After reading Juliette's and Jeannette's comments on my last post, I was really glad that I had decided to do a post on how to make a fall/autumn wreath, or any wreath for that matter. It really is simple and lots of fun and leaves one with that satisfied feeling of... "yeah, look what I did... I made it myself". So to get started, you need:
Foam Wreath Ring (can be purchased at most craft stores, in Germany I got mine at OBI)Floral WireWire CuttersMoss, selected Flowers & HerbsCover the foam wreath with a section of moss at a time. I used fresh moss here, but Spanish moss also works great as a base. Wrap the floral wire around the foam wreath form securing the moss in place. Add a second layer of moss to the first section and so on until your foam wreath is completely covered. Do not worry if your wire is not green, this is not seen once the wreath is complete.
Select fall flowers. I simply used flowers and herbs from my garden, shrub cuttings, and berries from bushes in my back yard. If you live close to a wooded area, a walk can be a great combination of getting a little fresh air and a fun collecting time. Look for unusual items and even items that might already be dried. In this case I used dried poppy heads and hydrangea that was well past it's bloom. Herbs also add a great smell to a wreath and often dry beautifully. I happened to use basil and oregano flowers in this wreath.
Group flowers together to form a mini "bouquet". You can alternate flowers that are used in each section if so desired. Secure the bouquet together by wrapping the floral wire around the end of the bouquet. After a few turns, attach the bouquet to the moss wreath using the floral wire.
Create a second "bouquet" and layer it, slightly overlapping the first bouquet. Continue the same step layering the flowers so they all lay the same direction until wreath is complete. For the last section I tuck the last bouquet slightly under the first so the wreath has a full look.
Tah Dah! See, I told you it wasn't that hard. Happy Creating!
You've heard of Amy, Heather, Anna, and Tula around here, but have you ever heard of Jason? In the female dominated world of fabric designing, sometimes the male presence is overlooked. Two of my favorite male fabric designers on the scene these days are Joel Dewberry (coming soon) and Jason Yenter. You may not have heard of either of them, but their work definitely speaks for itself.Started as a small retail business over 30 years ago, In the Beginning Fabrics was founded by Sharon Yenter to provide high quality fabrics for crafters and quilters. Since then the business has grown and her son Jason now not only runs the business, but designs fabric for the company. What I love about Jason's work is that it is an explosion of graphic and radial symmetry combined with strong colors.
With purple being the trend color for the season, it is just perfect for fall projects. Jason Yenter's Floragraphix IV fabrics, also in deep, rich reds can be found here.
To come from a land that is comparatively still quite "young", it is such a stark contrast to marry into a family where history can be traced back long before my homeland even became a country. Many years back, a few of my husband relatives decided to do the exact same thing that I did... make another country their home. A recent visit from the relatives from Chile sparked the need for a family reunion. Gathered at the family home, distant relatives, many of whom I had never met, and most of whom I had, gathered to celebrate and embrace the heritage of just where it is that they have come from.My husband's grandmother had gathered several of the family heirlooms together, almost like a museum exhibit, to introduce and remind those of the history of the family name. Photos of ancestral patriarchs and matriarchs were among the treasures of heirlooms.
Precious silver pieces that were given as a wedding present in 1822, shined just as brightly as if they had not even served hundreds of meals that they had over the generations.
An antique sewing box from Paris, once belonging to a Lieutenant in the the family, despite it's almost 200 year old age, cracked mirror, and missing pieces, was still so fascinating.
A tea set belonging to my husband's great, great, great grandmother looked as if it were ready to serve the next cup of hot tea or coffee with cream and a lump of sugar.
Old documents full of family history, births, deaths, baptisms, and other stories accompanied the precious antiques that filled the room. One document even dated back to 1579 when the Count in the region had released the family estate to my husband's family.
I was truly taken aback and amazed. For so long, I have desired to embrace history and the things that make us who we are. I have always been sentimental and while many may overlook those things that they just consider "old", it seems to speak to that deep longing that has been hidden in me. It is sometimes a hard thought to think that I will have the respsonsiblity to carry on those things... things that I feel are deeper than what I realize. It is only just a small part of the history that I have to tell...
It always seems to get pretty quiet around here right before a show. Having other things on my plate the last few months, sewing has taken the back burner, but there is always that one last push before a show and it has felt good to get back into the swing of things. We just finished a small, family style Herbstmarkt (Fall Market) and now that the dust has settled, I have a little time to share.
Among the exhibitors was a retired gentleman that has been making willow baskets for years, and is really something to see an age tradition carried on.
A market in Germany just wouldn't be a market in Gemany unless there is a Crepe stand there. From savory to sweet, the filling choices are endless, and a rich chocolate Nutella crepe is always my husband's biggest temptation.
One could even spot royalty among the crowd... what a sweet and gracious princess!
