Edie Wadsworth

Thankful for Home

November 22, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 23 Comments

Like you, my next three days will be quite busy, baking and cleaning and decorating and such.
I wanted to pause this Monday morning and give thanks for this house.
This place of sanctuary from life’s troubles.
We are thankful for it and for the precious ones who dwell here with us.

Prayer for the Home:

Lord God, our home is among the most precious gifts we receive in this life.

We realize this all the more as we remember our Lord Jesus. He set aside home and family. Having no place to lay His head throughout His ministry, he chose to sojourn among those He came to save. We prayerfully invite Him to dwell in our earthly abode even as He continually invites us by Word and Sacrament to dwell forever in our heavenly home, which He prepares for us.

Make us ever grateful for this shelter from life’s storms.

Keep this house always the home of comfort, joy, peace, and forgiveness.

According to Your will, protect this home from the spiritual assaults of Satan, but likewise make our home a fortress against the calamities of nature and the wickedness of sinful man.

Grant us the virtue of hospitality, the joy of harmonious living, and the blessing of gathering around Your Word and bringing our families’ prayers before You.

May all who dwell in our home be blessed by Your presence and Your peace,

and may all who go forth give thanks for the grace they receive from You, through us, Your dear children

We receive Your loving kindness in our home as a reminder of the eternal home we inherit through Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.
Amen.
{prayer taken from the Lutheran prayer book which can be purchased at Concordia Publishing House.}

Sweet blessings on your home this Thanksgiving season.

What Amy Greene and The Avett Brothers have in common…..

November 18, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 37 Comments

If I were stranded alone on a deserted island and could only take the bare necessities with me, I’d take my espresso maker and my books.

I know what you’re thinking.

I’m gonna wish I had my toothbrush and my laptop. Okay, I’ll take those too.

If there’s one thing that I don’t like about hotel rooms or traveling in general, it’s that I don’t have all my books with me.

Maybe I’m inordinately attached to books.

But they’re so a part of who I am that I want them near.

I re-read parts of my favorite books all the time. Some of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes play like a melody in my head at the most serendipitous times.

If there’s anything that I hope to leave as a legacy to my children, it would be a love for reading good books.

It was recently pointed out to me by a facebook friend that I seem to only read male writers. So, I promptly surveyed my nightstand and various bookshelves and it’s true. I seem to be quite partial to the boys. But in my defense, I like theology and classics and historical fiction, a large percentage of which are written by men. I do have a few favorite female authors that I truly respect, like Geraldine Brooks, Louisa May Alcott and JK Rowling. As a matter of fact, J.K. Rowling may be singlehandedly responsible for giving me back my childhood by teaching me to love fantasy.
(side note: we are huge Harry Potter fans and are going to see The Deathly Hallows tomorrow, on opening day at 12:30. And before you send me hate mail, please read this post and listen to these podcasts—very eye opening about the disservice done to Rowling by the christian community)

Enter Amy Greene.

Amy is the author of this year’s new bestseller Bloodroot. She was also recently awarded Tennessee’s Writer of the Year award AND named as one of Amazon’s debut fiction writers this year. I was fortunate enough to meet Amy a few weeks ago at our local fall festival at a book signing. Several of my friends had told me that I HAD to read her book, that I’d love it—but when I met Amy, I had yet to read it so I bought a signed book and read it within a few days. For a little backstory, it’s a book about growing up in Appalachia, with plenty of ‘dark and twisty’ truth thrown in. There’s so much I wanna say about the book but I’ll do it by way of an email I sent Amy, who has since graciously agreed to come to my bookclub in January!!! (she lives ten minutes from me, btw)

I’ve been devouring your book just as fast as my little ones will let me steal away. I woke up at 4a this morning and couldn’t wait to get back to the story.
It happens to me every now and then with a book or some music—–that soul-stirring that makes you squirm a little and lays bear your own vulnerabilities in a way that can’t be conjured up…….Your writing has had a similar effect on me as when I first listened to the Avett Brothers’ music. It has forever changed me and how I see the world. It validates my years of pain. It speaks healing and acceptance to the darkness that lingers near. I won’t be the same.
So thank you for truth, which leads us all closer to home.
Your newest adoring fan,
Edie

At bookclub tomorrow, I get to tell my friends that Amy Greene, in the flesh, is coming to my house for book discussion. How cool is that? Maybe we’ll even skype some of you in to join us too.

You should definitely read the book and bear in mind that for many folks, life has had it’s share of the dark and twisty.

