Friday, October 28, 2011

Rustic Burlap Wreath

Using items that I already had,
I made a burlap wreath
for the front door
~
to go with my Crow Pillow !


If you would like to make one, too,
you will need:
2 yds. 54 inch wide burlap
12 inch wreath frame
wire for securing burlap to wreath frame



Cut 5 burlap strips 9inches wide
cutting from selvage to selvage through the burlap.
No need to be precise ~ it's rustic
so just eyeball it.

Use one of the strips to wrap around your wreath frame.

Secure with wire, leaving a tail (this will be the hanger)
 and do not cut wire from the package.


Take another of the burlap strips and loosely fold in half with
the seam at the back.
(It won't stay, but this is the general shape you want your strips.)

With the longest piece at the back, fold a section over
and pinch to make a piece that looks similar to
a half of a bow.

Secure with the long piece of wire
(still attached to the carton)
wrapping around the wreath frame.

Continue folding and wrapping burlap
with the wire to the frame
covering the wire of the
proceeding fold with each
new one added.
When you run out of one piece of burlap
continue in the same manner with consecutive pieces
until the entire frame is covered.

I alternated the direction of the folds ~
first to the right and the next one a little toward
the left to help conceal the wire and give
a bit of a fuller look to the wreath.

I used 4 strips of burlap to complete the circle of the
wreath. You may need more or less, depending on how full
you want it to look and your folding technique.
When your wreath is as full as you like and have
completely covered the frame, cut the wire a few inches
long and twist together with the initial piece left
for the hanger to secure the burlap.

Embellish however you like.
I added a burlap bow ~ a piece of burlap
folded in a bow shape...

...and knotted with a second long strand
over the bow and wreath frame.

My finished rustic burlap wreath!
Ready to hang on the door!
When it is daylight!
Tomorrow!

~*~

Joining




Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Rustic 'Crow' Pillow


I whipped up a simple, rustic pillow
with a crow silhouette for
my Autumn Porch bench.
Every farm has a crow or two, you know!
~*~
I found a free image online and printed it out
on card stock, then using an exacto knife, cut out
the image leaving a 'stencil' of the crow.
I placed the stencil on my precut burlap
and filled the image space with
black acrylic paint using a cheap
sponge brush.
Let the paint dry over night.
I lined the burlap with inexpensive muslin
and stitched the three sides with my machine.


I whip stitched closed the bottom of the pillow using a
large upholstery needle and some hemp twine.
This is a rustic outdoor pillow, after all!


 Here sits my little crow pillow...


eager to Welcome guests who blow in
with the Autumn winds!

~*~
Joining Tracie at Fishtail Cottage for
Outdoor Decor #3
and
My Romantic Home for
Show and Tell Friday!
and
Deborah Jean's Farmgirl Friday #28.
and
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for
Wow Us Wednesday!
and
Jami at An Oregon Cottage for
Well-Made Wednesday!