Arrange This: Rustic Floral Centerpiece

Arrange This: Rustic Floral Centerpiece

Create a floral centerpiece that lends an elegant touch to a rustic container. For this arrangement a cork and plastic pot made to look like tree trunk was perfect for the rustic elegance vibe.

Supplies:
Floral container
Floral foam for fresh flowers (not the dried and artificial flower foam)
Large bloomed flowers, such as hydrangeas
Stalk flowers, such as delphiniums
Other delicate accent flowers, such as Queen Anne's lace


Steps:
1. Cut the floral foam to fit in the floral container.

2. Soak the floral foam in a sink or bucket until it is saturated. 20 minutes should be good.

3. Place the floral foam in the container.

4. Cut the hydrangeas so that they extend just higher than the containers. Sink the stems into the foam. Add delphiniums and Queen Anne's lace to finish the arrangement.

Bow Wow WOW! Giveaway!

Bow Wow WOW!
(click the link to see inside the book at Barnes and Noble)

Here is a giveaway for
all you love to dress
your pups in
Halloween costumes!

Oct 31st will be here before we know it and the time to get stitching is soon. I'll be giving away a few copies during September and October so if you don't win the first time check back for future giveaways!

How do you enter?

Just leave a comment. Tell me about your dog. Tell me about a dog costume you have made or bought. Tell me your dogs name. Tell me anything about the last thing you made! Just leave a comment. Contest runs till Friday Sept. 3rd, 2010.


Bow Wow WOW! is loaded with ideas, step-by-step instructions and inspiration for making your own doggy fashions and costumes. This book features 36 different looks you can make from 2 basic patterns. You will also find tons of accessories and some no sew costumes.


This is the Pirate costume from the Bad to the Bone chapter. I love how his hat turned out!

Did you know that Bow Wow WOW! was featured in Rachael Ray?

Here is an Elvis version the editorial team at RR made. They followed the simple instructions found in the book.
_____________________________

The business stuff....

All items are provided by me (Cathie Filian) and are in accordance with the Blogher Rules.

To enter: Simply leave a comment to THIS specific post by telling me about your dog or a project you have made.

Your comment MUST link to your particular blog or web site or include your e-mail address. Otherwise, I won't be able to get in touch with you if you win! Any entries that do not include some way of getting in touch will be disqualified.

Deadline: Comments must be received by midnight September 3, 2010. Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.

Other rules:
1. You must have a mailing address in the United States of America (sorry international folks!).
2. Only one entry comment per person.

How it works: Each comment will be assigned a sequential number. The winning number will be selected from a random number generator, so there will be no favorites, simply a game of chance.

Back To School Tie-Dyed Tote at Michaels!

Love this tote? Wanna make it? It is as easy as 1,2,3! Head over to your local Michaels Craft Store and pic up the compete instructions. Look for the instructions in the fashion and Rit Dye aisle.

A few behind the scene pics of the making....

Make This: Re-vamped Cupcake Stand

This little cutie began as an outdated holiday themed cookie stand and a cotton print thrift store skirt. Before I began the revamp, I washed the skirt and scrubbed the cookie stand clean.


What You Need:
Folkart Acrylic Paint – 643 Azure Blue
Mod Podge - matte
Cookie Stand
Primer
Wax paper
Printed Cotton Fabric
Foam Paintbrush
Scissors
Ribbon

Steps:

1. Disassemble the cookie stand. Prime all the parts individually and allow to dry.

2. Paint the stem with two coats of azure blue paint.

3. Cut the fabric slightly larger than the plates. Working on wax paper, coat each piece of fabric with mod podge (both sides). Place the fabric over the top of the plate and smooth with your fingers. Allow to dry. Once dry, trim the edges so they match with the plate. Repeat for the other plate.

4. Pierce the fabric over the plate holes and reassemble the cake stand. Add a bow to the top.

5. Wipe with a damp cloth to clean.

Trip to Seattle and Inspiring Crafters!

Mt. Rainier was so beautiful...she took my breath away!

Don't get me wrong, I love airport rides in town cars and taking limos to parties, but I also love public transportation. Before I left for my trip, I researched what was the best way for me to get into town. I decided to take the $2.50 Link. It was so worth the pocket change. Not only did I get to see different parts of Seattle, I also got to see the Sports Stadiums and the The Rainer Beer Factory, which is now an arts community. The ride was about 45 min to my destination, air conditioned and pleasant.

