Are you ready to be inspired by some tabletop DIY ideas? Today London-based stylist Sania Pell has so generously taken time away from writing her next book to join all of us on decor8 to share how to add handmade touches to your table. I have three posts from her that she so beautifully prepared to inspire your next party, from a wedding to a sweet and festive brunch at home amongst friends, all taken from the styling demo that we did at Liberty in London last month for the launch party celebrating my new book Decorate. Take it away, Sania!
Hello everyone, it’s Sania here. I’m sure you have all seen Holly’s post about the Decorate book launch and styling demo at Liberty last month. It was an amazing day and a pleasure to collaborate with Holly and Leslie and to meet everyone who came along. If you were there, I do hope you took some useful ideas away with you to use at home. If you weren’t able to make it, then Holly has kindly given me the opportunity to share how to make some of the items we created.
I thought I would start by showing you how to make these decorative Spring garlands.
I love the way these garlands look like little Spring branches with new leaves and blossom – perfect for a Springtime party. The great thing about these garlands too is they are made so that they look equally lovely from both sides, so you can hang them as you wish.
They are quite simple to make and although we used Liberty’s own fabric designs. You can see a selection of their patterns on their website.
You could be thrifty though and make them using scraps of fabric and ribbon you already have at home or if you want a specific color palette you could buy some ribbon and fabrics to match. They don’t use that much fabric, though it does depend on the length of your garland!
(Click HERE to download XL version of the above instructions.)
One of the things I talked about at the demo is that when styling , ‘a little bit of wrongness’ can make things right. It can make things more visually interesting and stop things looking too safe. We added a little bit of bright, neon ribbon to the garlands and overall table setting so that it didn’t become too matchy-matchy and to add a pop of colour to grab your eye as you look at it. – Sania Pell.
Thank you Sania for breaking this down for us – gorgeous and inspiring just like you!
Readers: If you have trouble reading the instructions above, please click on the image and then save/print it out to refer to while you’re making — or just drag and drop it to your desktop. Enjoy!
(images: sania pell, holly becker)
May 16th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
So sweet, and perfect for a wedding I’m currently working on. Love the tip to incorporate a little ‘wrongness’. The pop of orange is gorgeous! Thankyou so much for sharing this DIY with us xxj
May 16th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
This is so lovely! I thinking to make one inspired by this to my girls’ bedroom! Thanks for sharing!
Andreia´s last [type] ..Weekend links- La petite magazine & Joie
May 16th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Lovely, thanks for idea!
May 16th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Oh these are stupendous. I have to give them a go. I am usually a little scared of textile projects (being a jeweller and slight sewing dunce) but this looks straighforward and I know a couple of very small ladies who will covet the results.
May 16th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
What utter gorgeousness! Thanks so much for sharing this, Holly – I can’t wait to give it a try. I recently used Liberty fabric to make something pretty (http://www.lifeonplanetbaby.com/2011/04/distracting-myself-by-creating-some.html) and now have the bug – I can’t get enough! J x
Jane´s last [type] ..Sunday splendour- 15 May 2011
May 16th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Lovely and interesting post. Thanks for the ideals for my daughters bedroom!
May 16th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
so much fun. i saw some garlands on the winter toast catalogue, hanging along a staircase, vertically, i’d love to do that with something like this! my children would run off with them x
May 16th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
These are gorgeous and versatile. Love!
May 16th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
These are cute and versatile! Love!
May 16th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
More, more, Sania please! I love all your ideas, and wish you could come and styleout my home.
May 17th, 2011 at 1:12 am
I’m so glad you like the garlands! They really are simple to make and you can use them for so many different things.
Sania x
Sania Pell´s last [type] ..quick idea- disco vase
May 17th, 2011 at 6:06 am
Wow, I just love the simplicity and understated elegance of these. Thank you for sharing!
Heather T.´s last [type] ..Horse Portraits
May 18th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
Lovely!!! do you think that if I do it my-self it will be as nice?? I will give it a try! thanks!
Nieves´s last [type] ..Super Natural Cooking
May 19th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
this is such an adorable idea!
May 1st, 2012 at 7:58 pm
Cute and so easy.