JULY'S WREATH

Hello everyone.

It’s a beautiful day down here in my little piece of paradise.  At last the heavy rain has stopped and the sun is shining.  Hopefully it will last!

One of the things I decided I wanted to learn this year is how to make front door wreaths.  As a writer I create words and stories, but I really wanted to do something different, and wreath making is creative and colorful.  So for me it fits the bill perfectly.

Wreaths are not common decorations down here in New Zealand, except at Christmas time, but I wanted to try and make a different one for every month.

Well, June kinda went by and nothing got done. So I determined on this lovely sunny day I would make my version of this

From esty.com via Pinterest

It’s been a bit hard to gather the materials, because as I said it’s not common so therefore the products and supplies are readily available.  However yesterday I did score some lovely chiffon stuff that sparkles.

I started off using those white twigs which had been in this tablescape

Cutting them to size I overlapped them and then tied with a green pipe cleaner.  I hoped that by using them and because I was using green deco mesh and ribbons etc, they wouldn’t stand out too much.

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Next came tying on the deco mesh, looping it in several places and again using those pipe cleaners to secure it in place.

Next came the silk flowers.  I used these lovely yellow silk tulips, just tucking them into the twigs and again securing them. So too with the green feathers, though perhaps in hindsight I should have placed those on the opposite side. Oh well, it’s a learning curve!  (And oops i forgot to take photos of both these steps - as i said...learning curve!)

Chiffon next, looping it around the mesh, tying it into the twigs.  Same too with the green ribbon.

I’m really pleased with my first attempt at copying something I’ve seen on Pinterest and it’s given me the confidence to keep learning and trying different ideas.

DROOL WORTHY PINTEREST

Hi everyone

Nearing the middle of the week. How's it going?

Pinterest is what has stopped me in my tracks this week. There are so many beautiful rooms and ideas out there, so inspiring and drool worthy!  I did a little research (call it procrastination!) on Pinterest the other day.  Oh my oh my.  Here are some which have left me drooling.

 Via Berengia.tumblr on pinterest

Boy is this a punch of color for a front door. Not sure if I like it, though I seem to have a thing for purple lately, but it sure does get your attention. However, I do love the front door basket with hydrangeas.

While I'm definitely a color gal, I do love this look, the bringing of nature inside, the wicker baset etc, and of course love me some curved legs.    This is from Dear Lillie 

Via French Charmed on Pinterest

Again, isn't it funny how I gravitate towards this monochromatic look when I vow I'm addicted to color.  It's making me think things - just a little.  But love that chandelier and the rustic door used for a headboard.  Remember that coffee grain sack I recently brought at the flea market.  I feel (another) cushion coming on perhaps!  

Via its-mademoiselle-love.tumblr  on Pinterest

It's blue, it's frilly, what's not to love!

Via Shades of Turquoise - pinterest

More blue.  You could call it an addiction. But I see these nesting tables all the time at the second hand shops and flea markets.  Gives a gal ideas!!!

Via Traditional Homes - pinterest

Love the mix of blue/patterns here.  Very restful.

Via Hung up on Wreaths - pinterest

Isn't this pretty.  Am now hunting out for a basket that's not too heavy to hang up.  Might try this for one of my wreaths of the month!

via bhg.com on Pinterest

Love the lanterns. Have been looking for a while for indoor lanterns for my lounge and entry way, but no luck.  If anyone is reading this and is from the Auckland region, and spies some, do let me know.

I HEART HEARTS

Hi everyone.

Hope you’ve had a great weekend. Down here it was lovely weather, but the bad bit was a flat tire on the freeway – scary – especially with a car load of teenage girls!

I thought to day I would show you the heart wall that is growing bigger above my computer in my home office.

Some years ago I realized I seemed to be collecting things with hearts. Not quite sure why, but they tugged at me in some way. 

Then my daughter gave me some embroidery in a heart, so I framed that.  She has done embroidery for years  - I showed you a cushion of hers a while back. 

So far I have a wooden heart that I brought in USA about 5 years ago.  Love the rustic-ness of it, and then the ceramic one below I think was a gift.

 Then to mix it up I’ve added a photo of The Family- it was taken a few years ago – I had no gray hair then LOL.

The believe I brought in a Christmas shop, but it’s never quite gotten onto the Christmas tree yet and the red cane heart was something I was meant to do for Christmas too.

The create word wooden cut out was from a local craft market.  Aren’t they great for little finds?  We have about 3 farmers markets and a flea market within about 15 minutes drive, so there’s lots of opportunity for rummaging for nick knacks.

The heart card holder came from one of those scrummy shops that you drool over and holds family photos of my parents and their wedding and my childhood. 

Lavender is probably my most favorite flower and this lavender wreath in a heart shape had no chance of escape and had to come home with me when I spied it at a garden center.

And of course the cane heart is that little bit of rustic farmhouse glam that I’m trying for (not sure if I’m succeeding, but hey it’s fun trying).

Do you collect? 

I must admit I’m trying NOT to collect so much stuff these days.  I think too much confuses life and the home and a home needs to breathe.

Jot me a comment and let me know what you love to collect or what you’ve let go!

Happy days.

Jane

EASTER CRAFTS

Hi everyone.

Hope you've had a fab weekend.  Are you home for Easter or traveling away?  It's fast approaching and my goal is to try and do some Easter crafts.  Now I'm not a crafter, but I am a wanna be crafter.    I really like wreaths, though I haven’t really made them before.  That’s going to change.  To get ideas of things to try I’ve been perusing Pinterest and found some major inspiration.  Isn't that such a fab site - you can lose hours and hours there.

So here's some ideas.

Find here

 Aren't the colors so pretty

Or this

Find Here

 I love the naturalness of this, really refreshing.

Or this

Find here

I'm in New Zealand and so it's autumn here, so these colors are really appropriate for right now.  

So with all this in mind, here I go.  I went to a local craft supply store and a dollar type store but couldn’t get the wire wreath ring I wanted, nor the deco mesh at a reasonable price, however, I’ve been told you can buy it online so I’ll have to check that out. If you know any good sites, let me know in the comments below

So here’s my effort. 

 I used silk autumn leaves plus tiny silk roses and had a go at making a bow.

I did want the flowers etc to be hanging on the left hand side, but found the balance didn't work when I hung it, and so it had a mind of its own.  Hanging it, now there was another lesson to learn. 

Our front door is a double opening door and has a lip at the top so an over the door wreath hanger won’t work – very frustrating.  However I’ve had great success with those Command hooks/picture hangers, I gave  them a go.  Lesson, make sure u use a bigger hook because the first one didn't stick more than about ten minutes, and hence required another trip to the store to get a bigger brute to hold this baby up.

The wreath is not quite Easter-y, but it's a wreath and it's on my front door and I LOVE IT.  So it's a step toward a home I love!

This is the first time I’ve done Easter decorating, and it’s been fun.  I’m not a natural crafter, but as I keep reminding myself it doesn’t have to be perfect.  

Enjoy!

Happy days

Jane