Get The TechniqueRecently I got an e-mail from my grandma inquiring where to get vintage silk flowers or how to make one. After some back and forth e-mails, I offered to take on the project she was asking questions about, a ring pillow for my cousin who is getting married in September.
Grandma made my aunt's wedding dress, some 20-plus years ago, and she amazingly still had some of the lace that she used and sent that off to me. I think tradition and sentiment are a lovely element with weddings, and using my aunt's lace in my cousin's ring pillow is so special, and means more then something she could have bought.
So a week later I got an envelope in the mail filled with lace scraps, and I was on my way to sewing. Apparently hoarding scraps of fabric in a genetic trait, since I went into my bins and located a small piece of silk satin...from a dress my father made for me probably around the same time my aunt got married. It was a perfect match with the lace.
Final details required a trip to Tinsel Trading (twist my arm) to search for the perfect flower. I ended up combining two and secured the whole thing with a single little pearl to keep it clean. A sweet vintage button from another bin of hoarding gave some detail to the back.
1 Who doesn't like getting real mail these days?
2 especially when filled with something fun like lace!
3 close up
4 The perfect piece of silk satin. More than 20 years old!
5 Lace and silk are a match!
6 Flower variety from Tinsel Trading
7 Pieces disassembled and then reassembled.
8 Finished!
9 pearl detail
10 back detail
11 All done and ready to be shipped!
I think the pillow came out just perfect, and I love that my cousin will have something that has so many elements of family represented in it!
If you are looking for some more ring pillow inspiration, check out these ideas.
From: John Cardero | 7/26/11 at 9:50 am
That pillow looks beautiful. My anniversary is coming up and I think this would make a great gift for my wife. Thanks for the idea.
From: kelly | 7/26/11 at 2:19 pm
LOVE this! Gorgeous work and I love the sentimentality of it. Just beautiful.
From: Heidi K | 7/26/11 at 7:45 pm
that is absolutely gorgeous!
From: CraftCrave | Blog | Textual List: Wednesday, 27 Jul 2011 | 7/27/11 at 5:39 am
[...] Heirloom Ring Pillow – 1 freebie(s)? [...]
From: CraftCrave | Blog | Free Handcraft Items or Tutorials (large): Wednesday, 27 Jul 2011 | 7/27/11 at 5:40 am
[...] Heirloom Ring Pillow – 1 freebie(s)? [...]
From: Anne Marie | 7/27/11 at 4:08 pm
Oh, that's stunning! And so sweet in the incorporation of the same lace used in your aunt's wedding dress! I hope your cousin loves it because it's fabulous!
From: Kasha | 7/27/11 at 4:15 pm
What a beautiful ideal! And your craftsmanship is excellent as well. I love when people try to bring in family and tradition while keeping their wedding their own!
From: LauraBeth Antone | 8/10/11 at 10:06 am
YEA...that's my ring bearer pillow!! I am so fortunate to have such crafty, super cool family members. I love it and I can't wait to use it on our big day!!
From: Sharon Eckert | 8/10/11 at 1:04 pm
Aunt Marcella sent me your blog Hosanna. The pillow is so beautifully made with such sentiment. Yes, Laura Beth you are very fortunate.
From: Richard Gray | 8/10/11 at 5:54 pm
How neat. And the rings will not get lost!!!
From: Mary Antone | 8/13/11 at 11:53 am
This wedding is truely a family affair! I love that my daughter asked my mother to make her pillow (and veil!) And that my mother talked to my niece who ended up making my daughter's pillow out out of love, satin from her childhood and lace from my wedding dress. I can't wait to see it all together! Thank you Ho!
From: Ladies Loungewear | 8/25/11 at 5:27 am
That is absolutely gorgeous! The pillow is so beautifully made with such sentiment..
Thanks for sharing..