"This wedding is turning into a major craft project"

by Suw on June 3, 2007

So said Kevin Marks yesterday when I mentioned that I've decided to make my own tiara for my wedding. (This is Kevin's blog, but not only has he not blogged for two months, he's not replaced his CSS either, so his blog is 'naked'. For shame, Kevin!)
Kate came up to London yesterday, so we went to the Bead Shop in Covent Garden and I bought some beads and Alice bands, wire and snout-nosed pliers and got very excited about the idea of making something. I like making things. My Kevin goes for walks in mountains to clear his head; I make things.
So I got home and had about half an hour before Kev and I had to go out, within which I managed to knock up most of this:
The first tiara I've ever made
We got back relatively early, so I finished it off, and started a second one, which I finished today:
The second tiara I've ever made
I have to go to the Covent Garden area tomorrow, so I'm going to pick up some more Alice bands and beads and make a few more. It's surprisingly easy, and it means I can play with different styles and designs until I find one that I really love. I'm using glass beads for these, but the real thing will probably be Swarovski crystal and garnet.
I've also spent quite a bit of time over the last month or so making lace. I learnt how to when I was at middle school, and over the years I'd pick it back up again, just to make sure I still could. About 5 or so years ago, I bought a some new bobbins and a cushion, and I dug those out from storage in my parent's attic last time I was home. I've spent quite a few evenings since making samplers to firstly get my old 'chops' back, and secondly see what sort of lace I might like on, say, oh, a wedding dress.
Lace
Yes, the plan is for me to make the lace to trim my wedding dress, although I am still short of an affordable dress-maker, so still in a bit of a stress about that. Need to make more phone calls.
I'm also going to make my own veil. Frankly, it looks like a pretty simple job, and I'll have fun decorating it and making it all look pretty. But given that a nice tiara can easily cost around £100, a veil £100 Р£150, and I hate to think how much it would cost to buy hand-made lace, I think I'm better off spending a bit of time making stuff.
Besides, I'd forgotten how nice it is to make things, rather than obsessively refresh Twitter every 30 seconds.

Anonymous June 3, 2007 at 8:54 pm

Sweet! Number 2 is my vote. I assume we get votes, right? 😉

Anonymous June 3, 2007 at 9:19 pm

Oh, there'll be a lot more than two to choose from when I'm done!

Anonymous June 4, 2007 at 8:02 pm

Crafty lady! How nice to put your own creativity in to your special day. Look forward to seeing the finished item, I for one can't walk past a bead or button emporium it brings out the magpie in me!
I don't recommend making a fresh flower head dress for your special day, far to much stress involved 🙂

Anonymous June 4, 2007 at 10:54 pm

Lovely! I didn't realise you were so crafty, Suw. 🙂 The only thing I can do reliably well in the craft department is cross-stitching.

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