The Wreath in my Blog Header-tutorial

 

     I have had several comments about the wreath in my blog header. I thought I would show you how it all came together. I don't really have a plan when I start one of these...I just know that I don't like things to be all "matchy, matchy" and so I put things on a wreath in a random way. For this fairly large wreath, I used 2 large hydrangea bushes (one blue, one green) that I took apart, separating the greenery from the blossom stems. I also used about a dozen white hydrangea blossoms. I used almost my entire bolt of blue burlap wired ribbon and about half of a larger bolt of green ribbon.

 

    I wanted to add a white birdhouse, but I didn't find one that was the right size...so, I bought the one above and pulled out my Annie Sloan paint and gave it a coat of white first and then trimmed the flower opening in a robin's egg blue.

 

 

     My first step is always to place some background greens on the wreath (an old wreath that I stripped the flowers and old glue off of). You will notice that the right side is an ivy and the left side has leaves...as I said, I don't like things to be symmetrical when it comes to florals...live ones or silk ones. After they are in place, I attach them with a glue gun.

 

     My next step was to add the white blossoms. I scattered them in singles and pairs around the wreath (and forgot to take a picture). The blue and green blossoms (some with leaves) were added next and then the glue gun was used to attach them. I didn't worry about spaces as I knew the ribbons would be filling in gaps.

 

     When using two colors of ribbon, I like to make my bow by using both colors, layered together as I make the loops. When the bow is complete, I simple pull the loops in opposite directions so that the colors mix together well and both colors show. You can see how to make a bow on one of my older posts-click here. Placing one large bow off to the side and letting the streamers go both up and down creates a more professional look. I always put a few "ruffles" in the streamers and touch the glue gun in a few random spots to hold them in place.

 

 

 

     Another "floral secret" is to cut a smaller piece of ribbon and pinch the middle to create a little insert. Touch the pinched point with the glue gun and insert one or more into the wreath.

 

     I actually had some sticks to add to come out the top, but I forgot to put them on the wreath. This hangs on a wall above our open stairway to the basement and I have to walk very carefully along a ledge with my husband behind me to catch me to hang it...I'm not taking it down and fixing it at this point! If you enlarge the picture, you can get a better idea of the random ribbon pieces that add that florist touch that you don't often think to do on a homemade wreath. Ribbon truly is the key to how a wreath turns out. You can make a beautiful wreath out of almost any greenery or flower, but don't skimp on your ribbon...use wired ribbon and lots of it!

 

 

I am joining Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

 

 

And the colors are...

 

     Most of you know about my color "themes" at Christmas, but I confess that I also seem to do the same thing for spring/summer too. It usually starts with a piece of ribbon (I love ribbon) and I just go from there. It certainly doesn't mean that I buy all new things for the changing of the season. Part of the reason I write this blog is to help others realize that you can use things you already have without buying anything new...or at least spending very little money. This year, it was the blue burlap and the green check that called my name. More to come!

 

 

     The photo below has nothing to do with the post, I just thought it was interesting. I wanted to take a picture of the full moon tonight and this is what I ended up with. Don't you just love polka dots?

 

 

Small Changes Make A Big Difference

 

     I usually like to wait until October 1st to put Halloween decorations out in my home, but this year I decided that if the boxes were already out with the fall items, I'd just go ahead and put it all out. My lack of decorating motivation lately made me realize that if I was in the mood to do it...I'd better take advantage of the moment (it might pass quickly). 

 

 

     My goal this year was to use what I already had. I did replace the candles and the leaves around the mirror, but other than that my only new purchases were the florals in the urn on the library table. I just couldn't resist all that sparkle!

 

 

You can see how bright the sun was as

I took the pictures. They are a little washed out because

of all that brightness, but I do love a sunny, fall day!

 

     A small decorating tip for this time of year is to cover books used for stacking with brown paper. I used a paper grocery bag to "hide" the colorful book covers that clashed so badly with all the orange, black and burgandy items. Tied with a simple ribbon, they blend much better with everything else.

 

A little fall, a little Halloween and the house has

an entirely different feel to it with very little effort!

 

Have a great weekend!

Here Comes Fall!

 

     Well, obviously it has been a little while since I have posted anything! Blogger has changed and this time I don't think we can go back to the "old" way of writing our blog posts. I guess I will get used to it, but at this moment...I'm a little lost!

 

     I've taken a bit of a blogging break. I have no excuse, just life getting to me and taking away my creativity. I can't exactly say that I'm suddenly inspired, but I am trying. Over the next few days I hope to catch up with those of you who have been inspired to write. 