And that brings me to my final point. At bookclub tomorrow, during this, our poetry semester, we’re bringing lyrics to two of our favorite songs for discussion. I am a fiend for song lyrics. I knew right away that for one of my songs, I’d bring ‘Head Full of Doubt-Road Full of Promise’ by the Avett Brothers. I’ll even take the liberty to say, since it’s only my opinion anyways, that this song is a lyrical interpretation of Bloodroot. And perhaps in some ways, my own little life for that matter.

So, I’d be EVER so interested to know some of your thoughts on this song, its’ lyrics, its’ meaning.

Or else tell me your favorite song (lyrics) and why. Just so ya know, if you pick Justin Bieber or Lil’ Wayne, and you’re not under 15, we may have to renegotiate the rules of our friendship. Amen.

It would probably be fair to say that many of the artists’ I have mentioned have been criticized for the ‘darkness’ they portray. But those of us who’ve wrestled with real darkness in our hearts and in our past, can say with all boldness that the darkness cannot be faced unless it is acknowledged and brought to light. I’m proud of those who have helped us to ‘see it’.

What do Amy Greene and The Avett Brothers and JK Rowling, for that matter, have in common? They are gifted artists who speak truth in powerful ways.

And truth leads us all closer to home.

There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it

When nothing is owed or deserved or expected
And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected
If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

There’s a darkness upon you that’s flooded in light
And in the fine print they tell you what’s wrong and what’s right
And it flies by day and it flies by night
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it

There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it

P.S. I’m in the process of setting up an affiliates program with Amazon of things I like. I’ve added Bloodroot so far. If you click to buy the book here, Amazon will send me 3 cents. Or so.

Thanksgiving Banner, Take Two

November 16, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 36 Comments

I think I’ve got a crafting hangover. I need some motrin and a day to sleep it off. But what do I do instead? I make us (you and me) a pdf file of last years’ Thanksgiving banner. I liked it so much, I’m using it again. And I wanted to share with you. Because that’s the kind of girl I am. You can call me Edie McCraftster. Just say it softly. Only, when I tried to make the documents, Google Documents wouldn’t let me share the file with the world wide web. It’s as if Google Documents is in cahoots with my sewing machine trying to make my life miserable. Why don’t things work like they’re s’posed to? But then I figured out the problem and all was right with the world again. So here is my early Thanksgiving present to you.

{Make sure you continue to visit my lovely friends who brought us the wonderful tutorials. Tutorials are a lot of work and I’m so thankful for all of them. I’m thinking of having a linky party in a couple weeks where we feature the stuff we’ve made using the tutorials, so get busy!}

The pdf files for the letter are here for you to download and print.
G in Give
I in Give
V in Give
E in Give

T in Thanks
H in Thanks
A in Thanks
N in Thanks
K in THanks
S in THanks

Disclaimer: These pictures were taken in the ever sentimental turquoise kitchen, partly for Elizabeth’s sake (I don’t think she’s forgiven me for moving!), and mostly because I can’t find my stapler to hang them in my lake cottage kitchen. My Thanksgiving preparations are well underway. I made Paula Deen’s pumpkin pie, along with Martha Stewart’s red velvet cupcakes this weekend. I’ll be making more desserts this week along with some casseroles this weekend. I hope to share my some of my goodies with you.

I’ve also dyed my tablecloth an alluring shade of blue for the festivities. This is the year of blue in case you haven’t noticed! And I’m working on getting my dessert table (which is presently loaded full of school books) presentable along with my makeshift bar re-stocked. I’m making the final changes to my menu and will print it sometime this week (I’ll share) and plan to gather the supplies to make my placecards.

Why all the flurry now? So that when the day comes, I can truly enjoy my family (all 20 something of them) and take a deep breaths and be thankful.

Hope your week is off to an enchanting and thankful start!

lots of love,

ms. edie

ps. I’ve listened to this sermon three times—well, four counting the first time I heard it live. The whole thing is amazing, the last 7 minutes is epic. Unbelievable delivery of the gospel from an Old Testament passage. The perfect illustration of Jesus’ own words, “These are the scriptures that testify of me.” How even the Old Testament, every book, is about Christ. The Bible is not a book primarily about how we are to live. It is a story of redemption. Won for us all and freely given in Christ. It’s worth a listen or four. Credit to Pastor Paul Bushur from First Lutheran Church Knoxville who knows how to bring it.

