Tell Me How You Really Felt...

I adore my Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Crafts 2011 magazine.  It is a reference book in my home.  I display it prominently in a bookcase nestled amongst the weighty literary offerings of Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Colbert, and Choose Your Own Adventure Books 1 through 3.  You don't seem to be getting me:  If my apartment were to catch fire, it would be under my arm.  I'm that serious.

You see, I love felt crafts.  <3  Like *LOVE* felt crafts.  <3  This magazine not only contains the instructions for the wreath I chronicled in my verrrrrrrrry first blog post, but also the instructions for the wreath you see below.  I finished the autumn wreath in October 2014 after two years in the making (You can't rush my genius.).  I took a photo of my masterpiece and Pinned it before giving the real thing to my mother for Thansgiving.  She NEEDED its tasteful, shimmery ribbon and folksy felt goodness...  and she wouldn't take no for an answer.  I completely understand - it's downright mesmerizing.

SEE THIS CUTE OWL?  SEE IT?  If the wreath didn't put you into a trace, this guy's eyes sure will.  I kept seeing these two projects on Pinterest and decided that I could not legitimately call myself a felt afficianado until I had made them both a reality.  Well, I did...  and I would like to report that I have never...  felt...  better.

Yarn Wrapped Wreath

I find a lot of wreath tutorials to be entirely too ornate and/or "country" for my taste.  My ideal wreath is bright and fun and *S*P*E*C*T*A*C*U*L*A*R*...  a wreath for the modern woman, if you will.  ;)  After much searching, I found a project that fit my very exacting specifications in a December 2011 print version (how retro) of Better Homes and Gardens!

Word.

As a crafter with a touch of self-diagnosed A.D.D.and O.C.D., I ask myself two key questions before embarking on a crafting/cooking journey of any kind:   1) Is it going to take all #%^* day? and 2) Is it likely to turn out EXACTLY like the photo?    For those keeping score: Answer key = 1) NO 2) YES.  I'm working on my patience and creativity (Really - I am!), but until then I'm sticking to my No-Yes system.  

The instructions from the magazine seemed pretty straightforward.  Yup...  I can TOTALLY wrap a 

wreath form in yarn.  Felt flowers?  Sure, why not?  Glue gun?  I thought you'd never ask!

Behold...

My completed yarn wrapped wreath!

I decided to hang my creation using a piece of co-ordinating ribbon threaded through a binder ring and then hanging that binder ring on the wreath hook itself.  After I came up with this nifty idea (and was a little too proud of myself),  I went scoping Pinterest for other wreath hanging methods and found this little gem.  **Must remember to do that when I hang a wreath on the front door.**

For science.




Other sites with yarn wrapped wreaths that caught my eye:


Oleander and Palm
The color combination in this spring wreath is very striking.

CaseyLeeCrafts
Her work is absolutely lovely!

Monochomatic version
If anybody knows the creator of this work, gimme a shout.  For now, I grabbed it off of Tipjunkie.