TOOLS OF THE TRADE TUESDAY

fes·toon

[fe-stoon]  

noun

1. a string or chain of flowers, foliage, ribbon, etc., suspended in a curve between two points.

2. a decorative representation of this, as in architectural work or on pottery.

3. a fabric suspended, draped, and bound at intervals to form graceful loops or scalloped folds.

4.to adorn with or as with festoons: to festoon a hall.

5. to form into festoons: to festoon flowers and leaves.

 

FESTOON OR FESTOONING - Besides all of the things that you can do with festooning it is just a fun, old Victorian word to use - "Cannot help you now, I'm festooning," "Sorry, will call you back, I'm on a ladder festooning."

Small sample of the different colors available in festooning rolls. See a theme in the colors? Easter, Valentine's Day, 4th of July, Christmas.  I am awaiting delivery of a brown roll to make a Thanksgiving garland so watch for future post.

While not technically festooning if you were to search by that term, Bethany Lowe makes tissue paper garlands which are to be used to festoon.

You can also make your own garlands by simply layering together lengths of crepe paper and sewing down the middle and then clipping each side to the middle.  However festooning is NOT expensive and is readily available in many, many colors and comes in rolls of 25 feet.  Often the shipping will exceed the cost of a single roll.  The difference between the Bethany Lowe garlands and the festooning is that the festooning has some clear cellophane in the product and the Bethany Lowe garland is all tissue paper, is only 9 feet and costs considerably more.  A matter of choice.  Both are stronger than you would think and are very useful for many, many projects and just fun to use.

Here are a couple of "Before & After" photos using festooning:

 

Paper cone tree before......

 Paper cone tree after.......

Because it is so light weight it is very easy to use and can be adhered to most surfaces with double-stick tape.

Table top before.......

 Table top after........

The use of festooning is only limited by your imagination.

Note: The product comes in rolls and will be a little smashed so just hold in one hand and run through the other hand to "fluff" it up and then change hands and do the same.

Sources:

Bethany Lowe Garland, Ebay sellers, found one on Etsy, Google search

Festooning, Ebay sellers, Etsy, Google search, many, many sellers, the big price difference will be in the shipping but if you keep looking you will find a good price at low shipping, I always do.

Halloween Items, my collection

Paper cone tree,  Wisteria catalog and online.  They put it on sale just before Halloween and now it is for sale with Christmas type cones, no discount, look for it to go on sale again.  Watch for future post with alternatives.