Pinwheels (Pin Wheels) for a wedding!

A sweet friend of ours is getting married in a couple weeks.  Her wedding will be in a beautiful park setting.  This sweet girl loves color and selected pinwheels as a way to bring color into her wedding.  The challenge was to figure out how to make these colorful pinwheel in all sizes, and how to get them pinned onto dowels (or sticks).

I played around the ideas for a days.  I tried pins, push-pins, tacks, nails and more, but just couldn't make them stick without the fear of them popping off in an outdoor setting.  Then one morning as I was running the light bulb in my head went off.  (It seems my best thoughts and ideas come when I'm on my run!)  Use my nail gun!

I used the smallest finish nail my nail-gun would shoot.  Then I stuck the dowel, or sticks (we're using both), on the crack of our deck boards, shooting the nail into the top, so that it goes through the other side, but doesn't actually get nailed to anything!  Perfect.  Now just make the paper pinwheels!

To make the paper pinwheels we used various sizes, 12" squares down to 4" squares.  I fold them corner to corner, and open them back up.  This gives me a line to use for my cutting.  I cut down to about an inch or two from the center. 

Then fold one of each tip into the center. Set this on top of the nail and push through.  Now on the nail I put a pearl or bead, then take a pair of pliers and bend the nail back down onto the bead.  This holds it all in place. 

Because we used so many kinds of papers we often doubled up the thinner papers, which also gave contrasting colors and patterns. To make sure the papers didn't separate I just dabbed some glue on the corners of the papers.  For the smaller ones we used straight pins, with white heads.  Using a pliers I cut off the ends and curled them so a skewer stick could be used.  Then a dab of hot glue to make sure they stay attached.

The bride will line the isle of the ceremony chairs with pinwheels.  She'll also use them all around the reception.  Then as centerpieces on the tables, we'll have vases filled with sand and 5 pinwheels in each vase.  The pinwheels will be used on the cake and food tables, too.  Should be colorful and fun!

   Have a great day!  Blessings, Heidi

(Linked to Between Nap's Metamorphosis Monday here,and Tip Junkie Homemade Projects Tuesday here.)

The Delightful, Cheerful and Talented Susan (s)

Do you know Susan? 

Yes, I have have five sisters and three sisters-in-law, and one of them is named Susan!  Susan is the oldest of our siblings, the first child, the top of the totem pole, the one who probably changed more diapers then any of us put together!  (We always helped my mom change diapers of whoever was younger than us!) When I was in junior high Susan went away to college.  I didn't see her any less than I did when she was at home, as she was always in her room studying!  LOL  She was top of her high school class and top of her graduating college class.  Talk about talent, my sister Sue (guess her name changed somewhere along the line) has more musical talent than I could ever dream of!  Sue is now the MOB.  Yes, the honored position called "The Mother of the Bride".  And, if ever her smarty-pants needs to come in it has been for this wedding.  Her daughter, the bride, is just finishing up a school year of teaching in Africa!  So they have been planning and organizing the wedding long distance.  They use emails and Skype and that's all, they haven't seen each other since Heather became engaged!  My niece Heather, is going to be boarding a plane in just a couple days to fly back to the states. 

(photo taken at a distance by a close friend)

 Her wedding date is July 29, so she'll  have just weeks to prepare in person.   Just one favor, could you please pray for Heather and her groom, Mr. Q., that all goes well in travels?  Oh, to make the love story even sweeter, Mr. Q. proposed to Heather in Africa!  Whew, they'll have a story to tell their children! 

Next up on our Susan list is Susan Branch.  Guess who has a new blog?  Guess whose book you can win?  Guess which artist I've loved, admired and been cheered by for many, many years?  Yes, Susan Branch.  I have several of her books, and her wall calendar hangs beautifully in my kitchen. So cheery!  I once wrote to Susan and asked her to write a "Spring" season book.  She was missing that season in her line up.  I didn't hear back from her, she's so busy drawing and all, but if she comes out with a "Spring Book", you can thank me!   ;)

You can shop her store for her wonderful, cheerful and art-filled books here.  I think "Girlfriends Forever" is my favorite!

    (all the Susan Branch images used on this post are via SusanBranch.com)

Be sure to check out her Recipes page on her website, too!

I love my sister, Susan!  And I adore Susan Branch's artwork!  How's that for a Wednesday double love?

   Hugs, Heidi