12 Days Handmade Christmas Tutorials Encore!|Day 13 Inspiration Necklaces and Silhouette Pins

November 13, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 16 Comments

Good Morning Peeps! It’s SATurday and I’m up at the crack of dawn because I’m can never sleep in and I’m so mischievous because guess what???!!! There’s one more day! This is like the surprise party you’ve always been waiting for. So enjoy this encore to the ’12 Days’ because you’re in for a treat—— it’s a twofer! First we have my real life friend and latin teacher to my girls, Susan. She’s so full of talent, that girl. She makes all kinds of jewelry and lots of other fun stuff. I’m always tempted to cancel latin and just craft with her instead. And sometimes I do. I’m so happy to introduce you to her, her blog and her etsy shop. And then there’s my sweet blog friend Molly, who has been so encouraging to me over the past two years. She’s a faithful friend/reader/blogger and has some silhouette pins to share with us.

If you’re new to the ’12 Days’, you may visit the previous days by clicking on the day you of your choice:

Day 1 Crayon Roll

Day 2 Zippered Pouches

Day 3 Appliqued Placemats

Day 4 Quilted Potholders

Day 5 Camera Strap

Day 6 Embellished Dish Towels

Day 7 Bean Bags

Day 8 Alphabet Crayons

Day 9 Silhouettes

Day 10 Cinnamon Honey Butter and Toffee Popcorn

Day 11 Rosette Wreath

Day 12 Picnic Blanket

Hello there, my name is Susan Harms over at Create in Me. I am so tickled to be a part of Edie’s 12 days of Christmas this year! I tutor her precious daughters in Latin, but I also work at a local Classical Christian School where I am the part-time 1st Grade Aide. In my not so spare time I like to craft, sew and make jewelry. Come visit me and my stuff over at my ETSY shop.

Edie asked me several weeks ago if I would be interested in doing this tutorial; I was delighted because it actually involved something I have never made before. Always ready for a new challenge I got to work. I must say though that this was a major collaboration. I can’t take full credit for all of this work. It was great fun taking a break from Latin and putting this together. Edie took all of these wonderful pictures and I have attempted to put this tutorial together.

It is so incredibly simple, and the best part about it is that you can customize it and give it a totally different look if you want. (But why would you, it is so gorgeous!)

First you will need:

and

(please note in the picture that I accidentally got split rings, you need regular jump rings, about 5-6mm in size)

The bezel we used and the dimond glaze were purchaced at Bello Modo (they have free shipping). We really liked the bamboo look on it. But I was at Hobby Lobby today and they have greatly expanded their Vintaj selection and they have some great bezels there that are more simple.

If you want the bamboo looking bezel go HERE and HERE for the diamond glaze.

You will also need to pick out your favorite scrapbook paper and favorite font to print your favorite quote directly onto the pretty paper. You may need to play around a bit with it as far as knowing what size font to use that will fit in the circle. The font we used is “pyparus”. The quote I picked, is from a Steven Curtis Chapman song I will be Here that I had sung at my wedding. If you got married in 1991 you probably had that song at your wedding too. Have a listen, it is so beautiful and it makes me smile, because I still feel like I can sing that song to him every day, I also can almost hear him sing it to me.

Well, enough romance and on we go.

First you need to cut out your paper. This circle is 1 3/8 inch. But you can use a pencil or even just your fingernail to trace around it.

Take your Mod Podge and paint a thin layer onto your bezel

then place the paper over that and paint another thin layer on top to seal it. Be careful to use very little Mod Podge or the paper will bubble up.

Let that dry. We were impatient and waited just a few minutes, if the layer is thin enough that should do, but it might be better to wait a couple of hours.

Next, take the diamond glaze and fill in the bezel till it’s about to overflow.

VERY IMPORTANT

DO NOT SHAKE THE DIAMOND GLAZE

If you shake you will have all kinds if bubbles and they are next to impossible to pop. (not that we would have any experience that would let us know that *wink*)

Let dry overnight.

To assemble:

1. take the jump ring and open with pliers

(if you don’t have any, see if you can find any needle nose plyers around the house, you can make it work, or get your 40% off coupon to Hobby Lobby and get you a cheap set. If you ever want to make more stuff it is totally worth it.)

2. Slide it through bezel loop and close back. As you bring the two ends of the jumpring together rub and push in slightly.

3. Slide your chain through jump ring attached to bezel.

4. Get you another jump ring and open to slip onto the end of your chain.

5. On the other side of the chain attach another jump ring with your clasp on it.

6. Close jump ring.

Isn’t it gorgeous?

