whisper your name


whisper your name on the things you find be~you~tiful . . .



Recent Posts

Oct 13, 2011

...ethereal dream catcher tutorial

...to sleep
perchance to dream...

i'm sure you've seen a dream catcher...

they pop up every now and again

R.A.'s shabby chic couture ones are divinely
fab-u-lous

but as i have not found my way to the land of milk and honey
~ YET!
~ HA!! ~
that price sticker is a wee bit steep for me to fork over for one
(not that they aren't worth every penny!)
(i'm just sayin')

so what is a girl to do
to satiate a small desire of her heart
and to perchance
snare a dream in the process???




you know me all to well
YES!
we make one!!

before we do,
shall we explore the actual purpose of a dream catcher?
(just humor me and say, "a-huh"!)

a traditional dream catcher
was intended to protect the sleeping individual from negative dreams,
 while letting positive dreams through.
the positive dreams would slip through the holes
 and glide down the feathers to the sleeping person below.
  negative dreams would get caught up in "the web"
 and expire when the first rays of the sun struck them.

sounds like something i could incorporate into my dream land!

and i bet you already have most of what you need,
 stashed away somewhere in your studio like i did!
(priceless)




you can use an embroidery hoop
like i have here
(yes, i spry painted mine a matte, sparkly champagne color) 
a hoop or circular shape was used
because it symbolized strength and unity




and decorate it with whimsical findings,
you know,
 bits and pieces of your everyday life,
for me, that includes feathers, pearls, lace, roses and silk ribbons
but you may have a love for other materials
so this merely a guideline
~ use what YOU love




lacy, crochet doilies are something i have a slight obsession with
so i have a few at my fingertips at all times
so it just seemed natural to use them here
no web weaving required.

whatever size hoop you will be using,
just make sure you doily is slightly larger.




position your doily between the two hoops




when you are happy with it's position,
simply push your two embroidery hoops together.
that is the beauty of using this type of hoop
no fuss, no muss!




see, wasn't that easy?

now for the fun part...




embellishing!!

i tore strips of a white sheet into 1 1/2" wide strips
then hand stamped the word "dreamer" randomly down the length
 of my new "ribbon"
to make your own sheet ribbon:
start on the selvage edge, make a snip in your sheet
and tear it all the way down
it's that easy!




as you are playing with "the look" of your dream catcher
it helps to lay your pretty materials on each side
 to see what you like and don't like with it

here i added some lace ribbons...




and of course,
some sea silk ribbon!




on the top, i added a rose...
not traditional
but as these are my dreams
i need ethereal blooms!




a swan feather with the word "beauty" hand stamped upon it
gets tucked beneath my rose bloom




and a few downy feathers are attached along each side
along with some wired pearl streamers...




when you are pleased with your selections,
simply tie them together and then tie them onto each side
and voila!
an ethereal dream catcher!!




oh-so-lovely!




and with all of your personal pretties incorporated




how could you not have anything but happy, positive dreams
gliding down to you?!




i plan on making a few of these beauties for christmas gifts
as we could all use a little more whimsy dreams,
couldn't we?!




i hope you enjoyed your visit today.
and were inspired to create a dream catcher just for you!

also sharing this post with:
My Shabby Streamside Studio's: Holiday Decor Showcase
French Country Cottage's: Feathered Nest Friday
Freckled Laundry's: Air Your Laundry Friday
Romantic Home's: Show and Tell Friday
Vintage Farmhouse's: Creative Things Thursday



here's to sweet dreams!
xoxo

35 comments:

  1. This is gorgeous and easy to understand! I've been wanting to make one of these and now am inspired! So lovely!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dearest Rosemary,
    We'll all have sweet dreams thanks to you,
    I'll make one for every bedroom in the house.
    Thanks for the beautiful tutorial.
    Love,
    Angela.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is gorgeous! Rosemary's fabulous creative mind is at work again!

    I appreciate you linking to Potpourri Friday! You are such a big help in making it a success!

