April 14, 2011

Recycled Water Hose Wreath

Hello Friends~ ~ ~ Last week I posted a picture of a water hose wreath I made for my garage door. My neighbor saw it and went crazy and asked me to make one for her. This is the wreath I made for her and pictures of the steps as I was in construction mode. I know many of you are really great at arranging flowers and making wreaths but for those of you who could use a little help here you go.

First of all I would like to introduce my assistant Mr. Handsome. He is always around when there is a craft project in the works. It would go faster without his help but I just love his sweet face so much. . .what can I say?

I didn't have the color flowers I wanted on hand so I needed to make a trip to the Dollar Tree. They have the best buys around for silk flowers. Above is what I bought and I didn't use all of them. I got $6.00 worth! The ribbon was from last weeks wreath.

First step: Wrap your hose into a big circle the size you desire. I like the end to show so I work it to the top right of the wreath and wire it together at the top. Leave enough wire to form a loop for hanging. Cut the remaining hose off with a sharp knife.

This is two bunches of flowers that I bent so that they would curve around the hose. Don't cut them apart just tuck each end into the flowers of the other.

I wanted these purple stems on the bottom peaking out at the ends. I used one bunch and bent 3 stems to the left and 3 to the right.

Place the hydrangea on top and use a few purple stems cut from the second bunch on top and wire the whole thing together.

I like to wire all the flowers together and then attach them to the hose or wreath. Later in the season if the flowers get shabby and I want to change them I can just cut the wire, remove them and add another bunch. Simple and I often do this.

The ribbon. Of course you can use any ribbon you like and wired is probably the nicest looking but I just wanted a floppy casual looking bow. The green ribbon is for the bottom of the bow and the lavender will be the top. Cut a piece about 12" long from the top ribbon.

Form it into a loop for the center of the bow. Run a piece of wire about 10" long through to the center of the wire and twist a couple of times. Leave long ends of the wire to attach this center piece to the rest of the bow.

Take the rest of the top ribbon and just loop it back and forth till you have a little bow of sorts.

Place your center on top and pinch the center of the bow together while twisting the wires tight. Leave the ends to attach the bottom part of the bow.

I just looped the bottom ribbon back and forth till I had the size to fit my bunch of flowers. Then layered the top bow on and wired the whole thing together. It's best to pull your wires as tight as you can so that the ribbon stays and the more it's pinched in the center the better it looks.

OK friends, here is where your design style comes into play. Check out the wreath above and below. Compare them and you will notice that the top wreath needed a little adjustment. See how the flowers all just stick out left and right. Style it up a bit by bending the stems and bending just the flower ends so that they face the front.

See how I bent some of the hydrangea closer to the bow and faced them forward. Much nicer. Don't be afraid to bend them around. If it is too full for your taste you can even cut a few flowers out. If you check out my last post this wreath is much fuller than the last one. Make it to suit your taste. Hope my neighbor likes it. I'm off to deliver it to her.


This week I'm linking to:

Share The Love Wednesday at Very Merry Vintage Style.

Sweet Mary featured last weeks wreath on her blog and I was thrilled.

The Shabby Chic Cottage; Transformation Thursday

 
Romantic Home; Show and Tell


Spring Party at Decor To Adore~ Laura

I appreciate each of you.
Thanks for stopping by,
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

27 comments:

Rettabug said...

What a FUN idea!!! I could see this on the door of a garden shed, too. How perfect would that be??!!
Great tutorial, too. Well done, Ahrisha!

I'm sending the link on to my sisters, who both have beautiful gardens. They'll get a kick out of this.

fondly,
Rett

Sweet European Dreams said...

hi Ahrisha. These are just adorable. I'm glad you included the tutorial as I am CLUELESS when it comes to putting flowers together! Thanks so much for stopping by my page today - I actually just started a vintage GiveAway tonight, so stop by again this weekend! -diane
http://www.sweeteuropeandreams.com

Bohemian said...

Dear Ahrisha... thank you for your sweet comments and for becoming a supporter of my Blog... it is always a Joy to meet Kindred Spirits and connect through the Land of Blog.

After I was able to divert my eyes from your gorgeous Persian Rug, adorable Mr. Handsome & delicate Lace Tablecloth *winks* I so enjoyed the tutorial on the creative Garden Hose Wreath!

My Cats enjoy being close as I work on my Art as well... it's the creative positive energy exuded I believe... it makes for a Zen Moment for Man and Beast.

It's so good to meet you... and now discover your Beautiful Blog... Dawn... The Bohemian

Decor To Adore said...

I absolutely adore this project! I am hosting a Springtime Craft and Project linky party today and I would love it if you would particpate.

