a little about the crowns

What? You don't match your work clothes to the colors of your day's work? Well...I do. (not really)

I receive many emails asking for more information about the birthday crowns I make. They're made with a combination of the wool/felt blend (for the lining), and the 100% wool plant-dyed felt (for the front), which I wrote about here. There's a 1" wide elastic band in the back, covered in fabric, which is what makes it adjustable for most head sizes. The bits of embroidery are usually inspired by the fabric I'm using on the crown, or sometimes from this fabulous book of embroidery designs (which I must admit, I don't actually own...someday I'll actually figure out how to purchase it, and until then I peek at the pages that people have shared). The ribbon is all vintage, but purchased recently from Les Bon Ribbon. The pattern for the crowns is my own, and it's actually one of the patterns featured in my book, including the template and step-by-step instructions on making your own.

I love making these. Particularly the handwork parts are so fun as I think about what little one might wear it for their own special day. In our house, at least, the Birthday Crown is of high importance. Above are a few I worked on this weekend that are now waiting patiently for the next shop update on the 20th. Incidentally, want to see what's inside that pretty old picnic basket?

I'm sorry - I shouldn't have scared you like that. Pretty bad, isn't it? It actually doesn't really bother me, since I have no patience for doing anything about it. I pick up 99% of my embroidery floss at thrift shops and yard sales, and often they're bundled and wadded up in a big ziploc, which just gets emptied and stuffed on top of this pile. So now you know - I'm a bit of an embroidery floss organizing failure. Sigh.

But the crowns are pretty, aren't they? ;)

Comments

[jen j-m]

your embroidery floss stash gives me strange comfort. :)
and i love your crowns!

[Geertrude]

The crowns are very pretty. Too bad my kids are too old for those.
That pile looks familiar, only with me it's yarn...

[heather]

oh, i can so relate to the basket of floss, or ribbon, or very important fabric scraps, or...you get the idea. what i cannot relate to is the creative talent of yours, goodness! your crowns are so special, very blessed children in your home.

[Eren]

Little fingers = floss that looks like yours does. At least that is my excuse for mine looking that way. Love the little crowns. I keep thinking I will make my boys some as we are still into knights and kings (and yes, I am the queen, who needs one as well). Have a great week!

[Miss Dot]

was there something wrong with the floss? isn't that how you store it? :-) crown are fabulous, if you get a minute check out my latest baby present, to give that is, not recieve. It's my second last post. I think you will like it.

[Ilse]

Don't we al have a basket like that. I sure do ! The beautifull part of it: when you open it you get the most wonderfull colour experience ever !!.
the sun is shining here ,it is a warm spring day! hope the sun is shining in portland too.
Have a nice day!

[karen]

that book is on ebay right now, but kind of expensive.

[sarah]

Thanks for the crown tips Amanda! Great timing - my little miss will celebrate her first birthday this month and I was planning to figure out how to make one. And the ribbons, I just spent a small fortune over at Les Bon!

[vicky]

Great crowns and I love your organisation of embroidery threads which looks pretty similar to my own!! I reckon too much organisation is a dangerous thing( or perhaps that is just an excuse).

[jean]

Ooooo. So lovely. When the book comes out I'm going to make one for me. Really.

[strikkelise]

Your crowns are lovely! I have an embroidery stash like that, inherited and thrifted. Only your stash is much bigger than mine ;)

You can buy the book from Amazon Japan, and even look inside it here :
http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/reader/4529042049/ref=sib_dp_pt/503-6270882-9115125#reader-page

[lera]

I have always loved your crowns. I made some for my children using fabric and sturdy interfacing. You were my inspiration. (And "Thank You" -- my children love them.)

[Beth TigerMoon]

I love the crowns -- and the basket of floss looks just as it should! lol

[Amy]

I've been planning on making a birthday crown before my daughter's first on May 15. Thanks for this description! I wish I had your book in my hands to use the template! When is it coming out?

[erin]

oh amanda - i love your embroidery floss stash mostly because it makes me feel so much better about the jumbled up box i carry around with me. i am glad i am not the only one without if perfectly carded and organized!

and the crowns are just beautiful.

[Amanda Button]

Your embroidery box has brought this longtime lurker out of hiding! I LOVE it, it looks just like mine! :) I tried to be organized, really i did...but i just can't manage it! LOL! Thank you for sharing you wonderful life and your wonderful flossjumble!

[kayla_d]

Your embroidery floss photo makes me feel less ashamed of how I 'organize' my fabric stash. I'm on a mission to make and keep perfect folded stacks, though! But I don't blame you for just leaving the floss like that--it's actually pretty.

[earthchick]

The crowns are so awesome. One more reason I can't wait for your book to come out!!!

[anna]

Wow. That happens to be the exact organization method I use for my ribbons! Thanks for sharing. Love the crowns. Anna

[brandie]

i love your crowns amanda! such a great idea...i wish some local shop carried those ;)

[Becky]

I found the book at yesasia.com for about $19 free shipping on orders over $25. I think you have opened up a whole new world of craft books for me. Thanks!

[stephanie]

yes yes the adorable crowns make up for any lack of organizing of floss! love em!