BUT WAIT! THERE IS MORE!!!!!!!

How would you like one of these?

I bought my glass tiles on ETSY, whoever sells those will probably also have Aanraku Bails.

Paint your Mod podge onto the tile, then put a thin layer on the paper and attach to the flat back of the tile so the picture is facing down.

Now paint a thin coat of mod podge on the back and let dry overnight.

You will then glue on the bail with the E6000. Make sure it is centered well.

Let that dry overnight as well.

The possibilities are endless. The bail hole is large so you can pull just about any chain or cord through to wear.

Let me add that you can also make these with fabric. Follow same steps.

Happy Crafting! Your mother, sister, niece or friend will love it!

Thanks Edie for the invite and for all of your help. Everyone else, I can’t wait to meet you, pull up a chair and come visit often!!

Susan

Silhouette Pins

Hello! I’m Molly from material gal molly, the blog, and I am really excited to be in Edie’s 12 Days of Handmade Christmas! I love anything and everything about Christmas! A little about me… I live on a “funny” farm with my husband, we have 50 chickens, 4 dogs, 5 ducks, 1 goose, our pet rooster Scotty and a hermit crab that lives in my husbands office. My husband wants a little of everything living with us, ha ha! I also make unique wonky jewelry during the day that I sell at craft fairs and to the old ladies at my mom’s beauty shop. I love church and Jesus and children and hope the Lord blesses me with a slew of them soon! Now on to the tute!

Ok you will need to gather up your supplies.

You need:

Black felt

Felt in Assorted colors

Needle and Thread

Embroidery floss

Embellishments ( lace, pearls, seed beads, ric rac, etc )

Sew on pin back

Metallic or printed fabric

Scissors

Silhouette Templates ( I got mine from the Graphics Fairy, click here or here, but you could use your own )

Here is a picture of the silhouette templates from the graphics fairy. They are really cute! I used the one with the hat for the little girls and the other two for my mom and sister.

Step one: Pin your silhouette template to your black felt and cut around the edges.
Step two: Embellish your silhouette with lace, beads, whatever you fancy!
Step three: Cut out a large circle or oval in a contrasting color using felt. This will be part of the backing so you want the silhouette to fit nicely inside.
Step four: Now sew your pin back on the circle or oval you just cut out.
Step five: After you have finished sewing your pin back on, cut out another piece of fabric in a smaller size circle or oval. I like to use either metallic fabric or polka dots for contrast.
Step six: Place the smaller circle or oval you just cut out over top of the first circle or oval you cut out. Now sew a straight stitch around the edges in a contrasting color. I like to use embroidery floss because it is chunky.
Step seven: Now sew the edges of the silhouette onto your base. Use black thread or embroidery floss.

Your silhouette should look like this after you are finished.

Here is another silhouette just without the backing. I hide the thread from sewing the pin back on with ric rac and then add a little rosette or sparkly to her hair.

Last Christmas I gave these to all the girls in my family and they were a hit! My mom wore hers on her winter coat and my sister put hers on her purse. You really can wear these little ladies anywhere!

I hope you have enjoyed this tute as much as I have. Thank you Edie for letting me take part in your Christmas series and for letting me be part of your fabulous blog!

~ Gal Molly

12 Days Handmade Christmas Tutorials|Day 12 Picnic Blanket

November 12, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 39 Comments

If you’re new to the ’12 Days’, you may visit the previous days by clicking on the day you of your choice:

Day 1 Crayon Roll

Day 2 Zippered Pouches

Day 3 Appliqued Placemats

Day 4 Quilted Potholders

Day 5 Camera Strap

Day 6 Embellished Dish Towels

Day 7 Bean Bags

Day 8 Alphabet Crayons

Day 9 Silhouettes

Day 10 Cinnamon Honey Butter and Toffee Popcorn

Day 11 Rosette Wreath

It has been a wonderful ’12 Days’ and although I’m sad to see it end, I can’t think of a better grand finale than my sweet and funny friend Darby from Fly Through Our Window. I was her number one blog stalker last year when I decided to ask her to be part of the first ’12 Days’ series. She was so gracious to do not one but two tutorials last year! (dishmat and Christmas tags) I have used both of them to death and more importantly have begun to cultivate a friendship that has so enriched my life. And just to give you a sense of her personality, when I asked her a picture of her to introduce her for the tutorial, this is what she sent me. I nearly spit my coffee onto my computer. This my friends is Darby-Doll and you’ll need to visit the blog to see all of her various adventures. See why I love her? I can’t thank her enough for all the hard work she put into this tutorial. I am forever grateful. I hope she’ll agree to teach us every year!