One thing I noticed immediately was all the beautiful flowers that grace the city!

My first stop was to The Elliott Baby Book Company. They are a famous Seattle independent book seller that has been in business since 1972.

So many books!

Oh La La....Look what I spotted! My latest book - 101 Snappy Fashions!

Next stop was for lunch with the amazingly talented writer Jennifer Worick!

We gobbled up the most delicious food, chatted all things craft industry, sipped on wine and swapped tales.

Simple Gifts

I was lucky to snag a copy of Jennifer's new book! If you are making gifts this holiday then this is a go to guide with project ideas for everyone.

Next up was a little exploring the public market. I have been here a few times and every time, I go into sensory overload. The weather was beautiful, the people were colorful and the smells were heavenly. Food, coffee, jams, flowers...and of course fresh fish and seafood.

City - City

Beautiful pepper and garlic bouquets and wreaths. They were only $18!

Fresh fish!

Lovely produce!

Mushrooms...

Yummy! I picked up a pack of chocolate linguine. We have tasted it raw and it is delicious. We are planning on serving it with fresh whipped cream, sauteed bananas and chopped chilled raspberries.

Back at the hotel! Nothing like crab cake room service! They were divine!

I was delighted that the Creative Confrence of Entrepenures was being held in the historical and fabtastic OddFellows Building. The space reminded me of theater and dance spaces that I ran around in back in Des Moines, IA when I was a little girl. Big cellings, hardwood floors and a history.

The reason for my trip....cce!

The conference kicked off with a bang! We all learned so much from each other. I was the second speaker of the day and I spoke on how I climbed the "glitter and glue ladder" and the positive effects "cold calling" had on my career.

Mingle and snack time.

Links to speakers and peeps I met!

Meagan Readorn of Not Martha

Garth Johnson of Extreme Craft

Claire Joyce of Clairejoyce

photo by Joeff Davis from Creative Loafing

Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood Of Craft Sanity

Faythe Levine of Handmade Nation

Kristen Rask of Plush You and Schmancy Toys
(she was also an organizer of the event!)

Narumi Ogawa of Mister Funky

Tamila Morgan of Urban Farm Naturals

Seattle Friends - come see me Friday August 13th!

Friday - August 13
12:15 - 1:00

Century Ballroom

915 East Pine Street
Seattle, WA 98122-3849
www.centuryballroom.com

Oh how I love Seattle and I couldn't be more thrilled and proud to be speaking with lots of creative and entrepreneurial minded friends and colleagues at The Creative Conference of Entrepreneurs.

I'll be sharing my story of climbing up the glitter and glue ladder, giving tips on getting published, cold calling, taking risks and how to keep believing in your ideas. Plus we will have a boxed lunch and an open forum Q&A. Where you can ask me anything and I'll answer!

I also have 50 Hot Glue Gun Helpers to pass out to the first to show up and Plaid has sent 100 bottles of Mod Podge!

I love their mission....Have a peek!

"Our Mission"

The mission of the Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs (CCE) is to create a small business conference addressing the needs and disparities of the designer, artist and handcrafter (Creative Professionals). We have core values that we will cultivate at our events and through our website:

Educate
To educate the artist, crafter and designer on their way to becoming a creative professional.

Support
To provide support for business owners, service providers and creative industries.

Network
To create a network of business owners, service providers and creative industries who have similar professional goals.

Incubate
To be a sounding board and a “Safe Place” for people to come and share their ideas. To find collaborators in the west coast creative community for their projects.

Advocate
To learn more about the needs of this population and to advocate for the needs of the creative professional both locally and nationally.


If you are in Seattle...join in the fun, learn new stuff and meet new friends!

View the Schedule Here!

List of Speakers

Who - What - When - Why!

New Tattered Silk Flower Embellishments

Tattered Fabric Silk Flowers

I am so excited about one of my new items at my etsy shop. These stunning silk flowers can be used to embellish altered fashions, making accessories or home decorating. The flowers are so delicate with layers and layers. The center has a beaded and rhinestone stamen. They measure just over 5" wide.

Perfect for creating hair flowers, pins, costume design, altered couture, hat making and jewelry design. The flower has a felt backing with a pin backing. Can be removed or used as a pin-on embellishment.