Scraps of Fabric

Yesterday I was in the mood for a project after spending 4 hours on Sunday afternoon cleaning/organizing/purging the attic and filling 5 bags with stuff to toss.

I barely made a dent in 16 years of accumulated odd bits, but I felt I needed a reward for all my hard work.

I saw this cute wreathe on Butterfly & Bungalow and wondered what it would look like in a rainbow of colors.

I knew there was only one way to find out.

After tossing 5 bags of stuff , I thought it was pretty silly to go out to buy more stuff so for the rest of the summer, before I begin a project, this question has to be answered YES - 

Do I have the materials on hand?

I gathered odd bits of fabric and located a metal heart shape I found when I was cleaning out my creative space.

Another criteria for projects is that they are "tailored to me" instead of exact replicas of ideas I see on blogs or Pinterest.

I looked at the steps for the bow wreathe, but her wreathe had 3 rings and I only had 1 heart so instead of bows I tore the fabric into strips 1" x 5" strips.

I tied a few on and thought they looked about right so I just kept going.

This was a perfect project for someone like me with a short attention span.

I completed about 3 inches and went to work in the garden.

Each time I switched a laundry load, I tied on a few more inches.

Altogether, it took me about 2 hours.

And then came the big question - okay, what am I going to do with the heart?

This morning, I decided it was time for a new vignette on my hallway cabinet.

A few old quilts in a wire basket form a base to hold the heart.

I threw in an old doorknob for no other reason than the fact that I like it.

My heart doesn't look anything like the wreathe that inspired it, but I like it and that works for me.

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I am joining in at the following parties

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty Monday

Cedar Hill Ranch - The Scoop

A Stroll Thru Life - Inspire Me Tuesday

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia - Tuesday's Treasures

Elizabeth and Co. - Be Inspired

Boogieboard Cottage - Masterpiece Monday

Using Up Supplies

One of my projects during spring break was to fix up a creative space for me.

In November I fixed up a corner of Steve's studio as a work space for me.

Boxes storing tools and supplies left little room for actually working.

When I left things out, they got in Steve's way.

 Only a few of my supplies were actually at hand in the little corner.

The white cupboard in the living room is filled with my supplies.

During spring break I moved everything out of Steve's studio and piled the garage workbench with everything I use to create.

It is a work in progress that I hope to show off in two weeks, but in the meantime, I am organizing, tossing and finding long forgotten items.

I came across instructions for making fun things out of wire.

I looked at the date and couldn't believe I had torn the pages out of Better Homes and Gardens in 2001 - more than a decade!

One of my goals for the garage space is to have LESS.

I am forcing myself to use up what I have before I go out and buy more.

After work this afternoon, I gathered the supplies to make the wreath.

It is pretty basic.

Wrap the wire around and around, make some loops as you go and voila, a wreath.

I added a little bow and decided that it needed something more.

I found a rusty heart in my supplies and made a hole with the trusty little Tim Holtz hole maker (not the technical term) and tied it on with a snip of wire.

The entire time I was making it, my plan was to hang it on a rusty stick in the garden.

But, it seemed to disappear into the flowers.

Instead, it is hanging from my little red ladder on the front porch.

A primitive little wreath . . . created from some old wire . . . adorned with some ribbon and a rusty little heart. 

It took all of 20 minutes - I spent more time taking photos than I did making the wreath.

My retirement date is official - the paperwork was submitted on Tuesday.

People are asking me what I will do and ask me if I'm worried about being bored.

Are you kidding?

I have so many supplies and so many ideas, I will be busy for the rest of my life.

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You can find me partying at

Crafting in the Rain - Weekend Creative Link Up

Jennifer Rizzo - Fabulously Creative Linky Party

Homespun Happenings - Rustic Restoration Weekend Linky Party

Made in a Day - Made U Look Linky Party

My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday

Shabby Art Boutique - Shabbilicious Friday

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup Thursday