And now for a proper introduction (strikingly similar to last years’!)………..

Please make welcome the ever gifted Darby from Fly Through Our Window. Her blog is a treasure of great resources from how to make crock pot apple butter {which I’m currently eating} to how to make a professional looking roman shade. Through her exquisite photography, we get to ‘fly through her window’ and be blessed by her mother-love, her refreshing perspective on being a follower of Christ and her abundant tips and tutorials on all things ‘home’. She is the mother of three adorable children, wife to Justin–her college sweetheart and archeologist, a member of a PCA church {her motto is ‘I’m a big sinner with a bigger Saviour’}, twin sister to Erika {interior designer—whose blog I also love} and we are so blessed she has opened her life to us through her wonderful blog. Darby also recently opened an online shop with the cutest toddler tees evah! Check it out at Honey Bees Tees!

When Edie asked me to contribute I knew I wanted to make something using the vintage Marimekko curtain panels that I found at a thrift store over a year ago {for $4} I just wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do with them. I was going to make a “Santa Bag” out of them to put the kids Christmas presents in but it saddened me to think about seeing the bright colored trains only once a year… so something more “useful” was definitely in order, and that is how I came up with this. It would make a perfect gift for your own family or for loved ones you might need a “family gift for”!

Here’s a little disclaimer before I begin. I had a friend here while I worked one day {and I just might have put her to work too, trimming selvages and fusing the fleece to the fabric} and she asked, “Darby, please tell me you are not going to tell your blog readers this is easy?” Well, because she’ll call me out if I tell y’all this is easy… I better say it’s an intermediate sewing project that might require a babysitter or helpful husband to watch the kids. There are really no difficult sewing techniques required, it is just a little involved time wise. That way no one cusses me when they think they can crank out a picnic blanket in 30 minutes! Ok, good.

The finished blanket is really BIG {88″ wide x 63″ tall} and perfect for picnics. It has a top layer {trains for me}, a layer of fusible fleece in the middle, and a sturdy layer of {fun & blue} ticking stripe on the bottom and is complete with coordinating ties so it’s easy to transport to and from your favorite picnic spot. You may choose what ever fabric you like but I do suggest something a little more stable {like a lightweight canvas, ticking stripe, or upholstery weight for the bottom}. Be sure to watch sales at your fabric stores because the ticking stripe was 1/2 off and I bought nearly 4 yards for just $16!

alldone

Before I start: PINS ladies PINS… they make your sewing neater and easier {especially with layers}… don’t omit them! 🙂

Here’s what you’ll need:

3.5 yards of 44″ wide fabric for the top of the blanket {I used trains}

3.5 yards of 44″ wide fabric for the bottom of the blanket {I used blue ticking stripe}

1/4 yard of 44″ wide fabric for coordinating ties {I used red gingham}

3.5 yards of 44″ wide fusible fleece

1: prewash and dry all fabric and trim off selvages
2: Measure down 63 inches on the top piece of fabric and cut all the way across the width. This will leave you with 2 pieces of fabric 63″ x 44″. Do the same with the bottom piece of fabric.
3: Take the two top pieces of fabric and place them on top of each other with right sides together {doing your best to match up any pattern that might be on your fabric, which also might require you to trim the tops and bottoms once you’re all lined up}. Using straight pins pin down one of the {63″} sides {right or left side it doesn’t matter, just don’t stitch along the top or bottom} and straight stitch. Press seam open.

top panel

4: Repeat step 3 for the bottom piece of fabric, doing your best to line up any pattern the fabric may have.
5: Now you should have two pieces of fabric that measure 63″ x 88″, one will be your top and one will be your bottom.
6: Following the instructions on the fusible fleece, iron the fusible fleece to the wrong side of the bottom fabric.
fusiblefleece2

fusible fleece1

7: Lay the fused bottom fabric and top fabric right sides together– don’t pin and stitch yet… you need to make and insert your ties!

rightsides together

8: To make your ties: First, trim off the selvages on the end. Cut 2 pieces of fabric 4″ x 44″. Fold in half and press. Fold the top down towards your center crease about 3/4″ and press and then press the bottom up 3/4″ and then fold in half again and press. Tuck both ends under and pin all the way down the length of the tie and stitch completely around… both ends should be finished because you will fold your long ties in half when tucked into the blanket seam.

ties

j end of ties

: Place your ties {folded in half} between the layers of the blanket on the top right hand corner of your fabric measuring down 4.5″ and then place the second folded ties 10.5″ down from the top.

