How to Shape Leather Flower Petals Without Using Traditional Flower Making Tools

I had all intentions of making a live video showing how I shaped these leather flower petals without using traditional flower making tools, as I hinted to doing in a previous post.  But as I was completing this post, one of my last two aunts passed away.  When I would visit her, she would always grab my cheeks, screaming, "My favorite niece! My favorite niece!"  My other aunt, having no children, was feed up with years of this asked me, "Do you realize that you are her only niece?"  I was in my 30s, and never realized this fact.  So, at my aunt's funeral, I had this flower placed inside her casket.  Thank you so much auntie (the both of you) for making me feel as if I were the only niece in the world.

Last year I posted a similar flower making post on using non-traditional tools to shape fabric flower petals.  If you haven't read the post, I suggest that you take the opportunity to do so because I give references to resources that will show you how to assemble an artificial flower. Plus, some of the things shown in the fabric flower petal video will be of help to you if you are not familiar with making hand made flowers.  Maybe somewhere down the road I'll make a live flower making video; I'm just not feeling it now, as my remaining aunt has been ill.

Anyway below is my video/slideshow showing the leather flower shaping process I used when making the red leather rose.  Also following is a video wherein the edges of the flower petals were shaped; this is the method I used.  Although the flowers in this video are made in silk fabric, the method of shaping the edges of the petals is the same.  Finally, follow my flower making board on Pinterest; there is plenty of information there on flower making.  Enjoy!!

Coming Soon, Blog Update: How to Make Leather Millinery Flowers Without Heat or Traditional Flower Making Tools!

Hint!  Can't wait?  It's not that much different from how I made this flower.  Except this one is much easier and faster.  Try it, experiment and report back. Stay tuned!

Hatstruck Couture Millinery: How Many Hats and Accessories Can You Make From One Yard of Fabric?

As I mentioned in my last post,  I'm constantly purchasing stuff for my millinery projects.  My favorite discount fabric store will only sell a minimum of one yard of fabric.  So yes, I have tons of unused fabrics I've accumulated over the years.  Well, I decided that I would use an entire yard of fabric for one of my millinery projects.  I've created a video to show the results of my labor.  Of course I've used other supplies, but those supplies were already in my stash.

I'm so passionate about couture millinery that I really wanted to show you just how little it costs to create beautiful hats, but you must realize that it is the time and workmanship put into these hats that drive up their cost.  I tend to lean toward the conservative side, but couture millinery can be just as far out and current as you would like it to be.  Plus, you can use an unlimited number of fabrics, including suede and leathers (my favorites), silks, linens, etc.  So have fun, sit back, maximize the video screen and enjoy the movie and wonderful music.

 

What's Coming Up in My Next Post?
Well for my next post, I am leaning toward demonstrating how I tooled the plaid flower petals in this project using makeshift flower making tools for under one dollar, or maybe how I rhinestone a very, very small cocktail hat.  Which one of these possible posts is of interests you?

 

One of Several Fair Projects Submitted, No. 3--Soft Hat/Fabric Hat

Now we're getting to the hats I entered into the Los Angeles County Fair millinery contest for 2011 (I finally realized that I couldn't distinguish one contest year from the other.) .  This hat was under Class 1: Soft Hats/Fabric Hats--a flat pattern hat.  These African fabrics, as far as fabric type, design, and texture; span the spectrum.  Raised in the South, years ago there was one thing you wouldn't do fashion wise, and that  was to wear clothing of dramatically contrasting fabric designs to school or anywhere, unless it was to work in the fields, etc!  That was a NoNo!  Some examples would be plaids and polka dots; prints, such as the one here, and stripes, etc., not unless you wanted to be laughed at.  But this was long before many of us were exposed to how beautiful these contrasting fabrics were, worn by exotically dressed cultures.  When I saw these fabrics, I knew I just had to make a single object from them.

I hand beaded the print fabric with seed beads, cowrie shells, and just about anything else I could find in my bead box that I felt complemented the fabrics.  This hat actually took me longer than the other three hats I submitted, but I was determined to submit a flat pattern hat this year.  I wanted to make something simple--no cap, no beret.  I wanted to make something that could be utilized for more than one purpose.  What about a hat that could double as a purse as the envelope hats of the 1940s, but taller and more flexible in style.  OK, that would work!  ...and it did.  I made the crown tall so that it could be formed into many shapes.  Who knows, I may even cover a pair of shoes with the remaining fabric and carry the hat as a clutch purse.  I have to admit, I was please with the results of my toil.

French Couture Hand Rolled Silk Organza Flowers

Please note that there was a typo on the County Fair millinery flyer.  The delivery date is July 16, 2011 and the delivery time is from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

OK ladies and gentlemen, I couldn't resist this one.  I just had to use Ms. E' as my flower model for this post.  She is just the cutest little thing--almost four months old now.  I'm having so much fun babysitting her each day.  I missed all the cute little things my kids did, like their first steps, etc., because I was busy working everyday.  You're lucky that I can't paint a mural of her on your living room walls just so your hearts could  smile as much as mine when you see her.

Ms. E' is modeling one of three silk organza hand rolled flowers I recently made.  When I first learned how to make these hand rolled flowers a couple of decades ago, we would spit roll the petals.  "Did she just say spit roll, as in saliva!"  Yes, I did.  Well, I don't do that anymore.  I don't think the world was as health conscious as it is today, and now I don't even want to think about it.  Today, I roll the flowers with diluted fabric stiffener or diluted white glue, using the same original pattern.  I make slight modifications to the pattern, depending on the effect I want to achieve, or I'll just make another pattern in some cases.

The top and bottom flower petals in the image to your right were cut from the same size pattern.  The petals of the flower on the top were given a very slight roll at intervals, while the petals of the bottom flower were entirely rolled going around the petal, except its bottom.  The flower in the middle is a slight variation of the other flowers; here I used less petals--same pattern.  For the center, I cut small pieces of fabric and dipped them into dye, the petals were painted with a paint brush.  I'll put together a tutorial for the top flower when I get a chance.  Oh, you'll also notice a red fascinator in the slideshow below.  The flower was both hand rolled and tooled using an electric flower iron.  I'm still greiving over the fact that I gave this hat to one of my friends.  That red rose was the most beautiful flower I ever made.  I couldn't get the camera to capture its beauty. I hope you enjoy the slideshow; I had fun making it.

Please check out my other posts on making your own flower stamens and how to make leather and suede flowers.

Please Note!!! There is a bug (error) in the image viewer. The images for this post should show flowers and a cute baby. If you see the fashion show images from the last post, please display this post by itself by accessing it through the sidebar.  Sorry for any inconvenience.