NYC Wedding...

Remember when I posted about this little vintage patch travel pouch for an upcoming bridal shower? Well, the shower has come and gone and now I want to share with you one other little thing I made.

I was thinking back to my own showers and trying to recall some of the handmade gifts that left a (positive!) impression on me. I kept coming back to the amazing "Just Married" sign for our car. However, since they are getting married in New York City and have no car this gift idea had no merit. It's such a quintessential part of the wedding day though that I couldn't shake my sadness that they would miss out on the hoopla surrounding it- other cars honking and kids waving, that special feeling you get when the beer cans hit a rut, bounce up and dent your car, igniting that first argument with your spouse who wanted to remove said cans before setting out but who had relented to your wishes... Sorry, I got lost in reverie... As I was saying, they have no car and will be traveling by plane.

But the idea had taken hold and for a few days it rattled around in my brain until the evening before the shower (when I had about a million others things to be doing!). I had the idea to find an image showing the back of a funky car with a classic "Just Married" sign that could then be fashion it into something for their suitcases. Are you still with me?

Here take a look:


Perhaps a close-up would help you to better appreciate it?

What about from the side?

Ok, Ok, it's corny! But the Bride loved it! As did the other guests- one of whom asked where I bought them.. hee..hee.. do I smell new business in the making??


I think it would be a hoot to see these being wheeled around the airport! The Bride even demonstrated wearing it strapped over her (so the sign was on her back-end) for when she rides the subway in her wedding dress. Too funny!

The How To:

I actually made a his and hers. Hers (the one shown) was made using white brocade and his with black (the wedding color theme). I had some thick (but flexible) stabilizer stuff left over from a project. I have no idea where I bought it but I would think you could find something similar at Jo-Anns. I sandwiched it between the brocade so that I would have a firm rectangle shape that would not flop over on itself when attached to the suitcase. Using an image found on flickr, I reversed it on my computer and printed it onto image transfer paper. Following the manufacturer's instructions, I ironed it onto some thick burlapish stuff (b/c of the texture of the brocade you can't iron directly to it). Then I trimmed it down and stitched it to the front of the brocade. I attached thick elastic to the sides (I used my own suitcase to gauge length-- hopefully they have similar suitcases!). If I were to make these again I would make sure to stitch the elastic into the brocade at the same time I made the rectangle. I did mine last so the elastic shows on the back. Not a huge deal but it would look cleaner and more professional the other way.

If you actually make one of these let me know!