The use of ribbon goes back as far as when people began making fabric. Ribbonis one of the most longstanding decorative embellishments. Because individuals have always searched for ways to enhance and adorn their attire and home furnishings, ribbon has been used in this way for centuries.
In the past, when all textiles were made by hand, fabrics with the finest threads were the most expensive. However, even lower quality material could be enhanced with the addition of ribbon.
In the Middle Ages, salesmen traveling across Europe would sell enticing ribbons to be used to accessorize garments and other items. For instance, the tales of Geoffrey Chaucer include references to ‘ribbands’ on clothing.
The French term ‘passementarie’ is now used by those who speak English to refer to the use or creation of decorative trim. A few modern-day examples include, military uniforms, designer clothing, and home decorator items.
Tassel making is regarded as a type of passementerie. In fact, tassels are usually considered a timeless category of decorative trim. The boundless possibilities for variety and creativity make tassels a decorative accessory that can be well-suited to any tastes.
For those of us who love the feel of different fabrics and textures, tassels have a captivating quality. Though it has been said that tassels, like many other ornaments, serve no purpose, those who enjoy creativity and craftsmanship disagree. Also, a more practical use can be identified. If you attach a tassel to a ceiling fan pull cord you can more easily grip the cord to operate the fan. You can also use tassels to tag items you don’t want to lose track of in a cluttered ’junk’ drawer.
Whether celebrating a special event in your life or just simply showing how much you care, gifts wrapped in satin can express the depth of your affection. Try adding a satin ribbon as a finishing touch when wrapping your gift.
Opening a gift is a journey. It starts with the unraveling of the ribbon and peeking into the box in order to slowly reveal the gift inside. Having a beautifully wrapped gift can be as much fun as the gift inside.
Gift should be wrapped and packaged with care. Decorative packaging is a beautiful way of letting your loved one know you put a lot of thought into the gift. A decorative ribbon or beautiful box will bring a lasting impression of good taste and class.
Use sturdy boxes for heavy gifts. Boxes and other packaging materials can be re-used for other purposes to be green. Use ribbons appropriately with lots of pretty colors. You will see a nice reaction just from the gift receiver looking at the package.
| [Louis XIV]Tassel making and use seemed to boom the most during the reign of Louis XIV through Louis XVI. Most people have never actually been to Versailles, but they have seen complex and intricately designed tassels which resemble those you might find where the royals dwell. There are even design firms in New York which pride themselves on creating accurate reproductions of these tassels. A tassel called the Marie Antoinette, made by Scalamandre cost it’s purchaser $9,000! |
Tassels once indicated military or social rank in most western cultures, but these days, they are used as decorative accessories. As they increased in popularity and complexity of design, they became a type of ornamentation. It’s fascinating that tassels seem to be found across cultures, social classes, and centuries. Remnants of tassels have been found on battle fields, on the outfittings of nomadic herdsman, and today they are used on home furnishings, as symbols of achievement and as invitation decorations. You might have tassels on your throw pillows, your living room curtains, maybe even your loafers. Tassels are everywhere!
We got so many heartfelt wedding gifts! The pretty paper and delicate bows hinted at the meaningful contents of packages meant to remind us of our special day and the special way we had wound up together. A decorative butterfly and hummingbird, said to represent the groom and I, from my creative sister and several picture frames to display our wedding photos in. Our loved ones were so thoughtful and they wrapped their love up in pretty floral paper secured with shiny satin bows.
There she was with a beautiful yellow ribbon in her hair. My four year-old daughter, watching her mother get married to a loving, funny, intelligent and devoted man. She was bright-eyed and excited, interested in having her picture taken with her small yellow rose bouquet. Her joy and innocent charm infused the night with laughter and lightheartedness, even after the ribbon had been hastily removed from her pretty little head.
In my day, some might have called me a trend-setter. As a wife and mother, some of my fashion forward thinking has been replaced by a longing for ease and comfort, but I still appreciate wardrobe innovation and creativity. One thing I’ve never been crazy about are trends that are just marketing ploys for brand recognition, thinly veiled advertising.
However, there is one fad which might appear to be in this category at first glance, which I happen to like very much. These rubber wristbands with statements about faith, mantras about life or band logos are pretty cool. They are a cheap and colorful way to have the impact of a statement T and you can wear them with anything. Just a simple elastic band, these bracelets make fun party favors and stocking stuffers!
Read Comments (0)