Dryer Duct Wreath

I recently saw this mason jar wreath on Pinterest:

Pinterest

I think it looks really cool, but I don't have that many old mason jar lids, nor do I know where to find them.  I've had a "Q" shaped wreath that was covered in moss hanging on the chapel door when we got married that I've wanted to use for a while.  I wanted to do something different with it and this was a great inspiration.  I looked around in the home improvement section of Wal-Mart today and saw a dryer vent hose.  I remembered we had some we didn't use in our laundry room cabinet and got excited.  So, I covered the wreath this afternoon!

This is the wreath I started with:

I had two different dryer ducts we weren't using.  I ended up only using the one on the left. (another project later for the one on the right?)

I cut the duct down the center and pulled it apart at the seams:

Then I wrapped it around the wreath and squeezed it into place.

And here's what I ended up with:

I think I'll add a little something to it for Christmas, but here it is on the door for now:

Is it too early to start decorating for Christmas?

I haven't decided my answer to that question yet.  But it surely isn't too early to start sewing for Christmas! I made this pillow cover a few days ago and I wanted to share.  I think I'm going to cover all my sofa throw pillows for Christmas this year.  Pictures to come when I finish that.

As for my exciting announcement from the last post... well, it fell through.  But I am using the Christmas fabric from this post to make lots of Christmas goodies, which is lots of fun.  More projects to come, I just want to share my first since I have been a little "blog quiet" for a while.   


Here's a closer photo of the pillow:

So, what do you think?  When do you start decorating? 

Sneak Peak

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

 

...and I may have a few projects up my sleeves...  I also have an exciting announcement coming next week!  I can't wait to share!  (But I will.  :)  I have to finish working out the details.)  Check back next week to find out.  

Happy Thursday!

Getting Organized

We always seem to have paper everywhere.  I'm not really even sure where it comes from, but I know it gets on my nerves.  So, I decided we needed a designated place to put things that need to be dealt with besides the dining table.  That's where I got the idea for this mail pocket/cork board.






I started with some planks from a wood pallet.

I cleaned them and played with the arrangement.    Then I nailed them together.

Next I cut a piece of sheet metal I had from a project I did several years ago.  I folded over and hammered the edges so they wouldn't be sharp.  Then I worked on the placing of the pocket.

Next I place a plank on the bottom, so the papers won't fall through, and nailed it into place.

I had to have Justin help me nail the metal to the sides of the boards.  I kept bending nails... he was awesome.

Next, I used a staple gun to attach the cork to the back of the planks.  Then I hot glued a "Q" I had painted yellow to go with the other yellow accents in our house.  Then, I glued a magnet to some yo-yos I had made and put it on the metal.

Here it is on the wall:

Here it is already in use!

Message Board

In my quest to make our house look like we live here I've been doing several projects.  This is one I just finished.  I used another frame from the estate auction I went to a little over a year ago (see here, here, here, and here).  I really got a lot of awesome junk from there!  Anyway, I took out the glass, then cleaned it and the frame.

Then I covered the cardboard backing with fabric and put it all back together. 

I think it turned out pretty well.  It will be a great place for Justin and I to leave sweet messages and reminders for each other.  Here it is in its new home:

I'm still working on a cute way to attach the marker... more to come on that.  The cross is from this post. 

Cross

I've been working on a few projects from wood pallets.  This is the simplest one and the first one completed.  I just pulled apart some of the planks, cleaned, and primed them.  Then I painted the planks in layers, sanded them, and nailed them together.

Here's how it turned out:

Felted Wool Brooches For Freddie

Freddie

One of my best friends moved half way around the world almost 4 months ago.  So, I wanted to send her a happy.  She mentioned seeing some felted wool brooches she thought were cool at a market and I thought I could make them.  I went to the 4 Cs in Clinton and bought two old 100% wool sweaters.  I didn't take a picture of them before I cut them up, which I hate, but imagine huge gold buttons and shoulder pads.  After cutting out the zippers, buttons, and shoulder pads, I washed the fabric on hot and dried it on high heat.  I did this a few times to achieve felting that I liked.  I twisted up the seaming to make the rose looking brooch above and hot glued it to a circle I cut out of the felted fabric.  Here's a close up:

For the next one I used the first yo-yo I made.  I sewed it to a felted fabric circle and glued a button on top.  This one may be my favorite:

Freddie sent me some pictures of the brooches on her garments:

For the third one I cut circles of felted wool and cotton fabric, stitched them together, and stitched around the outside of the felt.  I then covered a button and glued it on top.  Here's a picture I took of all three of  them before I shipped them off to Australia:

I love making things for friends.  It makes it that much more fun.  What can I make for you?