Flower of the Week: 2.14.11 & A Valentine's Day Wish

Happy Valentine's Day loves!  Because I sincerely adore you, I wanted to give you all a little present...

Just a little something, from me to you!  I sincerely appreciate all of your lovely comments and support!  My wish for you this Valentine's Day...bunches, and bunches of love...not just today but everyday, for the rest of the year!  And even if you are by yourself this Valentine's Day - make sure to love yourself and treat yourself to something just for you!

I had these images saved just for today's post, but loved when I saw one of them used last week in my fabulous friend, Chris', amazing Love Letters inspiration board!  And I couldn't agree with her more..."there is something so romantic about a handwritten love letter!"

I have some great posts scheduled this week:  the first one coming up shortly, as well as I will be continuing with Flowerwild February (coming up around noon), and a new series I am starting here at LCW this week.  So I'll be seeing you soon!

P.S. - Wouldn't this carnation heart be darling used at your wedding, bridal shower or rehearsal dinner?  I think so ;-)

~ Ciao

...images via pretties and posies

Homemade: Heart Adorned Burlap Bags

Today's homemade project is one I created for my contributing post on Celebrations at Home.  I did an inspiration photo shoot titled:  Your Ticket to Love.  If you didn't see the post, you can right here.  With Valentine's Day just around the corner...I thought a great project for today would be the heart adorned burlap bags I made... 

For this project you will need:

~ A burlap bag...found the at Beverly's for $2.99

~ A piece of fabric

~ A heart template

~ Pencil

~ Scissors

~ Needle

~ Embroidery thread

~Batting

The first step is to trace the heart template onto the backside of your fabric with a pencil.

Cut out the heart.

Find where you want to position the heart on the bag (starting lower is better), and starting at the point of the heart sew using a backstitch. You will want to make sure that you have a large enough knot at the end so that it doesn't pull through the burlap, and be careful not to stitch too close to the edge of the fabric.

Continue stitching up one side until you start rounding the top corner of the heart then stop.  Stitch up the other side of the heart to the same point.  You should have an opening at the top so that you can stuff the heart with batting.  ***Note:  I did it this way so that you can put a tag with a name on it coming out of the heart, or a small sprig of flowers, or a love note...then I forgot and finished it without a picture of it.  Oopsies.

Next you will need to pull the batting apart so it is easier to work with.  Working with smaller sized pieces, stuff the heart to the desired thickness.

Lastly, finish stitching the heart starting from the point where the heart meets at the top.  I found that starting in the middle avoids having folds or bunching on one side of the heart and not the other.

And viola! 

Honestly, I really do not know how to sew that well (that is a talent that both my mom and sissy have, but not me).  So if I can do this...so can you!  Actually I liked the heart more when the lines weren't perfectly straight, and the stitch size were a bit different...it adds to the homemade feel, especially since it's on burlap.

What I really love about this project is that these bags can be used in so many ways!  While they are the perfect size to hold cupcakes in crowns as favors, there are lots of other way to use too.  Since the bags come with a plastic liner you can fill them with a variety of things...including flowers or a plant for centerpieces, to hold treats in as gift bags for guests, favor bags for a wedding or party, to give a Valentine's Day present in, to hold utensils, or (like me) to have on my desk filled with items such as pencils, scissors, etc...  And just think if you changed out the fabric, or the shape of the heart...it can be used at any time of year.  I am sure you will be seeing these bags in a photo shoot again!

~ Ciao

...concept, design, styling & photography all by luna and chloe weddings