Happy 4th of July! This is an important day in American history and M&J Trimming couldn’t just let it slide by. We’d like to invite you to celebrate the nation’s birthday with us at MJTRIM.com! Take 15% off your entire purchase when you order from MJTRIM.com. This sale includes all Swarovski rhinestones, sew-on jewels, satin ribbons, grosgrain ribbons, velvet ribbons, buttons, handles and more! Hurry and take advantage of the sale because this is a July 4th weekend sale only! That means it ends July 6th.

Remember, you also receive free UPS ground shipping when you purchase $75 or more.

July 4th Sale starts July 4th and ends July 6th, 2008

]]> http://blog.mjtrim.com/2008/07/03/july-4th-weekend-sale/feed/ M&J http://blog.mjtrim.com/2008/07/02/bullion-crest-baseball-cap/ http://blog.mjtrim.com/2008/07/02/bullion-crest-baseball-cap/#comments Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:30:51 +0000 Milton http://mjtrim.wordpress.com/?p=237

By Milton

Transform a plane baseball cap to something a little bolder with the addition of a bullion crest. The crest can transform a simple cap to something that carries a sense of bold maturity. Crests come in such a broad range of themes; it¹s easy to find one that suits you or your loved one best.

Materials:

• Bullion Crest
• Baseball cap (or any other kind of hat with a heavy weight fabric and sufficient surface area for a crest)
• Unique Stitch fabric glue
• Needle + thread to match crest
• Scissors
• Straight pins

Directions:

1. Apply some Unique Stitch fabric glue to the center of the crest, then center the crest onto the front of the hat.
2. Pin the edges of the crest down with straight-pins and set the hat aside to dry for about 30-45 minutes.
3. Thread your needle sew from the inside of the hat so that the knot at the end of your thread is hidden. 
4. Stitch around the edge of the crest, removing the pins as you go. Remember to be careful of the inner lining sweatband that most baseball hats have. You don¹t want to sew that down.
5. Finish off your stitches on the inside of the hat and you are done!

The numbers of blogs available online have grown increasingly fast in the past few years.  There are blogs about politics, movies, life, fashion and even garment embellishments. 

There’s so many things you can do with buttons, ribbons and trims.  We’d like to share with you some of our favorite blog posts and their unique creations. 

Arts & Crafts:

 Create & Live Happy - Button Candle

Cuteable - Button Crafts

Purple Faerie Paper Crafts - Button Crafts

Card Positioning System - Button Crafts

Thinking Ink - Baby Bib Card w/ Ribbon & Button

A Little Imgination & A Pile Of Junk - Crochet & Knitting

Michelle’s Rubber Room - Embellishing w/ Ribbons

HemiDemiSemiQuaver - Ribbon Flower

 This and That Blog - Altered Tin w/ Beads and Buttons

Fashion:

This Year’s Dozen - Button Bracelet

 Just One More Line… - Ribbon Purse

Zakka Life - Ribbon & Button Brooch

M&J Trimming along with B&J Fabrics was featured on “Yume Machi Bito” episode 60 on June 1st in Tokyo, Japan.  The show was aired on Fujisankei also known as Fuji, one of Japan’s most popular television network. Fuji featured popular drama series such as “Absoulte Boyfriend” and “Hanazakari no Kimitachi”.  These show featured some of Japan’s most famous actors such as Oguri Shun and Hayami Mokomichi.  Therefore, M&J was very excited to have participated in the show.  Here is a quick video clip.

By Milton

Milan’s Menswear Spring 09 shows ended this week. 

Many top designers such as Gucci, Burberry and Calvin Klien displayed their collection for next spring.  Here are few a highlights from the shows.  Also, I’ll keep you posted on the show from Paris which started today.

