DIY Willow Wreath...

The countdown to Christmas is truly underway, 
have you been doing any planning?
I thought I had better get a move on with that,
 so I sat down  with pen and notepad, and planned away!
Every year I have a colour theme,
and this year it will be the traditional red, dark green and white.
I'm going to make book page butterflies,
Scotty dog decorations in white felt,
and a decorated wreath.
Those bits will go nicely with the felt reindeer made last year,
and all the other Christmasy things,
 I have made or collected over the years.
Don't you just LOVE Christmas?
When do you decorate your house?
Are you like me and decorate in the first week of December?
The large wreath was today's creation
 and it should be dry enough to decorate in a few weeks time.
Here is how you make a willow wreath...
There is a little willow tree 
in the house paddock at Mia Bella Gardens,
so I gathered some of it...
As well as some thin wire...
                                               and secateurs.
The next task was to strip the leaves and tips from the willow...
 Then cut some small pieces of wire...
 Choosing some of the longer lengths of willow bend into a circle....
 Using the wire, bind it together in three of four places....
 Don't worry if it's not perfectly round, 
as you shape it as you weave more willow into it.
 Keep weaving and twisting, poking the willow into the circle...
give it a squish and help it shape into a circle.
If you have access to willow, have a go at making a wreath...
It is lovely to work with as it is so supple.
It took me about 3/4 of an hour to make this....
Quite therapeutic actually, all that weaving.
 
 And here it is...
ready to hang and dry...
Don't the poppies look pretty framed by my DIY willow wreath?





In LOVE with old china....

It's a terrible addiction I seem to have for anything old...
And old china is something that I do enjoy very much.
The other day when I went to visit a friend,
she was having a sort out of some bit's and pieces
 that belonged to her mother...
it was all going in a yard sale...
 I was so lucky to have first pick!
And my oh my, did I enjoy looking through her boxes
 of newspaper wrapped china and glassware.
I really did have to curb my desire to buy the whole lot...
but one has to be realistic...
so I bought the pieces that I knew would fit the décor of my home,
And the pieces I knew I would actually use!
And here they are...
Pretty don't you think?
Now I have to rearrange 'everything' to find a home for it all!
 I have always admired this design...
It is 'Foxglove' by Carltonware...
I adore the wee sugar bowl and the jugs!
New trios of cups, saucers and plates are always a great excuse to have a tea party!
There is a lovely thistle design by Adderly which is English bone china...
The other set is also bone china, 
and that's Colclough with the most dainty violets on it!
I seem to have so many passions...
If I was asked "What is your most favourite thing?"
That my friends is a question that would be impossible to answer...

Mod Podge Creation Reveal...

Yesterday a French look DIY pot was created...
Find the 'how do do it' info here:

24 hours drying time later, with my bowl of water and cloth in hand...
I start to wet the label...
AND THEN...
SHOCK, 
HORROR...
 realised I had modpodged over it yesterday 
when that is NOT what you do!
NOTE TO SELF (for future craft sessions)
PRINT the instructions...
don't just read online and then think you will remember how to do it.
So here is what I should have done...
Brushed the modpodge onto the label....
Smoothed it onto the pot... 
Then left it to dry for 24 hours.
Thank you 'Heavens Walk' for those instructions.
So because of my mistake,
Removal of the label was a painstaking event!
It took quite a white to get it off... 
But get it off I did!
One coat of clear sealer later...
It was complete.
In the end, it worked,
even though I thought I was heading for a DIY craft disaster!
Yay!  Final result is one super cool French look pot, 
that will look so good in my laundry revamp (= ongoing project!)
Now that I actually know how to do this right,
I will definitely be creating some more!
The vase was a great success...
 and looks fab on the mantel. 
 It sits next to the fleurs basket...
Filled with 
snowball tree flowers, roses...
and pretty purple blue Japanese irises.
 I am loving this wee bit of BLING
the colours compliment the violet fabric perfectly.





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