Homemade Holiday Wreath...Silver and Blue..

I had the kind of custom order come in that I always really enjoy....my customer said that I could do whatever I would like!
Knowing she and her husband's favorite hockey team (Maple Leafs) and the fact that they just had twin boys, I decided to do a natural greens wreath with a blue and silver colour scheme.

I lined up the greenery on the deck (the weather was fantastic so I did this whole project outdoors!). I used a mix of white pine, cedar and spruce.

I then assembled all of the adornments for the wreath...the 'picks', ribbon, balls etc.

I made this wreath from 'scratch'...adding the greenery to the wire wreath frame with florists wire...cutting and putting together every bunch to place on the frame. Tools required include: florist wire, garden snips (for the greenery), wire snips (or an old pair of scissors), wire wreath frame (I got mine at Michaels).

I LOVE the creative process of rearranging bunches to get just the right fullness, trying picks and ribbons/bows in different spots and just the overall  'trial and error' that makes home made items as much fun to make as they are!

Here is the finished product....

I am really, really happy with this piece.....if you'd like to see more, please pop onto Facebook and check out/"Like" my page, Rustic Retrievals or, follow me on Twitter, @ructicretrieval (no "s" on retrievals). I'm also in the midst of setting up a shop on Etsy, so definitely keep you eyes open for that as well!

It's been a while.....

Wow! It sure has been a while since my last post! So much has been going on and I don't have a clue how it's almost Christmas.

This is my table full of gifts, wrapping, ribbon, cards etc etc...





Here are some decorations, waiting for me to find just the perfect place for them somewhere around the loft......I love those deer!




The tree is up, decorating is pretty much complete, I have started writing cards....and I may even do some baking!


I was in Sudbury, Blind River, Espanola and Little Current for meetings earlier this week. On my way back from Blind River, I came across this amazing Trading Post on the highway just north of Espanola. They had wonderful Christmas decorations, rugged and rustic clothes for winter (ie. fur lined trapper hats and I just had to get one for my Dad), cute kitchenware, and just a great selection of home decor items.

It was just great to get north, be by the lake....and I must admit, smell that pulp and paper smell again!



It was also a roller coaster week in the fact that my dog Charlie, had a run in with a car and ended up with a dislocated elbow, cuts in his mouth/muzzles, and a bunch of scrapes. He/we are very lucky.....and I am just so happy to have my guy home safe! I love you my Char Bear!