 

      Fall is almost here and our temperatures reflect it. Today I actually opened the windows and turned off the air for most of the day. I'm gradually adding a few fall things around the house. I grabbed a wreath from last year and stripped everything off of it (see above).

 

     I really wanted a very full, thick wreath to hang over the stairway this year. I started layering every fall flower I had in my stash, along with a few leaves and twigs. My plan was to actually fill the center as well, but I ran out of flowers and I was determined to make this one out of only things I already had in the house. I'm using more burgandy and deep rust this year, with less orange.

 

Along with the cooler temperatures we have

been having some beautiful sky art.

 

     We enjoyed the 19th annual Corvette Funfest here last weekend. It is always fun to stroll around the grounds and see the cars, enjoy the food and listen to the music. There are Corvettes all over town and parked at Mid America Motorworks (the host of the event) as far as the eye can see.

 

 

 

     We also celebrated Zoe's first birthday! I bought her Paws dog ice cream (it isn't really ice cream) and a new toy. Within just a few minutes she had eaten the ice cream, thrown up and then chewed the toy to bits and we had to throw it away. So much for that celebration! She is calming down a bit in her old age. She still wants to chew on things, but she does drop them now when we look at her. She is absolutely spoiled rotten!

 

 

 

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. 

Albert Camus

 

Front Porch Color

     I am just getting started turning my front porch into spring. I can't do much yet because we are waiting to get some concrete work done and I'll just have to move everything. Our front step started sinking about a year ago and it has finally become not only ugly, but dangerous. So, we are getting a new step...did you know that one new concrete step is $500? Thankfully, I'm not getting a new driveway!

     I usually do the outside of my house in pinks, purples and whites for spring and summer. Some years I have used all red and white. Maybe it was all the sunshine and the early warm weather, but this year I feel like using bright yellows, peach, white and green. So, I started with the above wreath. I so rarely use anything orange that I didn't have anything else to tie it all together and I didn't want to spend much money doing so.

I found this leafy wreath in the sale room

 of a local gift shop. It was about $20.

If you look closely, you can see that it is

a twig wreath with large leaves attached.

     I also bought one bush of bright yellow, orange and greens for $8.99. I like to buy silk flowers in bushes when I'm going to make a project. You get so much more for your money and you simply cut it apart and use the leaves, flowers, buds and all.

     I simply used my glue gun to attach the flowers randomly onto the wreath. I wasn't going for a designer wreath look to hang on a door, I just wanted to add a bit of color to coordinate with my large wreath that I could put on the other side of the porch. I will add more color with pots in various shades filled with flowers in bright yellows, whites and peaches but it is still too early for live plants here.

I'm not sure what else will be sitting in my chair...

but for now, this is as far as I've gotten.

     We are getting ready to start a fairly big project around here. We have been gathering new things for the master bathroom, which isn't really very big but we will be taking up the tile floor and putting in new tile (what is in there is too slick for a bathroom), painting, replacing the vanity and mirror, new lighting, granite and faucets...so, I've had to remove everything from the room. Ugh. This is gonna get messy!

Bouquet Beauty

Susan, our wonderful hostess for Tablescape Thursday

has just experienced a tragedy in her family.

I hope you will visit her and offer her some support and prayers.

     I frequently get asked what inspires a tablescape. It can be anything. I might find a bargain at a garage sale, I may find a deal on something at a favorite store or I may have a beautiful bouquet of flowers that I want to share. Today's tablescape came from all of the above, but mostly from the gorgeous flowers. During the warm months, we have a Mennonite family that sets up a trailer with fresh produce on weekends. Last Saturday, when I stopped for my weekly supply of tomatoes, watermelon and corn...I saw these stunning flowers. They were fresh picked Saturday morning and they were $6. I had to have them. I don't do that very often, but they were just outstanding.

I decided to use them to set the table for our Labor Day dinner.

     Starting with round green placemats, I used my American Atelier Bianca Leaf Square plates as chargers. I topped them with floral dinner plates that are only marked "Fine China" and salad plates from 10 Strawberry Street. Rose colored flatware goes well with both the china and the fresh flowers.

My husband found this set of tiny sherberts? at a garage sale.

He paid 25 cents for four of them.

I could immediately picture them full of fruit.

     I wanted to use my new Pottery Barn hummingbird napkin rings. Our yard is full of hummingbirds right now. They were a recent sale purchase for $1.67 each!

     White napkins and runner, crystal candlesticks and votives, pink wine goblets and I'm done with the table. With flowers this beautiful, you don't need much else on the table.

I used a simple white pitcher as a vase.

On the menu: Apple Salad with Feta (recipe soon)

Ribeye Steaks

Fresh Sweet Corn

Fresh Fruit with Custard Sauce (recipe tomorrow)

I am joining Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.