Saturday, August 18, 2012

Hydrangea Wreath

The sunporch has been in happy transition this last week. With the cool down we've had, I've been bringing in the late Summer/early Fall colors and textures. One of those elements is changing out the wreath on the old door behind the white wicker settee.





I wanted to incorporate dried hydrangeas into a wreath with some other late Summer florals, including a few berries and small Black Eyed Susans. Below is a photo from September 2007 Country Living Magazine. I'm a professed magazine hoarder and have them grouped by season. This way I can start finding inspiration easily.




Bad DIY blogger that I am, I didn't take a photo of the wreath when I first purchased it. Let's just say it had good "bones" but wasn't very lush or full. That's where some faux hydrangea blooms came to the rescue.




I could only find "stems" of large blooms, so I divided them up and taped the smaller stems together, then hot glued them to the wreath. I've used real dried hydrangea blooms before, but they don't hold up on a wreath too well for me.



 You can see from the settee that I've changed out the quilt. This gold autumnal floral is the backing to a crazy quilt in jeweled tones that I love to use later in the Fall.



Several years ago I found about 5 yards of very old ticking fabric. It was stained in spots, so after washing and bleaching numerous times I've been able to use it for lot's of projects. Just tearing strips to make a wreath hanger here. Love the texture and look of the raw edges with the chippy white paint of the mirror and door.



We had an amazing rain last Thursday evening. It literally poured buckets for over an hour. Our lower yard in the back next to the pool decking was flooded. (now I have a bunch of debris to clean up, but it's worth it.) We must have had several inches of that glorious wet stuff. The kitties and I sat out here and enjoyed the sound of the rain. Overnight the shrubs and trees perked up. Now we just need a few more of these showers  so that we might be able to salvage a few bits of Fall color in the trees after all!

Sheila from Tattered Goods and I were going to do a Give Away this week, but she's had such a busy time, we're going to postpone for a bit so she can get her Etsy Shop filled up for you. You'll love all her wonderful items, so that will be coming soon.


I'm linking up with these great parties this week:

Hope you're having a great weekend, 
xoxo,

60 comments:

  1. Love it all especially the ticking strips! what a great idea!

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  2. Oh, your wreath turned out gorgeous! Love the muted colors (and the whole room!)
    Susan

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  3. Debra,
    Your wreath is so pretty....I just picked some hydrangeas yesterday and decided before drying them, that I would just enjoy them in a vase first. I was going to make a wreath but since you said they do not hold up well, I may rethink that...anyways, yours is beautiful! Thanks, Linda
    mysewwhatblog

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  4. I keep all of my magazines organized seasonally, too. Just last night, my daughter and I got out the fall and Halloween ones to see what we could do around the house to dress it up this year!

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  5. this is just lovely, debra! and i love it hanging in front of the mirror with the ticking:)

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  6. Your wreath is gorgeous, Debra, and the ticking is such a pretty touch!

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  7. Gawgeous!!! Thanks for the tip.. I was going to attempt a wreath with my dried blooms :-( Was thinking they were a bit brittle....
    Cheers.
    Gee

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  8. I love the look of natural wreaths like that. I can imagine how nice it was to sit outside on your porch and listen to the rain. Rain is always welcome after a long dry spell isn't it?

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  9. What a pretty wreath, Debra! I never would have guessed that you used faux hydrangeas! Sure wish that I had better luck growing them, guess I'll have to stick to silk:)

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  10. I got a kick out of your post with the hoarding magazine problem. My boys complain when they see stacks of old decorating/gardening magazines laying around. I love your hydrangea wreath especially with the addition of the late summer flowers. Please jump over to my blog to see the hydrangea windowbox I did-and I got the idea from an old magazine!

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  11. Oh my gosh. The quilt, the wreath and the ticking? 3 of my favorite things in the whole world together in one room. Just so lovely Debra. I wanted to thank you for leaving such a nice comment on my Dreams post. I have been working on it for a few months and was waiting until I got my nerve up to publish it. Comments like yours made it worth it all!

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  12. Debra,
    Love, love, love your wreath, dear friend! The comforter on the sette is gorgeous! Each time I dust a piece of furniture, I put out more Autumnal decor! Looks as if you're in that same mode!!! You gave me quite a laugh about being a magazine hoarder...I have them stacked (shelved) by the months...easy peasy for referencing! Drives "Mr. Ed" crazy!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  13. That is really beautiful! Wow, inspires me to look around and see what I can do to put together a fall wreath. Lovely!