10: Pin the ties in place {they should be lying inside the blanket and the folded edges lined up with the outer edge of the blanket layers}.

11: Pin all the way around the entire blanket, leaving a 5 inch space {for an opening to pull the blanket through on one side} on one side.

12: Using a straight stitch and 1/2″ seam allowance {and a WALKING FOOT if you have one} stitch around the entire blanket {don’t forget to leave an opening to pull it through!!}

stitch

13: Trim off corners and cut seam allowances down to 1/4″, pull through opening in side. Now that you’re right side out press all the way around, pinning as you go. trimseamallowances

c hole
pressandpin

14: Using about a 3/8″ seam allowance top stitch around the entire blanket.
15: Hand or machine stitch the opening where you pulled through because it will gape a little at the edge.

stitchholeclosed

16: Now you will need to tack or tie your layers together. You cannot quilt it at this point so do not attempt to sew straight line stitches through the layers… even with a lot of pins and a walking foot… it is nearly impossible. You will want to place LOTS of safety pins {safety, not straight… they’ll poke you to death, I know because I tried} all over your blanket {being sure to pin all 3 layers together}.

safetypin

17: Next, before tacking/tying the quilt together I stiched in the ditch down the center seam, this gives you good stability before you tack/tie the rest.

stitch in center ditch

eyelet

18: My machine has a little “eyelet” stitch that is perfect for tacking layers together. You can also tie your blanket layers together at this point if you do not wish to machine tack it together. I put an eyelet stitch in each wheel on the trains {and yes, it took a long time but I am very pleased with how it came out}. If you use a floral fabric or something with a pattern you might can outline random flowers with a straight stitch or use a stitch similar to the eyelet to tack the layers together. Once it’s all tacked together you are complete and ready for your picnic!

finished1

Here are more images of how to fold/roll the blanket up!

ties2

folded1

foldedagain

folded3 rollandtie

12 Days Handmade Christmas Tutorials|Day 11 Rosette Wreath

November 11, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 15 Comments

If you’re new to the ’12 Days’, you may visit the previous days by clicking on the day you like:

Day 1 Crayon Roll

Day 2 Zippered Pouches

Day 3 Appliqued Placemats

Day 4 Quilted Potholders

Day 5 Camera Strap

Day 6 Embellished Dish Towels

Day 7 Bean Bags

Day 8 Alphabet Crayons

Day 9 Silhouettes

Day 10 Cinnamon Honey Butter and Toffee Popcorn

How can it already be day 11? Aren’t you sad that it’s almost over? Me too. But I’m so excited about today’s guest poster. Laura blogs at Along for the Ride and has so many fun projects that I know you’ll want to try. And when I saw her rosette wreath, I knew you’d love it as much as I do. I can’t wait to try one. Make sure to visit her blog for lots of inspiration. Thanks Laura for being with us today!

Hello! I’m Laura from along for the ride. I’m so excited to be sharing this tutorial with you! Earlier in the fall I made my all-time favorite wreath. It’s a super easy tutorial and is easily adapted for any season.

First, gather your supplies.

You will need a wreath form (dollar store!), two colors of fall fabric, glue gun, glue sticks, scissors, and acorns (or any kind of natural elements…pine cones would be pretty, too).

Choose one color to wrap around the wreath form, cut out strips of fabric (mine were about 3 inches wide) and go to town. Use hot glue to attach the fabric strips.

Set your wreath base aside and start making rosettes. There’s lots of ways to do this, so feel free to customize. This is what I did.

I wanted most of my rosettes to be orange with a few baby yellow ones. I cut out long, thick strips (about 2-3 inches) of orange fabric and a couple little strips of yellow fabric.

To make rosettes, tie a knot at the end of the strip, start wrapping and twisting the fabric around the knot, and glue as you go along. It’s very simple once you get the hang out it.

So make a rosette. And then make lots more.

I made large orange rosettes, small orange rosettes, and baby yellow rosettes. The size depends more on the thickness of your fabric than on the length.

Now that you have your acorns and rosettes, it’s time to assemble your wreath. There is no real science here. I just arranged things so it looked pretty. I’m a fan of off-set flowers, but you could fill the entire wreath with rosettes if you wanted, or you could just use a few. I used hot glue to secure all my elements.