Ribbon Vanity Mirror, Powder Puff

Materials:

4" round mirror
4" circle 1/4" thick foam core
4" circle mat board
4" circle 1/4" loft batting
6" circle pink dupioni silk
12" long 1/4" dowel
24" of 2" wide net lace
19" of 1" wide bias cut silk ribbon - Lingerie
26" of 2 1/2" wide bias cut silk satin ribbon - Lingerie
27" of 5/8" wide bias cut silk ribbon - Mossy Rock
16" of 1/4" wide red/purple ruffled-edge ribbon
8" green loop/leaf trim
pink seed beads
needle
thread
scissors
crinoline
pins
craft glue

A copy of Helen's book Ribbonwork--The Complete Guide is helpful for a better understanding of the flower-making process.

1. Using a 4-inch circle of 1/4-inch-thick foam core, cut a notch in the center to fit a 1/4-inch-thick dowel (figure A). Glue the dowel in place in the notch (figure B).

2. Wrap the dowel with 5/8-inch-wide bias-cut Mossy Rock silk ribbon (figure C).

3. Glue a circle of 1/4-inch loft batting over the circle of mat board. Glue the padded mat board circle to one side of the foam core circle (figure D). Set aside.

4. Using 24 inches of 2-inch-wide net lace, sew a U-gather stitch pattern along the lace. Gather the lace to 4-1/2 inches and finish as a rosette (figure E). You will have a hole in the middle of the lace circle.

5. Sew the lace circle to the 6-inch circle of pink dupioni silk fabric (figure F). Additional tacking is suggested, 1 inch in from the outer edge of the lace. Set aside.

6. Make the large vanity rose using bias-cut silk satin ribbon. The rose is made in two parts--a knot center with folds of ribbon and five outer petals. Make the center of rose using 19 inches of 1-inch-wide bias-cut Lingerie silk ribbon. Tie a knot in one end of the ribbon and then sew this knot to a 2-inch circle of crinoline (figure G). Fold and stitch the ribbon until it is all used (figure H). The outer petals are made using 26 inches of 2-1/2-inch-wide bias-cut silk satin ribbon, folded in half and stitched with the five-petal U-gather stitch (figure I). Each segment is 5 inches.

7. Join the petals, first to last. Sew the gathered petals to a 2-1/2-inch circle of crinoline. Sew the flat rose center over the outer petals (figure J).

8. Sew 8 inches of green loop/leaf trim around the center of the rose at the edge of the flat rose.

9. Make seven ruffled edge rosettes using 2-1/4 inches of 1/4-inch-wide red/purple ruffled-edge ribbon and the U-gather stitch. Gather tightly and embellish the center with one pink seed bead (figure K).

10. Sew the rosettes over the loop/leaf trim at the center of the rose, also adding a pink bead to every section on the leaf trim (figure L).

11. Sew the rose on top of the lace/fabric circle.

12. Sew a gathering stitch all the way around the edge of the fabric/flower circle. Place the fabric over the padded side of the base. Tighten the gathering stitches (figure M). Adjust the fabric where the dowel and fabric meet. Pull tightly and secure.

13. Glue the mirror to the raw side of the foam core circle (figure N). Edge with optional ribbon trim if desired.

To make a vanity powder puff:

Note: The supplies are nearly the same as for the mirror, plus a powder puff and minus the foam core board.

1. Glue a 12-inch dowel to the back of a 3-3/4-inch powder puff.

2. Wrap the dowel with 27 inches of 5/8-inch-wide Mossy Rock bias-cut silk ribbon.

3. Make the large lace ruffle and the vanity rose (for back of powder patter) using the same methods as for the mirror, above.

4. Sew the lace, and then the vanity rose, to a 6-inch circle of pink dupioni silk fabric.

5. Gather the silk fabric at the edge and cover a 3-3/4-inch padded circle of mat board.

6. Glue the decorated cardboard over the powder puff so the dowel is covered (figure O).