DIY?

Ok so, I am all for do-it-yourself as long as it does not look do it YOURSELF! I just don't want anything I do or make to look...bad (?) I want everything to look professional but still crafty. So early in the days of scouting for wedding decorating ideas, I happened across this idea on theknot.com. To be fair, let me say I love buttons. I am not quite sure WHY I love buttons, but I love buttons. Strange, I know. Okay, so I saw this image:

And I was kind of obsessed. So I tried thinking about my own spin on things. I wanted to create this idea but make sure it also reflected my idea and theme. So tonight set out preliminary planning of this idea. I wanted to first see if this idea is truly something I could create. In my head I have this vision of a burlap type fabric with purple buttons backed on a weathered wooden frame. So keep this vision in mind when you see my rough design. Remember ROUGH design!

This was just using what I had on hand and the actual buttons I intend to use will be of more similar sizes. The fabric I used was un-ironed hence the bunching and again, so not my colors or intended fabric use. This only took 20 minutes of sewing and was really quickly thrown together. Also, the sharpie marks on the fabric obviously will not be on the burlap design.

Keeping in mind my general idea and concept here, is this idea plausible? Will it look...too handmade? too DIY? Again, remember burlap type fabric and weathered wood frames with purple buttons! My dad has awesome wood from an old barn that I intend to use if I decide to follow this through... Is this effort really worth my sanity and time? I am probably going to have to make 12-14 of them.

The floor is open... Honest opinions!!!!! trust me, I know this rough outline is really crap but try to envision final design. I personally do not think I will be sold on this idea until I get the actual materials I would be using and create the next "rough idea" but what are we all thinking here?

The search for lanterns begins! (well already began)

So, when I sat down and began envisioning my wedding, one of the first thing's I thought of a knew I had to have at my wedding was candles and twinkle lights. I love how everything looks in candle light. Romantic and just pretty. So in my search for candle centerpieces on The Knot I discovered lanterns! I was in love. I am not much of a girl who loves flowers, so for me these beautiful lantern's would make amazing centerpieces.
And so, the search began. I have found some black lanterns about 6 or so inches high at Michael's Craft Store and Mom Q (the fiance's mom) found some pretty ones at Ikea. While I love the black one's, there is one I saw on The Knot that really I cannot get out of my head:

I wish I could find something like it, somewhere! I would put a little pillar candle inside and have it lit all night long. So, I have spent countless, wasted hours searching for something just like what you see above. The closest I have come so far is this Country House Online Store.

If it comes down to it, I will end up with black lanterns, which look beautiful too! Either way, the limited number of flowers I use, the more I will save too! I love this simple lantern idea so much! Let's hope it works out!

Here are some other pretty idea's I am inspired/intrigued and interested in: