Hello friends!
I woke up to the most beautiful pink and orange sunrise today, what a treat for a cold winter morning in Washington State.
We have had a few months of struggles off and on with health issues, and other challenges that have felt like we have been in a bit of a valley. We are such funny creatures, we know these seasons don’t last forever and have come out of many of them before, but during those times you can feel so lonely and wonder when your particular struggle might end.
Instead of trying to fight reality, I found that taking one day at a time (this was an incredible challenge for this impatient lady) and seeing what God had for me that day was where I found the most peace and rest.
I am better at this some days more than others, but grace is a wonderful thing especially when we give some to ourselves.
On days with more energy I would do a bit more and tidy up the best I could. On days where my energy was very low, I decided to see rest as my medicine, and it really helped. If you live with chronic auto immune issues, pain, etc… you know that you have to conserve your energy. It’s like a savings account, and boy when you save up and get to use some of it to do something fun IT’S AMAZING! So my splurges lately were a little thrifting (oh I cannot wait to share some gorgeous and thrifty cottage goodness with you!) and cleaning a couple rooms in my house at a time.
If felt so good to sit down and enjoy a clean space, there was nothing new or different, I just moved a few things around, shared the winter refresh of my mantel recently, and brought out some pretty throws for the couch.
Knowing this space and my kitchen/dining were clean felt (and looked) wonderful. I love being a keeper of the home and taking care of my family and home. Nothing brings me more joy than to see them enjoy something I made, and to spend time with those I love. Having said this, the pantry and laundry room are on my radar for another day, and blessedly have a door to close and walk away knowing what lurks inside can wait for another day.
After all, I would rather make a wreath with you and enjoy my clean kitchen than worry about a messy pantry shelf. That is not nearly as fun 🙂
After all of the excitement and business of Christmas, I love the first couple months of the year. This is usually when we finally see some snow flurries and sometimes a good ice storm to boot. It is such a wonderful time to reset and evaluate how things are working, as I strive for simplicity and all things cozy. It is like putting your feet up after a long day and enjoying your comfy favorite spot to read. Late winter is that vibe, and everything has to be easy and simple.
Soups, favorite movies, good bread, a bit of music playing as we work or play.
A late winter house is all of these things to me.
To celebrate this beautiful and sometimes challenging months I decided I would make the most simple, soft little wreath for our home. I am in need of another apron to keep clothes clean while I work in the kitchen and was rummaging thru my fabric this weekend. Seeing the pretty checks and florals I moved them aside reaching for something fluffy in the back of the cabinet.
I found a bundle of Warm and Cozy quilt batting from some pot holders I had made last year. You know the great quilt fail of 1995 I shared not too long ago, during a snow storm with only my Amy Grant Christmas tapes bringing me comfort as I came face to face with reality. That was many years ago, I feel like I have accepted it now.
I did not have the quilting gene.
I would still buy all the pretty quilty fabrics I like and make other pretty things like potholders and little sweet kitchen curtains with them. Tote bags, and aprons, all welcomed me with open arms as I accepted I was not by any stretch of the imagination, ever, and I mean ever, interested in making a queen sized quilt again.
But, I had this bundle of left over Warm and Cozy and wondered what it would look like cut into soft little leaves.
And glued to a wire wreath base.
As I cut my leaves out, I could see this taking shape and looking so unassuming in just about any space in our home.
It made me think of a little lamb, who wouldn’t want a little lamb (preferably house trained) curled up in a basket making you feel like you have created the coziest winter home ever?
Ok, so we don’t have a lamb, but 8 loud hens out back that are not cozy but do provide more eggs than we know what to do with. Pretty close.
I used hot glue and pinched the base of the leaf together then glued them all around the edge of the wire wreath base, staggering the pattern as I went.
This was a super fast and very easy wreath to make. Which is a good thing because my French Country project I mentioned needs more picture frames and Goodwill is calling my name today.
I have that feeling, that gut thrifting feeling that something really good is waiting to be found. One cannot look for ornate frames to refinish and be making a quilt or wreath all day. Well I suppose they could but I am trying to be realistic. And a quick, cozy winter wreath is right up my alley.
And hopefully yours too! I would love to hear what you are working on, and what makes your winter home a place you love to be 🙂
Until next time my friend, I hope this finds you taking some time for you and the things that make your heart happy.
xx, Tanya
19 Responses
What a pretty idea!! Love the wreath!
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it 🙂
Hi Tanya,
Honey you are a ray of sunshine and I needed one today. I loved your story/msg and your wreath. I am gonna make one and oh my gosh so easy, my exception will be needle and thread instead of glue. Quilting didn’t catch you, lol, it sure did me. You describe a less then adequate immune system and pain, I have been struggling with the very same issues and low energy, a very good friend talked me into starting my day with powdered beef bone broth, I got the unflavored and mix it with my coffee, it is delightful and have spread the word, my husband is taking it, and 2 friends all tried it and are delighted. Look it up and see if it might be beneficial. It’s funny how I found you I looked up the best way to restore a pottery barn basket on wheels. A picture on pinterest popped up with your blog address, of a beautiful brown wicker basket on wheels georgous, is it yours? Who makes them or sells them? I talk to much, love your wreath, and the mantle it’s hanging from, thank you so much for the inspiration. Oh one last thing I am from WA, live in Woodinville in the Cottage Lake area, it’s the beginning of fall and another lovely season. Thank you!
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Love your winter wreath DIY idea! And your approach to tough times is inspiring. I relate to conserving energy like a savings account. How do you decide which rooms to clean first?
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What a lovely way to start the day, that sunrise sounds beautiful! I totally relate to those valleys you describe. It’s so true that taking things one day at a time makes a huge difference. It reminds me of how my kid tackles big Lego projects; one brick at a time. When I’m feeling low-energy, even small wins, like tidying up a tiny area, can feel like a victory. It’s like fueling up the Eggy Car to drive a short distance. Rest is definitely medicine!
What a lovely and inspiring post! I really appreciate your thoughts on embracing the slower pace of winter and focusing on simplicity. The wreath is absolutely beautiful, and I love how you repurposed materials to create something cozy. It’s wonderful to find joy in the small things, like a clean space and a simple craft. Thanks for sharing your creative process and your approach to life. If you’re looking for another fun way to personalize your home decor, you might enjoy checking out AI Cartoon Generator to create unique artwork from photos!
What a lovely read! I especially appreciated the author’s reflections on finding peace during challenging times. It’s inspiring to see how she embraces simplicity and coziness, making the most of the winter season. This simple wreath project is just perfect. If you’re looking to build out some character background as you tackle your own projects, check out Character Headcanon Generator.
What a lovely post! I especially appreciated the focus on finding peace in the small, everyday moments, and the reminder to embrace rest. The wreath project sounds so cozy and simple – perfect for a late winter refresh. I also love the idea of thrifting for frames! I’m always looking for ways to make my home feel more inviting. If you’re curious about your own personal beauty and symmetry, check out AI Beauty Rating.
What a lovely post! I really resonated with the sentiment of embracing the slower pace of winter and focusing on simple joys. The wreath is absolutely adorable, and it sounds like a perfect project to create a cozy home. I also love your thrifting adventures! If you ever need a tool to help organize your notes or drafts for your next project, check out Markdown to Word. It’s super helpful for converting text into a Word document. Thanks for sharing your beautiful winter inspiration!
This winter wreath DIY is just lovely! I especially appreciate the author’s perspective on finding peace in the simple things, and I completely relate to the feeling of wanting a cozy home during the colder months. It’s inspiring to see how creativity and self-care can go hand in hand. If you’re also working on home projects, you might find it helpful to organize and combine your images. You can easily do this with Merge JPG.
What a lovely and relatable post! I completely understand the need for simple comforts and embracing the cozy feeling of late winter. Your wreath project sounds delightful, and I admire your focus on rest and finding joy in the little things. It’s inspiring to see how you’re creating a warm and welcoming home environment. If you’re looking for more creative inspiration, you might find some cool ideas by converting images to prompts with Image to Prompt.
What a lovely and relatable post, Tanya! I completely understand the feeling of needing to find peace in the everyday, especially during challenging times. Your simple wreath project is such a perfect way to embrace the cozy late-winter vibe you described. It’s inspiring to see you prioritize rest and simple joys. If you’re looking for a fun way to capture those cozy moments, you could try transforming a photo of your wreath into a cartoon! Check out AI Cartoon Image Generator for some creative fun.
I also find so much comfort in creating cozy spaces at home. There’s a real peace in those little projects and quiet moments. This “savings account” energy approach you mentioned is so wise. It reminds me of how I approach another part of my life – I use https://crashcatalog.com/ to compare online games, so I can invest my time wisely and focus on the ones I enjoy most without the hassle of deep research.
I absolutely love this DIY winter wreath! It reminds me of the one I made last year; it really brightened up my home. What materials do you recommend for beginners, @Geometry Dash Lite?
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