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  14. LOVE your wreath Debra!... I wait all year to visit your sunroom in Autumn when you have it all decorated so pretty!... wish we would get some of your rain... it is hot hot and dry here!... and like you, I am in an Autumn mood!... made peach jam today, and am making stew in the crockpot tomorrow... the smell of stew cooking says "Fall" to me!... I also keep all of my magazines, and sort them by month... I am looking at September vintage Victorias now... some things never change even after so many years... enjoy your sunporch decorating... xoxo Julie Marie

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  15. I always enjoy seeing your sun porch. The wreath is lovely. Love the colors in the quilt you have on the settee. Very pretty!

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  16. Debra, your wreath is so beautiful. I just cut some of my white Annabelle hydrangea today. It is almost completely dry. I am inspired!! Thank you! :)

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  17. Love your wreath. Hydrangeas are one of my favorites. I love listening to rain when sleeping too.

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  18. I do the same thing. My favorites are the fall ones. I love to get them out and pour over them for inspiration.

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  19. Your wreath looks wonderful, Debra! That inspiration picture is beautiful with all those hydrangeas. I didn't get any to cut and bring in this year. I just planted my bushes at the end of May and it was all I could do just to make sure they stayed alive this year! We had a little rain the other night, too, but it wasn't much. I still had to go out and water plants the next day. I think we need a couple of days to really do some good.

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  20. Hi Debra,
    Love the wreath, I use to make tons of them in the late and early 90's it was all the rage but you miss magazine queen would know this :)

    I love best when a flower has little life left in them, there is something deep that tugs at every inspiring bone in me that makes me want to help it hold on for dear life :)
    Its the fixer in me, the doer, the one that wants to rescue.

    Your wreath in my book is a year around one, I know I would have it up for as long as it would let me, perhaps until it could hold no more dust.

    Thank you my sweet soulful friend for sharing your passion, as well as all you create.

    God speed good health, to you and your Mr, common ground :)

    xox
    Dore
    PS. I am sewing for the holidays, and fitting in some painting, can't wait to post and etsy feature.
    Can't wait to see what you come up with !!

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  21. The torn ticking looks fabulous! What a wonderful idea.
    Brenda

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  22. I really like the idea of the ticking fabric used...its so rustic. Love the hydrangea wreath...I am getting ready to toss all my mags after decades of collection and maybe I should have a giveaway and see if people want them! What do you think?

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  23. That is just gorgeous! I also love the idea of using the strip of fabric to hang the wreath with...I'll have to try that!

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  24. This is lovely! It definitely has your special touch! You are so talented! I love your wreath!

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  25. Great idea with the ticking, will have to borrow that one!!! Also great idea to store mags according to the season....I have been tearing out the favorite pics and putting them in folders in a bookcase because my home is in magazine overload!!! I've got them back to the 1980's !!!!

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  26. Such a pretty wreath...perfect for late summer, early fall. I'm looking for nice dried hydrangea look a likes too. Love the golden colors added to the settee.

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  27. Oh it's all lovely,especially the quilt. Love the colour with the ticking. x

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  28. Lovely wreath!
    We share the same passion,
    creating flower wreath.
    I use flowers, hops, berries and leaves in my wreath from our garden. Please visit my blog to view some of my wreath.
    Gisela

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  29. What a gorgeous wreath. Beautiful photos.

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  30. Hydrangeas, real or faux, always add that extra oomph. A little ticking never hurts either! Looks beautiful.
    Deb
    P.S. 4" of rain last night in Dallas, 70 degrees this morning. Can you believe it...in Texas...in August? YaY!!!
    Deb

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  31. The wreath looks so fall, love it. The nights are getting cooler and fall is just around the corner. I am packing away my summer decor and starting to bring out the fall, wreaths, corn stalks and of course I am thinking ahead to Halloween. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

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  32. I love the hydrangeas. Love them I say! Here in Minnesota they are everywhere, except in my yard. I'm gonna get my hands on some, I must try a wreath.

    ~Bliss~

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  33. very pretty! love the ticking as a special touch! i can't wait for fall!!

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  34. Very nice, Debra. Love the ticking as a hanger.

