I’ve been tossing around this idea to make a couple of “Everything is better with ___ ” signs so I asked around for some input and have a nice list to start with. This doesn’t mean I will actually make them all, but if there is something you think that fills this statement with only a single word or two, let me know! In one of those conversations, a direct commission was asked so it gave me the motivation to put thread to needle and here I deliver: 

Everything is better with Bea.

It is a gift for a loved one, so I pulled together a “romantic” theme. The sign is outlined in pearls and a vintage brooch represents Bea herself. The decoration posed a problem for me but inspired a wonderful solution! You see, it was part of an ornate necklace of multiple strands of pink beads and other gold accents. The lady herself is on a pin, meant to be fastened on clothing to keep the necklace in its correct position (she would otherwise be too heavy and hang at the bottom). I removed the necklace brackets off the back with a pair of plyers, but the pin mechanism itself could not be removed so easily – and if I were to remove it, I wouldn’t have a good way of attaching it. Instead, I used the pin to lock in place a very thick cord so that the brooch would lay flat rather than teeter across the pin mechanism. Of course, this means that the brooch is quite raised off the sign so I needed a way to ground it all together. Enter vintage wedding veil! I have this lovely set of lacey scraps from an old wedding dress – the sleeves, collar, and veil. It is stained and with some tears, but the fabric is otherwise beautiful. I felt it appropriate for a gift of love.

My go-to stitch of choice, stem stitch, makes an appearance. And, I really only need to change one letter for my own version of this sign: everything is better with tea! 😀

For the backing, I used a piece of felt. I do like using these printed felt sheets because they are stiff like paper and add a bit of surprise whimsy to any project. And, I am not sure if the person will choose to rest the sign on a surface, or hang on the wall, so I did add a chain. It is an old necklace chain that I think matches very nicely with the gold on the brooch. And of course, as a gift of love, I added a little “Made with Love” charm.

I hope the gift is well appreciated, but I loved the opportunity to make it regardless. I know a few things I will want to do differently for the next one. If I had more time, I would have redone a part of this, but birthdays wait for no one!