Fall Wreath Tutorial

So, I don't usually decorate the great out doors.

But, after the rain we had last night, I knew this wreath I made yesterday had to go out in the wild for a little photo shoot. The colors in the wreath, the moss on the trees, the leaves just beginning to turn color....well, it was the perfect back drop.

When I got waylaid from an online class I was taking because of network issues, my mind jumped to making a fall wreath.  I've enjoyed this spring and summer scrappy one I made so much, I thought I'd give a go to a fall one.

One thing led to another and there was left over jute from my daughter's 4h project sitting beside me and I realized that's what the wreath needed to pull it all together.  

And, then I made some scrappy beads to adorn it!  I was first inspired to make beads like this a couple of years ago from Alma Stoller.

So the easy instructions:  

Supplies:  +foam wreath (I used a 17" one) Any size will work.

+fall colored scraps of fabric (felt, wool, cotton, etc)

+batting or flannel or felt scraps to wrap wreath first

+glue gun

+large crochet hook (size depends on jute size and wreath size)

+jute (size depends on wreath size)

I wrapped the wreath first with two layers of batting scraps to fill out and "plump" the wreath so to speak.  At 17" in diameter the skinny wreaths they sell look too thin to me.

Then cut your scraps to varying widths and wrap around the wreath beginning and ending in the back. I only wrapped each scrap once around.  Use glue gun (somewhat sparingly) to secure scraps in place.

With the jute and large hook, you basically slip stitch it around the wreath.  Pulling the jute up in the center then up on the back.   The jute does not twist around the wreath. I put the slip stitch around the outside of the wreath, but on the front could be really neat too.

I found these instruction for a crocheted wreath (which is really neat!) to help you a little more since I don't have more pictures.  I was on a mission! I did not single crochet like she did though, I only slip stitched it around.

Add some type of adornment like the beads I made and you're ready to hang it.  What a great way to use up scraps!

Feel free to pin this project!

Have a great weekend!

A Merciful Gift

I took a few sunset photos a couple of weeks ago when we were out taking my granddaughter's one year photos.  Can a person get enough of the sky?  ever?

Such a merciful gift from our Father.

♥

for everyone

everywhere

every day

♥

We share the sky.  We share a Heavenly Father.  hard to grasp

There is a song from the musical Big River that has these lines in it:

I see the same stars through my window that you see through yours

but we're worlds apart, worlds apart

I see the same sky through brown eyes that you see through blue

but we're worlds apart, worlds apart

I know the words are metaphorical for the situation of slavery versus free, but I think the words are still very thought provoking for us now.

You can read a bit more on Mercy here.

Look up today, I will be. :)

The August Garden in September

I took pictures of the tank garden back in August, but since I couldn't post them, I thought I would now.  I have lots to say about all the flowers, but I'll just let that all go for now, ha! :)

So, here is the photo bombardment!

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The "new" tub really filled in!  You can see it here before.

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It's been a great year for the tank garden (you can see how much it's grown from a few posts back).  There was quite a bit of experimenting as always.  Things that didn't work well, things that did, and so on.  I'm already planning for next year and the mums haven't even bloomed yet!

Have a great weekend!

Let's Begin Again, Shall We?

Wow, it's been almost three months since I last posted!  It began with a frozen start menu on our laptop. Proceeded to a corrupted hard drive on our desktop, then we were left with both computers non functioning.

Many phone calls, four different online orders for parts and software and so much t.i.m.e to figure it all out contributed to no blogging.  Then of course there was 4h and vacation and kids stuff so not all bad things going on here!

Last week my daughter and granddaughters came to stay so we could take one year old pictures.

She wasn't the most cooperative. :)  But once I started editing, I found that we had some great shots!

It was certainly hard to know where to begin to blog again.  All summer, I'd think, this would be fun to post about...and so on.  I just finished these pictures of Bridget so I decided right where I am is always a good place to begin!

If you have found your way back here after such a long break....I'm happy you are here!!