DIY Steampunk Fascinators Inspired by the Maddie Hatter Series written by Jayne Barnard

While reading Maddie Hatter I felt inspired to also create some Steampunk themed fascinators based on both books, Maddie Hatter and the Deadly Diamond and Maddie Hatter and The Gilded Gauge! I can not help but just love her clockwork bird who nests in her hat! I wanted to honor that little bird by making a hat of my own and I made a second one of gauges and gears inspired by book two Maddie Hatter and the Gilded Gauge. I thought it maybe fun to share how I did it so that you may make your own!

To make your own Fascinator you will need:

-Small Top Hats ( I get mine here) 
-Hair clips (I get mine at the dollar store)
-Felt that matches the color of the hat base you choose
-Hot glue gun with glue sticks
-Wire bird (I got mine at the dollar store)
-Ribbon, Lace or Tulle (I got mine at the dollar store)
-Gem stickers (I got mine at Michael's The Craft store)
-Tiny Gears ( I got mine at the craft store)
-Buttons
-Scissors
-sewing needle and tread
-Metallic Sharpie Marker

 Step 1- Assemble all your supplies. Pick the side of the hat you wish to decorate. Plug in your glue gun and get ready for some creative fun!

Step 2- Start with the placement of your bow or veil. If using tulle, cut a 10 inch piece and thread your needle and use a running stitch to go through the center of the tulle piece. As you pull the thread you should have a ribbon form as in the photo above. Use a large dab of glue from your glue gun  on the side of the hat and carefully press the ribbon into the side of your hat form.  If using a bird at this time take him out of the package and secure him to the ribbon and the hat with more glue.

Step 3- Once you have put your bird in place, decorate under him and above the brim of your hat with buttons or gears, gluing them into place.
Next use your sharpie marker to color the beak of your bird to give it a metallic look. Choose two smaller gears (They do not have to match) for the birds eyes, and attach them with a bit of hot glue.
Use small gem stickers for the eyes, gluing them on top of the gears as shown in the photos above.

If you are making one with gears and no bird you can place them as shown and secure with more glue, you can use wires or bobby pins to give the gears height as I have here and decorate with gem stickers.

Step 4- Once you are happy with how you wish you hat to look on the top, it is time to attach a hair clip to the underside of your hat as I have done with a dab of glue. I have also used a piece of felt in a matching color to secure the edge of the clip in place. Once the glue is dry you can flip it over and try it on!
These are simple easy and fun ways to bring a little Steampunk fashion inspired by Maddie Hatter into your own wardrobe.
Learn more about Maddie Hatter and this amazing series by clicking here for Author Jayne Barnard's Website. 

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy series inspired craft! I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Maddie Hatter Inspired Tea Holster Tutorial

In anticipation of tonight's Maddie Hatter  facebook party I have a special treat for you!  I am sharing my tutorial for a felt DIY Steampunk Tea Holster that I made while reading Maddie Hatter and the Gilded Gauge. I was so inspired by this wonderful main character and her story that I felt compelled to make a tea holster and tutorial that would be fun for fans of Maddie Hatter like me, and that would be an easy and a fun craft to make. This tutorial uses felt, if you wanted to experiment with fabric or leather you may need to tweak the pattern slightly but the bare bones of this pattern should serve you well.

To make your own Tea Holster you will need:
-Pattern pieces DOWNLOAD HERE
-Felt
-Button
-pins
-sewing needle
-Sewing Machine
-Thread
-Scissors
-A Teacup and Saucer
- A belt to wear it on once completed


Step 1- Download, print out and cut out the pattern pieces. Lay them out on your felt and cut out all the pieces you need.

Step 2-  Take the base pattern piece you cut out and two of the straps you cut out of the felt. On the flat side of the base place your straps, fold them over so that the bottom raw edges meet  and pin into place beside each other. Use your sewing machine to stitch them into place.


Step 3- Place the middle cup holder piece of felt over the base and pin it into place, top stitch along the outer edge to the bottom piece.

Step 4- Place the upper cup holder over top of the middle holder and pin into place, sewing along the outer edge and securing it to the middle and base.

Step 5- Add your button to the marked place and stitch it into place.

Step 6- Pin the teacup strap to the top left corner of your holder and slide in the plate and cup into place. Take the teacup strap and loop it through the teacup handle and bring it along to where you would like to secure it to the holster. Mark it with a pin or pen. You may need to trip the felt tea strap. Snip a small line that will become your button hole. Once you are happy with the placement of the strap, remove the cup and saucer and then top stitch it into place.

Step 7- Put the completed tea holster onto your belt and then  saucer and cup in their spots! You are now ready and prepared for tea dueling!

Find out more about Maddie Hatter from Author Jayne Barnard by visiting her website clicking here.
I hope you have fun making this Maddie Hatter Inspired Tea Holster! Please feel free to share this tutorial and the word about this amazing series!

I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Fancy Friday Finds Inspired by Maddie Hatter and the Gilded Gauge...

As you may know by now I am very excited for the upcoming event I am co-hosting with author Jayne Barnard on my Beyond The Bookmarks Facebook Page July 26th. I am so inspired by Jayne's character Maddie that I have been looking at and creating fun Steampunk styled items for our book party and today's Fancy Friday Finds are inspired by Jayne's character Maddie Hatter's Style...

First up is this lovely leather tea wallet created and sold by Attic Raiders Etsy Shop. I personally carry a tea wallet with me wherever I go but mine is not as sophisticated ast this lovely one. with pockets for tea, sugar, stir sticks, tea ball teaspoons and more this Fancy Friday Etsy find has me rethinking my traveling tea wallet! Click here for shop and listing.

Kind Hearts Emporium has me excited with this lovely pin, I have found that I am drawn more and more to these eye catching conversation pieces. I can see this being worn at the neck as a choker just as easily as I can see on a dress coat. I love the sentiment in this one, on my wish list for sure! Click here for shop and listing. 

Echo Tee Company caught my eye with this great shirt!

Okay maybe the t-shirt is not fancy but I love the sentiment of the message on the shirt so it makes my Fancy Friday list. "be Splendid & Drink Tea. This is where I shall leave you today....

Do please join us and share this invite to our Maddie Hatter Summer Facebook party! Click here for more information on the event and join us for some summer fun from the comfort of your own home.

Thank you for joining me here today for a cup of tea and some Fancy Friday Finds!  I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com