There is a giveaway involved. :)

Aaron {the girl with the boy's name} said...

What an original and cute idea! How adorable would that be hanging on a garden shed door.

-Aaron {the girl with the boy's name}

www.mudpiesandmarigold.blogspot.com

Fairfield House said...

Ahrisha,

What a creative and clever wreath! This would look great on my garden gate and studio door. Thank you for including the tutorial.

Sadly, I didn't get to Paris this spring. My dear friend, Laura from Decor to Adore, is departing in a week or two and blogging about her adventures.

You live in a favorite place of mine! Will be back to read more of your blog.

Deborah

Carrie @ Hazardous Design said...

This is sooooo creative! A perfect handmade gift for a gardening friend of mine :)

Amanda@RelovedRubbish said...

Ahrisha, Your wreath is so creative and perfect for spring! I love how it dresses up your front door!

Thank you for visiting my blog and for your nice comment about my pizza stone table :) I am following you too!

xoxo
Amanda

Unknown said...

That's a really cool idea!!I would love it if you would share this at my party A Marvelous Mess. I will be picking one project to feature on my side bar for a week!! Here is the link: http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com/2011/04/marvelous-mess-9.htm

Richard Cottrell said...

I love the wreath idea, I have had so many hoses that sprung a leak.I 'm gona copy. Richard at My Old Historic House.

Anonymous said...

Such a neat idea! I love it!

annies home said...

looks awesome

Donna said...

Your neighbor is so lucky to have you! What a beautiful wreath you created for her. And Mr. Handsome could be my assistant any day! Perfect name for him!

Happy Easter to you, too, Ahrisha!

Donna

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

Now that's creative! Love it!!!
Happy Easter!
Cindy

Rattlebridge Farm said...

Hi, Ahrisha--you won a copy of Gone With a Handsomer Man! Let me know if you'd prefer an audio book or hardback. designsbygollum@gmail.com

Fifi Flowers said...

CLEVER idea... BEAUTIFUL black kitty!

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

Hi Arisha, so happy to meet you. You have great idea's, I just adore this Hose Wreath idea, very simple and sweet.
Your pocket of the world is absolutely beautiful!
Have à happy weekend!
We hit the road for NYC xx

Patty Marker said...

What an adorable idea and such a fun way to use an old garden hose. Great tutorial, too. Thanks for stopping by my blog and becoming a follower. Have a wonderful weekend.

Bohemian said...

Dear Ahrisha, thanks for stopping by my Rose Gift Blog... yes, I thought the very same thing as you did after the little guy presented me with his "lifted" Rose... that perhaps all the missing flowers and items from our yard had perhaps been his Gifts to others... at that tender age the concept of right & wrong is not fully developed & especially if there is little or no guidance in the Home. So it actually made me feel much better about my "lifted" flowers imagining that perhaps he had made someone else feel as special and touched as he did me that day. It just grieves me that so many Parents lack appropriate Parenting skills and don't supervise such precious little ones. At his age he should not be so alone and left to his own devices... but it happens far too often in the older and most poor neighborhood we live in. I Pray every day for these children & the Salvation Army Church next door to our property does amazing work with Youth and at risk young ones in our community.

Thanks for weighing in on the story, so nice that someone had the same thoughts that I did about the possibility he's been doing this as a Joy to others for a while... makes me want to pick and give him flowers every day to surprise someone with!

Dawn... The Bohemian

Tamara Jansen said...

I LOVE your garden hose wreath!!! I have to get my sister-in-law to make some to sell at our retail. What a great idea :) Thanks for the post.

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

Oh My Ahrisha, this is Such a clever fun idea!!! I LOVE IT!!! How gorgeous would this be for a potting shed too...
Thank you so much for sharing.
Hugs,
Donna

Victoria said...

What a darling idea! It looks so pretty and Spring-y!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and for following me:) I am now following you also!

pamq said...

Now that is really cool!

But what I especially love is your assistant.

He is indeed, Mr. Handsome.

Sue from Ky. said...

I love the garden hose wreath. I may try one myself. I have made them from old barbed wire fencing for the barn door and mailbox in the past. I love making something pretty from something no one else would use.

Kaloy said...

This is so great, beautiful and creative! You're a crafty monster, just so you know. I hope i would learn to do things like this too.

water pumps

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Ahrisha! This is such an adorable project! NOt only is it a clever idea but it is actually pretty! I would love to make this hose wreath!
Thanks for joining TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS!
So nice to visit!

Beckie @ Infarrantly Creative said...

How fun and clever. I love the silk flowers and the ribbons - so pretty! Thanks for sharing this project Ahrisha!