[Sharon]

That's so funny! I have a weird thing about organizing thread--I love to! I will spend HOURS winding thread on to those floss bobbins (I did just a couple of weeks ago). It's a sickness, I know. And I don't know why I find it so soothing.
And now that I have MY thread stash organized in such a way that I can get on with my life, I have had those crowns on my mind, so I am glad you had a post about them. My kids' birthdays are three months off, so maybe they will get done by then...

[Laura]

The crowns are lovely! and the embroidery floss is great too...when I was a child my mother would get her floss the same way, thrifted and wadded in a ziploc. I would spend hours for her organizing it onto cards for her, by color, but I'm sure it just got wadded up again.
maybe Calvin could do the same for you...

[lisa]

I love the crowns and have for a while now - actually I think I have lost sleep over them. how can I have one for my own... how did she make that... I'm glad they will be in the book! and in the shop! thanks for sharing.

[Carrie]

Crazy,
I just made 3 felt crowns this weekend inspired by yours! Actually I just plain copied you (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. . . right?) I scored a huge bag of felt at a thrift store for $2. It feels so much better and thicker than the cheap-o stuff. I'm guessing it's a wool blend. I added vintage ric-rac and fabric scraps for covering the elastic at the back. I think they're super cute. I'll add them to my blog someday.
Also, while thrifting, I found a wonderful bag of goodness. I snatched it up thinking of you and would love to send it to you as a thank you for the daily inspiration. Send me your snail-mail if you're so inclined.

[UNIFORM Studio]

The crowns ARE pretty. pretty fab.
and I have many boxes that look similar to your floss basket. maybe we should start a flickr group:)

[Amber A.]

Ahh, I wish my kids were younger---they would have loved those crowns. I don't think they'd like them as much now (sad to say). Why do they have to grow up??! ;-)!

Your embroidery floss basket looks like my knitting needle basket with circulars all over the place!

[Amy Lu]

Oh that's nothing. My embroidery floss looks just the same and it's in a tote. I should put it in a basket like that.

I love the crowns! Thank you for the links, you are such a great resource.

[Heidi]

Lovely lovely crowns!!!

I didn't know there was any other way to store embroidery floss? There are so many other things I'd rather do than spend time making my embroidery wool stash look neat! :-)

[Sonja]

I think that's actually The Only Way to properly store embroidery floss. :)

[anna]

I love to make crowns for the little ones in our life too..... always so much fun!
I have tried many times in the past to "organize" my embroidery thread, but mine is just as messy as yours.

[m]

Your crowns are so beautiful! My son turns one on the 28th and I'm hoping to get my act together to make one, but now that I know you'll be selling some....No, I'm still going to try. Such a wonderful idea.

[Allegra]

Yes, just focus on the crowns......which are beautiful!

[kate]

those are so clever and fun, and your aprons are terrific!

[Michele]

Hi! I love your blog, look forward to reading it every day! I love the train crown, and was wondering how I can buy one? Do you sell them, can I place an order?

[Miss*Laurence]

These are great! We used to make paper ones for Epiphany on 6th Jan- a favourite for kids in France: we all eat a yummy almond and puff pastry cake, and inside is a favour hidden, and if you find it you are the king / queen for a day - so you do need some serious crowns!

[Ali]

I love your crowns. And I have just spent a very enjoyable evening winding a (much smaller than yours) floss mountain onto little paper spools. Highly theraputic.

[abbyjane]

My daughter wore the felt crown I made her on at her birthday party yesterday. It was the first thing she put on when she woke up in the morning. Making a birthday crown for your child to wear is really a great project for any mom.

[amy k.]

I love love LOVE these crowns. I have only made one and the 2 girls fight over it-I need to make another pronto. . .

[Gwyn]

You would not want a cat or a toddler to get near that basket!

[Veronica TM]

the crowns are so beautiful! i can't wait to read your book.

[molliegreene]

i really can't wait for the book either!

we're having a knights party in may/june for my boys' birthdays (well, a nacho libre party was also suggested, including tights and nun costumes but i think it will be too hot!) and i think i have to get started NOW on crowns for favors. fabulous. thanks!

[Donna]

Lovely crowns!
I bought my copy of that book from Yesasia

http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/code-j/section-books/pid-1004120568/

I find Amazon Japan really intimidating, even with a year and half of Japanese I worry I am somehow going to accidently order 500.00 worth of books

[Nichola]

I've been plotting and designing crowns and head dresses recently so was pleasantly surprised to see your crowns when i came to check your blog.

[Laurie]

Gorgeous Crowns.........pretty floss!!!

[annri]

thank you for the how-to's on the fun crowns - oh, the possibilities!

my floss "mess" is housed in an old tin from chocolates, and i confess, i really like it that way. i see it like a painter's palette in a way, a messy kind-of way!

[Susan Tuttle]

I really enjoy your blog! I am a stay-at-home mom in Maine, close to Portland as well. Maybe we'll run into each other someday.

Susan

[Jess]

What a beautiful mess! My ribbons and bits box looks just like that. When I want to use something from it I spread everything out and enjoy the beauty of sewing bits!

[denise]

I always try to say I will be more organised. As an art teacher it is very imprortant but no matter how hard I try I still end up tossing things all together. It is organised...organised chaos! And its a visual feast.