Neil Barrett

Burberry Prorsum

Versace

Alessandro Dell’Acqua

Salvatore Ferragamo

Bottega Veneta

By Eleah

If you are hosting the hot-dog holiday event this year, try thinking, “What would Martha Stewart do?”.  Most BBQ’s I have frequented have been stocked with sleeves of plastic cups for summer beverages.  Thus far I have witnessed only weak attempts of adornment to these disposable drink holders.  And by weak attempt I mean illegible scribbling of someone’s initials at a last minute effort to rescue an abandoned cup from contamination or “sharing”.  So get out your scissors and glue America, it’s time to celebrate our country’s birthday.

 Supplies:

(Yields 4 cups, multiply depending on how many friends you have or divide if you have no friends)

• 1 yard of 10mm gingham ribbon in red/white
• Six 48mm glitter star buttons 37991 (4 silver, 2 red)
• Four 28mm glitter star buttons 37991 (2 red, 2 blue)
• Q-tips or something like Q-tips for painting on glue
• E6000 Glue: 37777
• 12oz Plastic Cups (see guest list for quantity needed)
• 1 black Sharpie marker

 Making the Cups:

1. Measure out 9″ pieces of gingham ribbon
2. Roll up one end of one piece of ribbon with your fingers to make it small enough to lace through buttons.  Refer to my blog image for suggested button arrangements. 
3. Once your buttons are laced onto the ribbon piece, slide them so that they are centered in the middle of the ribbon.
4. Apply E600 glue to the backside of the ribbon and some to the buttons for good measure.  Carefully place the ribbon glue side down around the cup.  Refer to blog image for placement on cup, or if placed lower simply cut off access ribbon.
5. Set aside to dry and move on the rest of the cups.
6. Write down the names of the people on your guest list on the cups in the coolest font possible. 
7. Place the cups on a tray for guest to pick up as they enter.  I would suggest making some extras and leaving the Sharpie beside them for any lurkers or tag-alongs.

By Milton

Like people, fashion come in all shapes and sizes.  It’s no wonder that there are millions of fashion trends out there and inspiration seems to come in all forms.  Each year designers forcast the upcoming trend at least a year before the collection actually hits the runway. 

At M&J Trimming, we do the same thing and with us being in the fabric trimming and garment embellishment industry, we have a little bit of an advantage.  We know what designers are planning for their next collection because it’s us that they come to for exclusive trimmings.  Some inspirations actually comes from the trend boards we’ve created especially for our 5,000 sq ft showroom in NYC. Some of you may have seen these as you stroll along shopping at M&J Trimming.  Here’s a few photos of the trend boards.

The 2nd annual indepedent hangbag designer award was held last night at the New York Historial Society located on 170 Central Park West.  As soon as the door opened at 7pm, lines of fashionistas with trendy bags entered the room. 

The event was filled with designers from Judith Leiber to Debbie Stroller.  When first entering the room, besides the luring cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, Judith Leiber’s display of handbags was standing as the center of attention during the event.  The bags were encrusted with hundreds of rhinestones including the bag with the rhinestone handle as seen in the photo.

After an hour or so of socializing and networking, it was finally time for the awards.  Everyone hurried to their sits in excitement for the results as well as the goody-bags which included M&J’s measuring tape, gift certificates from Borrow Bag or Steal, lip balms from Smart Water and much more. 

Here is the result for the winners.

Best Student-Made Handbag - Clara Yoo: C L A R A Y O O 

Best Handmade Handbag - Darren Wallace: Darren Wallace

Most Socially Responsible Handbag - Bridget Reid: PFYH

Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design - Lui Antinous: Lui Antinous

Best Green Handbag - Helen Marcoschamer: Ecoist

 Audience Fan Favorite - Suzanna Scarola: Bellabags

Besides the finalist and and the winner’s handbags at the event, there was another special handbag that made it to the award.  Timmy Wood’s Eiffel Tower handbag which was featured in “Sex and the City”, the movie.  The bag was signed at the bottom and is going to be given away by Borrow Bag or Steal at the end of the month. 

If you didn’t already know, then you know now that with every changing season there is a new trend.  Besides the classic black dress, there’s another trend that never seems to go away.  Of course it can’t be none other than the preppy style.  For over 15 years now, this classic trend came and never left. 

