Another FREE project! Flower belt tutorial and the difference between an estate sale and a garage sale

Yesterday I showed you my boot socks that I made for free, today, I am keeping with the theme (FREE-my favorite word!) and I am going to show you a belt that I made.

Even though garage sale season is over (you didn't know there was a season?  It's like hunting season, or crabbing season, you know, garage sale season.  Usually from May-September, no license needed!)my heart started racing when I saw an estate sale sign a few weeks ago.
What's the difference between an estate sale and a garage sale you ask?
An estate sale is usually being held after a person dies.  Not always but usually.  If it's run by a company (and there are several companies out there)I don't typically enjoy them because the prices are set so high so the company can receive their commission. It's so much more fun when it's run by the family because the grieving family is usually on site to answer any and all questions and you find out about the history of the items you are interested in.  Also (the best part), they want to get rid of the stuff so it's super cheap.An estate sale is usually a whole house full of items for sale, and it isn't just limited to a garage.  
A garage sale is just that, a sale in the garage (or front yard/driveway) and is mostly held so the family can purge off their belongings and not end up on an episode of hoarders.
O.k., back to my story.  So my hearts racing as I saw the signs directing me to the estate sale.  I was even more excited when I saw that it was an old house (you know, those houses that are completely built around by new cookie cutter houses but where the owner won't sell their property).Old house=cool old stuff
After perusing through the garage I headed inside and found out that this lady had some cool old clothes.  The family told me to fill a bag for $2 so I stuffed that bad boy full!  One of the items I picked up was this belt.
My husband thinks it's a garter belt for a fat person, but I'm pretty sure it's not.  And while the bag of clothing was $2, I consider this belt free because you should see how much stuff I stuffed in the bag, so to make me feel good about myself, we are calling this belt free.

When I saw it I immediately thought of those belts that the Pleated Poppy makes,

the bloom belt

 or that I am Momma-Hear Me Roar put a tutorial out there for.


autumn bloom belt

the awesome free bloom belt 
(pretty sure I should trademark this one!)

So with that inspiration, I got started.

I cut out lots of circles (freehand) out of fabric that I got in a free box last summer at a garage sale.
See how much fun free is?!

then I folded the circle in half and put hot glue in the middle (by the fold)

Then I folded it in half again and added another drop of glue

I used one of my circles as a base and started gluing the folded circles around the base

I filled in the center with more folded circles

I made three flowers.  Two larger ones, and a smaller flower.

I took some felt scraps that I had in my stash and cut it into a crazy rectangelish shape.

Then I glued the flowers on and cut around the felt so you just saw flower, not felt.

I added a pin

And covered the pin with another piece of scrap felt...you know, to make it pretty and hold it in place

Then I pinned the flowers into place on the belt

Now stand awkwardly in front of your fireplace modeling your awesome free bloom flower belt

That's it!  

Don't you just love FREE!