I've just started the planning for my wedding next July and thought I'd start with the invitations.  After much frustration I've finally come up with a basic design that I like but I'm not sure exactly what to go with.

Our colors are chocolate and cream and we're going for a simple modern look.  I really like the monogram box thing but I'm having trouble deciding what the layout for the rest of the invitation should be.  The color of the backing paper and text are actually closer to the brown of the ribbon in #3 and not black as it looks like.

Your thoughts and comments would be greatly appreciated.  I know it's tough to get the whole idea with the lovely identity protection I have implemented but do your best!







I got the basic idea from weddingpaperdivas.  They have some fabulous invitations, take a look if you're stuck!

http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/products/ProductView_541.htm

Without any further ado... may I present my first poppet...
She is unnamed as of yet, but I'm so happy with her that I had to share her.
She's made of some sage green light corduroy that used to be my favorite pair of clam diggers until I got small and they got too big.  Her dress is one of the Blythe patterns on Page 1 with a few very minor adjustments.  (it still needs hemmed and a closure in the back, but I need an open fabric store for that).



I'm only wishing I had children or knew children who would like these as I would love to make lots, but I don't want to become the crazy doll lady.  But I likely will anyways!

These are the first two bears that I have made from my own patterns.  I started with the BB Pibbs pattern (if you are familiar with bears at all), and modified it until I ended up with these little guys.



The above picture probably shows the truest colors of them as well.  The little brown and yellow guy is made of synthetic fiber and ultra suede.  He's filled with polyfill and steel shot to give him some weight.  His nose is Perle cotton and his eyes are german blown glass.  My friend gave him the name Jordy.  And so Jordy he is.  Oh, and he stands about 3.5 inches tall



The peach bear is sparse distressed German mohair and ultrasuede.  Her nose is wildflowers by Caron in Flamingo and her eyes are german blown glass.  She's stuffed the same.  Her name is Persia.  A modification of the latin name for the peach tree - Prunus persica.  She's a little bit taller at 4.5 inches.  She also stands on her own, I just didn't have a non blurry picture of it.  Both bears are 5 way cotter pin jointed.



I'm not overly fond of the black glass eyes in her as I think they're a little harsh with the light colored mohair and suede.  I was wondering if you think I should tone them down a bit to a dark brown with some enamel?  Or just leave her the way she is?  Comments and questions ever welcome!

So I've been drooling over all the pretty wool jackets that are everywhere this winter, but couldn't part with the $175 to own one.  However, 70% off wool coatings and suitings at the Local Fabricland I decided I could do.  I've never made a coat before, but decided I'd suffer through it and the results were well worth the pain and frustration. 

I made Burda 8022 View B in size 12 but ended up taking it in a bit at the waist to make it fit a little closer.  I also shortened the hem line up a bit and lengthened the arms.  The instructions were pretty good, but unless you've made something with a lining before, it was kind of confusing figuring out just how the facings and fronts and linings and whatnot all go together.  I also tried to make bound buttonholes and succeeded (at least on the test pieces), but decided they looked terrible and went with the classic button hole.  You can kind of see the buttonhole in the second picture



The flash kind of destroyed any detail in this picture, but you get the idea of the general shape of the jacket. 



The flash here totally washed out the black of the jacket, but you can see the buttons, and the belt buckle, and the cat hair.  Fabulous.

Apparently in Saskatchewan there is nowhere that you can buy nice belt buckles for crafting.  The one I have in the picture is made of sculpey and modgepodge.  It is only temporary as I'm afraid the winters here will be its demise.  Any idea where I can find one just like it, but in something a little more sturdy and with a few less fingerprints?