 This week, M&J Trimming wants to give the classic preppy trend the proper recognition it deserves.  Therefore, starting today June 18^th through July 1^st, we are taking 15% OFF all purchase of bullion crests.  So what are you waiting for?  This sale is only available online at MJTRIM.com.

 The bullion crests aren’t limited to just garments.  You can also use them to enhance the appearance on your bags.  They can be used on both men and women’s accessories and garments.

Take 15% Off All Purchase of Bullion Crests!

Sales ends July 1st, 2008

By Kristin

“Twenty- Thirty-grand. In small bills, cash. In that little silk purse.
Maron, if this was someone else’s wedding, sweet tonato!” - Godfather

Maybe you remember that line, maybe you don’t. Either way, it applies to this week’s bridal blog. While you are making your rounds talking to your guests at the reception, they are bound to hand you an envelope with a beautifully written card and sometimes a monetary gift inside. A money bag or money purse is a great way to hold those envelopes as you go table to table. It will make giving hugs, kisses, and handshakes easier as the cards get more numerous. When you are done greeting your guests, simply hand the bag to your Maid-of-Honor, Best Man, or parents to hold onto. At the end of the night they can then take that home with the other gifts for you.

The money purse is also a lot safer than a card box in that you don’t need to worry about a catering hall employee or party crasher stealing the cards. While you wouldn’t think on your happiest of days, nothing like that could possibly happen, it unfortunately can. Make sure you also inquire about wedding insurance, it helps for more things than just your location getting rained out or band not showing. Try Wed Safe at www.wedsafe.com

While researching a money purse for my own wedding, I was disappointed in the styles to choose from, all were very boring and too traditional for my more modern affair. I ended up not making one due to time constraints (I was still working on making my dress). I decided instead, to show you one based on a design for my friend and her San Diego beach side wedding.

Materials:

Note:  Items can also be ordered by phone.  1.800.9.MJTRIM ext 377

• 16″ of ½” grosgrain ribbon (item #34377 in cream featured)
• 1 yd.  25mm imported organdy ribbon in Lt. Beige
• Button/tassel appliqué (item # 36930)
• 16″ of 1″ heavy apron tape in natural
• 1 piece 8 ½” x 22″ medium weight non-transparent silk blend fabric in a natural/champagne color
• 1 yd 2mm imported rayon twist cord in off white or antique
• Scissors, sewing machine, needle, cream/natural colored thread, straight pins, large safety pin

Directions

1. Use a sheet of 8 ½ x 11″ paper as a stencil and trace 2 rectangles on your fabric. Cut out and lay on top of each other.  Pin one 11″ side together and hem a ¼” inseam, backstitching at both ends.  Open and press.
2. With the wrong side up, pin down the twill tape about 2″ down from one of the newly created 16″ sides (this will be the top).  Hem along both edges.  This will later be used as a tunnel for your drawstring cord.
3. With the right side facing up, pin down your cream grosgrain ribbon and hem along both edges.  This piece is purely aesthetic. 
4. With right side facing up, pin organdy ribbon across widthwise and over where your twill tape is hemmed.  This two is purely aesthetic but also will hide your twill tape if your fabric happens to be slightly transparent.  Set aside the remainder of this ribbon for later.
5. Fold fabric in half so your first hem remains unfolded.  Pin the bottom and other side edges together and hem.  On the second side hem stop and backstitch ¼ ” into the area where the twill tape and organdy ribbon meet.  Restart hem ½ ” from there and continue to the end.  Remember to backstitch each time you begin or finish a hem.
6. Tie a knot at both ends of your twist cord to prevent fraying.  Pin your safety pin into on knot and use it to jimmy your cord through the tunnel you created earlier with the twill tape.
7. Turn bag inside out and press hems.  Tie a bow with the remainder of your organdy ribbon and hand sew onto the center of one side of your stitched on organdy ribbon.  Hand sew button tassel appliqué on top of bow. 
8. You are done!