining to keep the polyester fill inside when felting in the washing machine. Almost half of his original stuffing came out in the wash. Perhaps some kind of mesh bag? I'd also like to try putting some kind of weight in his bottom to hold him down better when he's sitting.. he has a habit of flopping over as he is now

I hope you love him, lord knows I do.. how ever am I going to muster up the courage to pack him up and send him off to little-bro?



-La