For the kids entertainment, the local youth fire firefighters did a show exercise as a practice and performance to show what they have learned and trained.
My favorite "Blumenkinder" (flower children) were found among the exhibitors offerings, which is a German craft and tradition that has been passed on for hundreds of years. Angels and Christmas figures are especially popular.
And of course, flower arrangements reflecting the current season's color palette decorated the lawn and tables announcing the time of year.
Even though it is only the middle of September, I am really excited for October to come, but not necessarily because I'm a "fall lover". Actually my anticipation for next month has nothing at all to do with the weather, the changing season, or autumn traditions, but with fabric. So why is October the big month? Because every year the International Quilt Market is held in Houston, Texas where all the fabric designers introduce new fabric collections, products, and ideas. For a fabric lover, I would imagine that it would be safe to describe it as just about the closest thing one can get to "heaven on earth".It almost makes me feel like a kid at Christmas time, knowing that there will be lots of presents under the tree, but having to wait is just like torture. For those of who cannot wait and must have a "sneaky peak" for fear of exploding with excitement, perhaps I should let you in on a little something that the "queen of all fabric designers" aka Amy Butler is introducing this next month...
But just like Christmas, we will all have to wait until December like good little boys and girls to get our hands on and devour this fabulous "eye candy". Which one speaks to you most, Heart Love or Soul Love?
... Please make sure to wipe the drool from your screen before you log off today. "Fat Quarter" preview found here.
After sitting in my garden yesterday and enjoying tea on a beautiful fall afternoon, I scanned my garden, or at least what is left of it, and came to a realization... the fall color palette is one of my favorite combinations of color. For some reason I have always been drawn to deep pinks and purples, but especially in combination with warm oranges, yellows, and reds. I know that it might be a little boring to stay on one side of the color wheel, but these colors just speak to me. So much so that these are the inspiration colors in my living room... my favorite room in the house.
Since living in Germany, I have never appreciated a warm summer so much, which makes leaving this one behind especially hard, but I am excited about the array of colors that nature has inspired. Do you have a favorite season color palette?
Are you a stack person or are you the kind that has to have everything filed away and in it's neat and orderly place? Personally I am a stack girl. One can generally find "organized clutter" all over my house... usually in a stack. For some reason organizing things in stacks just works for me.
I'm working on a new set of "stacks"... more wallets for the show coming up this weekend. I am really excited that purple is the trend color in Germany right now... and I just can't get enough. I have always been a "purple girl"... so much so that it is often mistaken for my favorite color.
I would love to stay and chat a little longer, (as everyone knows that I can) but the stacks are calling.... "sew me, sew me!" Hmmmm... Does your fabric talk to you too?
Weekend plans are spending time with the family... which means speaking lots of German. I can't help but to be a little sad that summer is fading, cooler breezes are blowing in, days are getting shorter, and long sleeve shirts are being pulled back out. Am I the only one?
Wow... can't beleive it's September already!
I just love ribbons. I think that if I were forced to choose between buttons or ribbons, life would just end up being too cruel. I just got a restock of ribbons yesterday, and there were few new colors and designs that are begging me to create something with them. I think my favorite of the bunch is Patty Young's, Kiwi Birdie Damask ribbon with a fresh punch of lime green and pink.
Two new ribbons from the talented Jessica Jones were added to my collection. If you have never stumbled onto Jessica's blog, How About Orange, it is worth your while to stop by. She is always posting all kinds of clever project ideas.
Oh, what you can do with ribbons! Here are a couple of projects ideas found on Patty Young's blog, Modkidboutique. Add a little ribbon trim for a snazzy camera strap, shown here from My Funky Camera.
... or jazz up those boring bath towels. 
... add trim as a decorative accent to the legs of girls jeans, or use with paper crafts... oh, the possibilities are endless! Many of Patty Young's Andalucia's ribbon's can be found here or here. What do you like to create with your ribbons?
Select fall flowers. I simply used flowers and herbs from my garden, shrub cuttings, and berries from bushes in my back yard. If you live close to a wooded area, a walk can be a great combination of getting a little fresh air and a fun collecting time. Look for unusual items and even items that might already be dried. In this case I used dried poppy heads and hydrangea that was well past it's bloom. Herbs also add a great smell to a wreath and often dry beautifully. I happened to use basil and oregano flowers in this wreath.
Group flowers together to form a mini "bouquet". You can alternate flowers that are used in each section if so desired. Secure the bouquet together by wrapping the floral wire around the end of the bouquet. After a few turns, attach the bouquet to the moss wreath using the floral wire.
Create a second "bouquet" and layer it, slightly overlapping the first bouquet. Continue the same step layering the flowers so they all lay the same direction until wreath is complete. For the last section I tuck the last bouquet slightly under the first so the wreath has a full look.
Tah Dah! See, I told you it wasn't that hard. Happy Creating!
