I started out making mini-top hats several years ago to wear with a costume. Initially I bought fake flowers from Jo-Ann Fabrics, but over the years my taste has changed. Unless you're shopping the really expensive flowers at Michael's, the fake flowers are sort of ugly. I started looking around on Pintrest and found tutorials on how to make your own fabric flowers. They seemed easy enough and I definitely like them better. I can use thrift shop blouses, curtains, sheets, or whatever fabric catches my eye, and make flowers out of them. I also have used clothes that my daughter's have outgrown. I try to scavenge buttons off of everything and sometimes I'll buy a blouse just for the buttons. It sounds weird, but have you seen the price of buttons?! Some can run as high as $12 for one crystal-looking button! I try not to waste a single scrap of fabric and I have a habit of saving even the most ratty looking item. My donations to Goodwill have certainly decreased. Ask my husband, he'll tell you. Fabric is everywhere. Seriously, in every room of the house...lol.
See that last button? Off of a $2.99 blouse at Goodwill and I got several! A button similar would probably sell for $10 a piece! Sweet!
Now for my cool thrift shop find. I found this at my local Goodwill. Isn't it pretty? It's a silk tablecloth and reminds me of something my Grandma would have used when I was a kid. I took it with this summer when we went "Glamping" and it looked great. Below is a picture of our week-long camp. It's a little messy. It's just like home that way...lol.
