I just finished up some custom wedding ornaments, and I wanted to write a post about these, because the truth is, this particular order gave me some difficulty. Which means I am EXTRA pleased with the results…they came out so beautifully. My customer sent me materials from her wedding, including pieces of her wedding dress (which of course is always a bit stressful…that is something you do NOT want to mess up!)… there was some satin and netting, a few tiny pieces of beading, and some appliques from the wedding dress. There was also some ribbon with ivy leaves that she wanted a second ornament made from.

fabrics from wedding

As you can see from the photo, everything was just beautiful…that was certainly not the problem. The problem was thinking of a way to make it all work on the ornaments.  The appliqued netting pieces were too large as whole pieces, and the ivy leaves on the ribbon proved to be difficult to work with because of their placement along the ribbon.

But did any of this stop me? Nope! (And hence this blog post! :D) I got to work on the first one she wanted done with the satin and appliques…she wanted this to be a folded star style ornament. This was hard because netting and sheer materials generally don’t work too well with this technique. And also, I wasn’t sure at first how I would incorporate those large appliqued pieces. So, I decided to take a risk…I separated two of the appliques from their netting…

the wedding dress appliques

…the pearls were a little loose, so I went ahead and secured them (so they will never pop off down the road…how terrible would that be?!)

sewing pearl on wedding applique

…and then I placed the appliques in the center of each side of the ornament. I used the satin and sheer netting behind the applique.

using wedding dress applique on custom ornament

I folded the satin for the “quilted star” around the appliques so that were a perfect fit for the center of each side. I did a couple of layers…I thought the white on white was beautiful.

quilted wedding-ornament with dress applique

I then used some of the edging applique… (isn’t this gorgeous, by the way?)

applique for keepsake wedding ornament

…around the circumference of the ornament… it couldn’t have fit any more perfectly. Thrilled, I was!

adding applique around handmade wedding ornament

She also wanted a ribbon wrapped ornament with the ivy ribbon she sent me.

wedding ribbon for ornament

The ivy leaves were far apart from each other on the ribbon…even though I knew I could easily take them off and place them where I wanted, they were glued on, and so the ribbon underneath would be messed up and unusable if I did that. So, wrapping the ball and getting the leaves to be where I wanted them was not easy.

wrapping ribbon around ornament

It took a little manipulation, but I managed to do it. Once I had the ball covered and I was happy with how it looked so far, I went ahead and took a few leaves from the leftover ribbon, and added them to the ornament to make it perfect. I embellished it with some of the tiny pearl strands that she had sent, along with some pearl corsage pins.

Here are the finished ornaments…

So simple, but so pretty!

custom wedding ornament with pearls and ivy

And I just love this one…I want to keep it for myself. But I guess that’d be a little weird, since it’s not from MY wedding dress. :D

custom wedding ornament handmade with dress appliques

custom wedding ornament handmade with dress material

Please let me know what you think!

35 Comments

  1. Pat Atkisson on June 26, 2011 at 1:16 am

    They are just beautiful, and thank you for taking us on your adventure. It was wonderful to see and read about you thought process. Everything you do is such a work of art, but to be able to see it all happen was such a treat. Thank You……

    • Teresa Havens on May 26, 2020 at 12:50 pm

      I love both of these ornaments! And what a great idea! You did a beautiful job and it is so inspirational. I have four daughters and my wedding dress will never be a style any of them will want to wear so I may do this and give each of them an ornament made from it!

  2. ornamentgirl on June 26, 2011 at 1:21 am

    Thank you so much, Pat… I really appreciate your compliment! I love writing these posts…I would like to do it more often. :)

  3. Anne Marie on June 26, 2011 at 4:04 am

    So very beautiful – your talent is truly amazing!

  4. ornamentgirl on June 26, 2011 at 3:47 pm

    Thank you, Anne Marie! :)

  5. Chelx @ boojeebeads.com on July 9, 2011 at 4:08 am

    So creative! I would like to make one for myself but I’m afraid it would not turn out like that. Wish I have your hands… :)

  6. Suzanne Gilberg on September 6, 2012 at 1:11 am

    I have just joined in and am amazed at the work amd the beauty of what you do and how you do it. I very much enjoy looking at the process of how you do it. Looking forward to the next adventure.

  7. michele on January 31, 2015 at 3:36 am

    Are you still making wedding gown ornaments? This is the only idea I have liked. But, I am not talented enough to do it myself.

  8. Debby Smiley on September 26, 2015 at 7:25 pm

    I love the wedding ornamments! Do you have a pattern for that? I really want to make the satin ones asap. Thanks.

  9. june on February 18, 2016 at 2:12 pm

    Thank you for sharing the story of the wedding ornament. You are truly an artist. the ornaments are absolutely gorgeous and will definitely be an honored heirloom.

  10. Deborah Smith-Lynch on February 19, 2016 at 10:52 am

    Those are beautiful!! Wonderful idea.

  11. Gloria Perkins on November 1, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    I went to my computer to do just one thing and now I’ve been here a couple of hours ! Thank you for all of the ideas. Wish I could make all of them, but it would probably take me years just to learn how. I appreciate all of the ideas from you and also all of the ideas from Ornament Girls Club. Your talent is amazing.