    ReplyDelete
  4. So beautiful! I have hoops and a stash of crochet doilies that i can't help but pick up in thrift stores and yard sales whenever I see them (I'm addicted too it seems) so guess what I am making next. thank you so much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. By the way...I have left your blog on just so I can listen to the music! So restful, would love the CD could you tell me what it is please? Thank you xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Rosemary,
    I love your dreamy dream catcher. It's so soft and pretty.

    hugs
    Sissie

    ReplyDelete
  7. So pretty Rosemary. My daughter has been actually making them this entire week...she is hand tieing and knotting the twine to make the web inside...then adding the beads and feathers, etc. They are so pretty and take many hours. She already has requests from her FB page for purchases. I am hoping she will make at least one for me to list in my etsy. I am also hoping she will teach me how to make them this winter so I can add my own sea touches and shabbiness and then sell in my etsy.

    How are your moving plans coming along? I bet you will miss the west coast. I may get to sink my toes into the sand this weekend...I'm wishing on the stars that I can. ox

    ReplyDelete
  8. ever so lovely mon amie! your creations are always sooo enchanting! like in a dream i don't ever want to wake up from! sigh...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your posts are a dream. Beautiful creation.

    ReplyDelete
  10. So pretty and ethereal - may you have dreams of the sweetest
    Helen Tilstonxx

    ReplyDelete
  11. You, my friend, are like creme brulee on a first date, shared with a cappuccino and the sweet anticipation of what's to come.

    I can never wait to pop on your blog to see your magic. xoxoxoxo R

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful and unforgettable creations, you are truly gifted!
    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  13. Rosemary - each time I visit here I leave with another beautiful craft idea to make! Your ideas are ALWAYS so gorgeous and so easy to make! THANK YOU, sweetie - for sharing them with us! Hugs!

    xoxo laurie

    ReplyDelete
  14. So very beautiful, and very dream-like
    thankyou dear Rosemary, for this lovely tutorial-
    Hugs,Dorthe

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh Rosemary how beautiful,i love this post!
    How gracious of you to share your tutorial with everyone so they can also enjoy sweet dreams xxx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Just lovely. Your work is always stunning. I'm going to make one. Have always loved dream catchers

    ReplyDelete
  17. another dreamy creation! this one seems so simple, but it takes imagination to make it look so ethereal... love it!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hello beautiful Rosemary!!!!

    THANK YOU FOR VISITING ME with such sweet enthusiasm and NOW I COME HERE FOR SOME POWERFUL BEAUTY!!!!!!!! Thank you for dreaming, loving, creating and whisping your magic into Blogland. I am so excited that you give so much magic to the world. HAVE A GREAT CREATIVE DAY! Anita

    ReplyDelete
  19. Only you could come up with something so beautiful and whimsical and E.A.S.Y.!! Always love your magical touch, dear Rosemary!! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hello Rosemary,

    I found your blog and really like it! You make such beautyful things; a real inspiration for me! I am going to follow your lovely blog!
    Lots of greetings from Nicole from Holland

    ReplyDelete
  21. That is the most lovely dream catcher I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing the tutorial Rosemary. :) xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  22. I am bookmarking this post. i have never seen such a lovely dream catcher!!! It is *gorgeous* :D Thanks for the tutorial!!! :D

    xoxoxoxo,
    Ricki Jill

    ReplyDelete
  23. Absolutely beautiful Rosemary!! Just love your pretty creations- this one is gorgeous!! Thanks for sharing at my party!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Just beautiful! I am adding this to the 'to make' pile. Thank you for always linking up your breathtaking laundry!

    Jami

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Rosemary, I must say, this is the most beautiful dreamcatcher I have every seen and I have seen many here in Northern Ontario. Marvellous. I found and am following you through My Romantic Home and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you could follow me also. I would love that. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Rosemary, what a beautiful dream catcher, this is one I would love to try my hand at you have inspired us all again with perfect white beauty.

    Thank you for your beautiful comment over at my place, I look forward to your visits and comments inspire what we love best of all and that is to create and inspire.

    xoxo
    Dore

    ReplyDelete
  27. WOW!! Thank you for the tutorial!
    Hugs, Cindy

    ReplyDelete

be kind ~ be graceful ~ be beautiful ~ be you!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails