Garden Wreaths

Yesterday I watched a live "lunch and learn" with Kim Klassen and Aileen from Prairie Girl Studios to learn how to make wreaths from vines.

I've made wreaths before, but she made them a little differently than I did, and I like her way better. :)

The first nine (sometimes I get carried away) were made with wood vine that grows rampantly around here! I love the little tendrils that are part of the wreath.

The last one I made was from small willow tree saplings.  Aileen used willow too, but a willow bush. I was pretty sure the trees wouldn't work as well, and they didn't.  But, now I know.

Another thing I took away from the Lunch and Learn was to make them in different shapes.

I really like this one.

I have had one large wreath in my tank garden for quite awhile. Here is a link to how I made it into a planter one year. It was left over from my daughter's wedding.  

I hadn't really thought to add little wreaths anywhere. As I left this lesson, I was inspired to make more and put them everywhere.  So, now my garden will be full of wreaths!

I have Wild Grape, Honeysuckle, and Bittersweet Vines to try next. 

However, first I need to get my garden in order.  

So's the plan anyway.

A big thank you to Kim and Aileen!

Inchies

Kim at Art in Red Wagons hosted an "Inchie Swap" in which I participated.  You can visit her post here to see all the Inchies she received to swap out. 

I'd never made Inchies before and well, it doesn't take too much to make more than you need, so I quickly had a pile of them!  Then I sorted out which I thought would be best to send to her and three other groupings came together.  The words just came from two books that I have used for projects before.  It seems best to limit yourself in choice sometimes or you could get really overwhelmed.  Then I pulled out the typewriter and typed one more.  Just because.  

So "as is" is now on a shingle that I grabbed from the refuse of an old barn being taken down.  It is indeed "as is".   So am I.

A little dangle of old buttons seemed fitting too.

Then there was this group of words that seems to describe a woman that I would like to be.

I made the background with layers of sari ribbon, threads, and book pages that I covered with some fine tulle and then used my sewing machine to free motion stitch it all down. 

And, then there was this grouping that just says it all.  No need to strive "to be" here. 

Just words to remind me who I am.  In Him.  ♥

We just picked up the mail and the package from Kim has arrived.  Now to go open it!

Easy Project

This project is easy, but I bet it's been 3 years since I picked out the bottle I was going to use. hmmm...

I purchased some lavender essential oil, some diffuser reeds and I was ready.  I popped off the back of three clip on vintage earrings and glued them on to the old bottle I had picked from my stash.

I used E600 glue and they are holding strong.

This is a great way to use vintage jewelry, add a little bling to your decor, and to make your house smell nice. :) 

I also made the wire heart with baling wire a number of years ago. A pliers, a hammer and a willing to get your hands a little dirty and you can make that too.

Have a great day!

I'm a Little Slow

Here are a few pictures from our nature inspired tree.

I took these a few weeks ago, but never got the time to post them.  Since then I've added some more ornaments that a friend gave to me. A picture of a tree in the day time is always a bit disappointing.  In person, I really liked the tree.

I enjoyed hanging these large wreaths. I used thin craft wire to hold them together after forming them from the wild grape vines that grow on our property.

I shaped the little nests out of the same grape vines and wire vine from the summer garden.  I already had the clay eggs that I made a few years ago.

I have more wood burning projects in mind!

The bird houses were heavy so were nestled inside the branches.

We've had this artificial tree for I'd guess 24 years and it's getting thin!  Maybe sometime I'll get a new one, but it seems like it can always be used another year. I don't have a close up picture, but the pine cone garland that I sprayed flocking on was super simple to make.  Just twine around the pine cones. The pine cones were foraged fresh from outside so they were still sticky from sap.  I think I will try to save these in a bag to use somewhere next year too.  The flocking will flake off, but I think it will be okay. I hung some in a window too.

You can see a closer picture of the twig stars here on Instagram.  

The tree topper was just twigs that I flocked.  It worked well and back out to the woods it will go when I take it down.

I hope your new year is off to a great start! 

So perfect that Christmas comes and then the New Year.  Fresh beginnings should always be tied to the Christ Child.  The new baby that offers us a fresh beginning every day, not just in the new year.

His mercies are renewed each morning. 

from Lamentations 3:23

Nature Inspired Tree

This year for our tree we decided to go with a nature theme.  And, by we, I mean me.....ha!

I bought some birch logs at an estate sale a number of years ago and really haven't found a good place to use them for decorations.  Well, now one has been sliced up!

I started wood burning and experimenting with designs and these are the ones that will go on the tree.  Wood burning at my skill level demands a simple design and great for me, I like simple designs! (I found inspiration via Pinterest)

I used water color paint to add the red and white washes.

I have  few I did that I won't hang on the tree, but will find another place for them.  The little white dots are not faces. I tried a coat of varnish on this one and the sun was reflecting off of that on the heads.  In person, it's just a dark circle.

I've also had cedar logs cut and stored for projects in our barn so made some very rustic bird houses out of them.  A piece of old trim was cut for the roofs.

As I was sitting them out when I brought them upstairs, my husband said, "You could make a village."  And, the wheels began to turn!  Maybe something to experiment with in the new year!

I'll post pictures of the tree when it's finished.  I've made a few bird nests, and wreaths from the wild grape vines on our property. 

I should have added that the budget for this nature tree was very low....as in no money was going to be spent.  Just using up what I already had or could forage.

::~~::

There are some in our extended family that will be having a very difficult Christmas this year due to a sudden and tragic loss. And, others in our periphery who have struggles, fears, and losses. My heart this Advent is with them and all who find themselves grieving or in despair this time of year.  So much and so many to pray for.  And, what a blessing to be able to do so.

::~::

Sticks and Fibers

My youngest girls are working on a couple of weaving projects for 4h. Since I can't get too far as they have questions and trouble with the needle, I began a little weaving project of my own while sitting with them.

I had sticks just sitting in a pail waiting for a project!

Simple.

But, a tad tedious to hold the sticks while you pull the fibers over and under so might not be for little fingers to do.  I think I need to find a way to hold the sticks while you weave so the girls could do this too.

It would also make a great little piece of wall art!

Homemade Clay: Not Just For Kids!

There is a lot of potential in homemade clay!!  I just started playing around with it and really had fun. I started off with just the plain white clay which was all I was after and was really happy with these house "hangers".

Then I added a needle felted wreath which I was really happy with too, but I don't have a good picture of it.

Then, I thought about color.  

And, hand lettering.  I still really need to work on that, but I was just playing to see how the marker would work and such.

Some of the letters were imprinted with rubber stamps (bought at the dollar spot at Target!) before the clay dried.

Of course the word "mercy" came to mind while I was trying to decide what to stamp in them.

And, I tried some doodling or zentangling you could call it. 

I experimented with different ribbons and added a key to this one.

Here are some shots of the second side. 

I used soft pastels to do the "painting" and it was just the most wonderful process. It gives such vivid color.

As I figure out what works best, I can add some more descriptions or instructions for you.   

I used a knife to free form cut the clay for the houses, some of the hearts, and for the pennants for these two little banners.  I prefer that to the use of cookie cutters I decided.  These little banners were made with a different font than the ones above but still from Target and are only about 1 1/2" long.  

I was initially inspired by this post that a friend had sent me as an idea for the kids to do.  This is the same age old recipe that's been around for years and years.  I looked to see what was in the book of science concoctions for the kitchen that I've had since my oldest girls were little and it was the same recipe.

I sure hope to keep playing and experimenting with this.  Little to no cost, no need for a kiln are big pluses!

Hand-Painted Ornaments

I saw some people posting pictures of hand-painted ornaments on Instagram and I was so eager to try it.  Especially, because I had clear ornaments on hand that I had purchased quite a few years ago to alter in some way.  

It was time to use those ornaments!  

I gave them all one to two coats of white paint first.

I just used craft paint that I had on hand.  

I chose colors that matched some favorite vintage fabrics I had so I could make a "paper" chain from the fabrics for the tree.  I kept to four colors so all the ornaments would coordinate. After they were dry I gave them a coat of satin finishing spray.

I have to say that enjoyed painting these as much as I enjoyed making my junk ornaments for my "Junk Tree".

I watched this YouTube video before making the fabric chain.  What I took away from her instructions was that you could use two layers of the heat and bond.  I probably would have used just one layer on my own.  I'm assuming that the two layers will give it strength and durability. 

I made my strips 1/2" x 6" and used a drop of glue from a low temperature glue gun to hold the loops closed.  I didn't want a thick and chunky chain, but a more delicate one for my branch tree I was going to use.

I thought these ornaments would look best on a white tree.  Since a new white tree wasn't in the Christmas budget, I cut two branches (from sumac bushes) and spray painted them a light coat of white.  I brushed on a little more white paint after I stuck them in foam in my galvanized pail.

It really worked well.  I'm planning on using these same branches for another Valentine's tree for Valentine's Day now after Christmas.  

A picture from above.

I had two more... I tend to be clumsy....I stepped back into the sewing room to shut off a light and turned too quickly with all the ornaments mounted in a box drying and they spilled out.  After I pouted, I realized that I needed to be grateful because six had fallen out, but only two broke.

As we were pulling out decorations this year, I discovered that I have more clear ornaments!  I should probably paint some more in the same color palette so I have back ups, ha!