    • Staci Ann Lowry on November 1, 2016 at 12:34 pm

      Gloria, thank you so much! I really appreciate that – and I’m so glad you like all the ideas! :)

  12. Colette on November 21, 2016 at 9:36 am

    Absolutely stunning, one my friend daughter go married this summer so I will try to make one for her. Never tried to do the folded star, but did save a video for reference when I get a chance to make them.
    I do different ornaments for my nephews and nieces almost every year, I come from a huge family of 17 so I have to do approx 60, this year alone we got 3 great nieces including twins…we are so happy.
    Will check your other ornaments when I get a chance, busy taking care of my mom (88).
    Thanks for sharing and take care.

  13. Myrtle Dean on December 11, 2016 at 8:27 pm

    Just had to say thank you for your recent post…it gave me so many ideas, especially the wedding ornament. You are sooo good to us and I really appreciate all your suggestions and posts. I am a very senior citizen (lol) and have found that they help me to relax in the evening. I would like to send you and all the Ornament Girls and big Christmas HUG and say Merry Christmas to all.

  14. Hollie Wade on January 6, 2017 at 4:25 pm

    Absolutely love these. Your thoughtfulness and concern for the future preservation of the ornaments was so obvious in your comments….you were truly a blessing for this bride…

  15. Trish Meyer on September 6, 2018 at 8:59 am

    You are so talented…I am going to try and make one for my granddaughter her wedding will be in Oct her wedding colors are White, spa blue and dove gray instead of the fall colors. Thanks Staci for the inspiration.

  16. Diane R. on May 30, 2019 at 9:37 am

    Thanks for sharing this again. I wasn’t an Ornament Girl in 2011. It would make a lovely memento or you could buy materials to make some as gifts for guests (for a small wedding). I used fabric extra from my wedding gown & veil to make a barrette of roses for my Mom to wear on my wedding day. Thanks again for all the inspiration.

  17. Katharine (Kitty) Barrett on May 27, 2020 at 12:58 pm

    ?????? Staci Ann you did an ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL job on these ornaments!!! They are really gorgeous. YOU are TOTALLY REMARKABLE. Thank you ever so much for ALL you do ??????

    • Janelle Taliercio on May 28, 2020 at 2:15 pm

      Kitty, you’re so sweet! Thank you so much for your kind words and feedback. I have passed along this lovely comment to Staci Ann so she can read it for herself. You’ve made our day! Janelle

  18. Raelene Farnell on May 18, 2021 at 8:30 am

    They are both stunning. You should be so proud of what achieved with these ornaments Staci Ann ?

    • Janelle - Ornament Girl Support on May 18, 2021 at 1:13 pm

      Thank you so much, Raelene. You’re so sweet to say so!

  19. Carol J Peters on May 18, 2021 at 10:25 am

    Just curious as to how you attached the applique in the center. It is truly beautiful. My wedding dress has a similar element so would like to know how I can attach it.

    • Janelle - Ornament Girl Support on May 18, 2021 at 8:05 pm

      Staci isn’t positive but she thinks she gave it a couple stitches to attach it to the netting and satin square used as the backdrop. I hope that helps?

      Thanks!
      Janelle
      Ornament Girl Team

      • Carol J Peters on May 18, 2021 at 10:07 pm

        Thanks.

  20. EVELYN P PATRIACCA on May 18, 2021 at 10:19 pm

    ABSOLUTELY STUNNING
    IS THE PATTERN AVAILABLE

  21. Anonymous on May 16, 2022 at 12:39 pm

    you are truly “AMAZING” I love all that you do

  22. Anonymous on May 16, 2022 at 12:42 pm

    The anonymous May 16 2022
    is me MARIE Nigro

  23. Debbie Perkins on August 1, 2022 at 3:36 pm

    I am in the process of deconstructing a wedding gown. Christening gown, monogrammed hankies, stockings, and pillows. Whew! I ran across some of these and thought that I could just do her a couple. Gonna give it a shot!

  24. sheila henson on September 29, 2022 at 12:45 pm

    I have been searching for a design to make myself and my daughter ornaments using the fabric from the bridal robes and my wedding dress. When I found yours, I feel in love. Now I am crazy about making the ornaments you are doing. And I have waited to make the wedding ones until I feel confident enough to make them. They are all so beautiful. I did want to ask if you used pearls to attach the embroidery? Thank you

  25. Laura Kuntz on May 24, 2023 at 4:42 pm

    This is something I have offered on my craft card! I recommend the brides a n maids request scraps from their fitting and alterations person! That they can keep their gown in one piece for preservation! Also if you can get hold of larger spheres for decorations for gifts or for their attendant’s to carry down the aisle instead of flowers that die in our El Paso heat! You can add pin brooches and fabric as ALL brooches has already come out! My daughter had a Christmas wedding 2011 I commissioned off sweet lady in Etsy she quilted balls and also used cross stitch centers for her creations! Had one made for family gifts with bride and groom’s grandparents, parents and the bride & groom with name and dates for their Christmas trees! A lot of great comments and thank you’d’ saying great idea!

  26. sarah A moore on June 1, 2023 at 12:46 pm

    Hi this is beautiful. I hope I can make the bride one(my new granddaughter) and one for each of her bridesmaids. But I don’t have all of their colors yet.I will send pics. Because of your teachings,knowledge and of course talent, so so many people are getting wonderful gifts. Thank you all.

Leave a Comment