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  35. Dear Debra,
    your wreath is a beautiful nature colour of soft green and yellows- so very lovely, and so beautiful hanging in front of your mirror, and coming wonderful together with the backing of your quilt, which looks romantic lovely.
    Happy you had rain at last, we could use some here too.
    Hope your sunday is sweet and cosy.
    Hugs,Dorthe

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  36. Wonderful wreath and wonderful post- I found your through Julie Marie-she has some soup and jam set out for you if you don't already know that- Blessings- I am your newest follower- xo Diana

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  37. Love your wreath and jealous of your porch!

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  38. Your dinner is ready on my blog!... xoxo Julie Marie

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  39. Your wreath is just beautiful, Debra...love the addition of hydrangea! Glad you got some rain!

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  40. Gorgeous wreath! I love hydrangea! It never goes out of style, does it? :)

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  41. Ha! Magazine hoarders must think alike. I've had my autumn back issues out to motivate me to bring out my fall accessories. Your wreath is lovely hanging on your old door! I bought a mix of green and orange faux stems to fill a small basket. The wires inside the stems must be made of industrial steel! They are a bugger to cut through!

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  42. Hello, my name is Theresa and I am a magazine hoarder too:) Love your wreath! I am not in the mood to change decor yet, but perhaps when it gets a little cooler! Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!

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  43. I love the way you get double duty out of items, like the throw, by changing the sides. And categorizing old magazines by season is genius, Debra!... Donna

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  44. I would love to hoard magazines, but the inner anal-eosis in me, makes me donate the old issues to the library, where they re-sell them!

    I'm here, thanks to Wow! Great post and blog. You'll be seeing bleached ticking everywhere now, as we all copy you!

    Please consider joining The Sisterhood, at www.TheBlogSisters.com

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  45. I am a wreath lover and this is a wreath that I LOVE! What great colors and hydrangeas and lots of little sticks and twigs! Oh how beautiful.
    You home is so lovely and is even more beautiful as you accent it with fall touches! You have such a unique and lovely style!
    Thanks for stopping by TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS with your fall wreath!

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  46. Debra, what a gorgeous wreath! Hydrangeas are my faves! I'm enjoying all of your fall inspiration!

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  47. Hi Debra,
    I love the wreath. I had to smile when I saw the Country Living photo. I remembered it well because I thought it was so pretty. I have always loved ticking in both blue and red. Using a strip to hang your wreath was a great idea. Sure wish we would get some rain. Weathermen keep saying it's coming. Yet to see it though. Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup.
    Hugs,
    Jann

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  48. Beautiful wreath and so clever to use the ticking strips as a hanger. ;-)
    I envy you the nice rain. We could use some more of the wet stuff here.

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  49. Love the colours in your wreath Debra and glad to hear you had some welcome rain.

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  50. Ive always been a lover of Hydrangeas and to see such a lovely wreath made from them is just the iceing on the cake!This is really lovely and I too thank you for the magazine tip:)Deidre~ http://simplysimplisticated4.blogspot.com

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  51. I love your wreath. The creams with the muted golds and greens is wonderful. It's difficult to find those muted greens on silk flowers in this area. Everyone seems to have the dark greens and they don't look real to me specially in the fall. Have a great weekend.
    ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

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  52. I just say WOOW :)
    what a great job,,,,,just Lovley Hydrangeas.....
    and do not miss...

    S
    A
    T
    U
    R
    D
    A
    Y

    S
    H
    O
    W

    O
    F
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    it is FUN :)
    WELCOME
    Håkan ( The Roseman)

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  53. Debra, you really have that special touch. I love the way you hung your hydrangea with the strip of ticking fabric. Just brilliant! Thanks for sharing on Simple & Sweet Fridays. Always love it when you stop by with your inspirational ideas.

    Jody

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  54. Debra,
    That sun porch of yours is just a favorite of mine. Love your wreath. I hoard magazines too and pull them out to see if anything inspires me for each season. Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  55. I love those old-fashioned flowers, too! They just make me smile! Good tip on using silks to round out the wreath. I completely understand the issue of dried hydrangeas as I have a vintage blue canning jar filled with those from my garden. Amazingly, they have held up this past year... yes, I said year! lol ... but I think they might be going down the path of needing replacement.

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  56. Gorgeous wreath, Debra--I think I want something like this for my front door this year, so will have to gather up supplies. Very pretty against the mirror in your home!

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