Thanksgiving Love + Wreath

Today I am thankful. <br /><br />The windows are open, a cool breeze drifting through the house, cider mulling on the stove, holiday candles burning, sweet kitty in my lap, classic jazz on Pandora. Today is good. Life is good.<br /><br />I can't put into words how grateful I am to be where I am today. Just a year ago we were still unpacking, and while I'm still 3000 miles away from family and missing them like crazy, today it feels like home.<br /><br />In the spirit of the season, I've made my first holiday-ish project.<br /><br />Remember these?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqqN5PuJ18vIxSl9CPoKMeNEFAIaIzx2rPoLZ8TJmhdWdZkuGbDi-JgBETI_-d8FOmZvpFsjbke3pbmlBDZ0uSMtH0kE4ghD-tcIDhMV2yvydg9voBvp8ZIMDOSWvcJeuEUQFMgrwLIcO/s1600/IMG_6840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqqN5PuJ18vIxSl9CPoKMeNEFAIaIzx2rPoLZ8TJmhdWdZkuGbDi-JgBETI_-d8FOmZvpFsjbke3pbmlBDZ0uSMtH0kE4ghD-tcIDhMV2yvydg9voBvp8ZIMDOSWvcJeuEUQFMgrwLIcO/s640/IMG_6840.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />They turned into this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXi7xrJpUL1ymTv66L6uL5Y8v-F8r89dMBpp06I1UmftLV4jNXGx3BZZ-ztcOqDY_iRwn7dp0KvUuuR7cq1X4kmkFZk-P0tg002iqCm59Q9DnQoPsLYSBq7ODELROoihtIs980n_lMLRj/s1600/IMG_6889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXi7xrJpUL1ymTv66L6uL5Y8v-F8r89dMBpp06I1UmftLV4jNXGx3BZZ-ztcOqDY_iRwn7dp0KvUuuR7cq1X4kmkFZk-P0tg002iqCm59Q9DnQoPsLYSBq7ODELROoihtIs980n_lMLRj/s640/IMG_6889.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><br /><br />I spotted this wreath online a couple weeks ago and <em>had</em> to have it. I was aching for a crafty project, and this fit the bill.<br /><br />It took a few nights to complete, but it was worth it (as long as it doesn't get destroyed by the rain!)<br /><br />There are lots of blogs with tutorials, but the easiest explanation on how to make the roses was from <a href="http://craftingwithintention.blogspot.com/2010/09/flowers-for-fall-day-three-roses-are.html" target="_blank">here.</a> <br /><br />Once they were made, I needed to find my wreath base. <br /><br />I ran to Michaels to pick up a foam wreath... but they were all small and squared off, like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_fullxfull.198533767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_fullxfull.198533767.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />So I headed to Hobby Lobby... and it was the same thing. Then I spotted this hay wreath in a pile of leftover halloween/fall items...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZRx5RfFPZF-N7GRo4eYuS_BXf8xs7TdaHcMrU2oIcsRTH44jfSiwI5wi79_bTH8VEFGLazgI1Pn94ZI4jaDNy_xDTacPLM8ZLgsudlYIAumJJ8p9idFaOX9dnT-UKuuwBsmFn8Cc5l-a/s1600/IMG_6869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZRx5RfFPZF-N7GRo4eYuS_BXf8xs7TdaHcMrU2oIcsRTH44jfSiwI5wi79_bTH8VEFGLazgI1Pn94ZI4jaDNy_xDTacPLM8ZLgsudlYIAumJJ8p9idFaOX9dnT-UKuuwBsmFn8Cc5l-a/s640/IMG_6869.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />It was round, larger, and just $5 compared to $12 for the foam one. Score. <br /><br />I wrapped it in the same old book pages as the roses for my base...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXiwxoBg4CDxpIzWz9dRYkMgL2T0v5EBQuhT-vIeJayt3T2sxQP7SW7ydDf6DYetI7D8u_m7_tqPqk_hFl7Txvteh9UuMBbl0cvZ_pC-D4emR9U3RWTUJ4CSnTWx3kCRV7y2gNI-eD6B7/s1600/IMG_6873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXiwxoBg4CDxpIzWz9dRYkMgL2T0v5EBQuhT-vIeJayt3T2sxQP7SW7ydDf6DYetI7D8u_m7_tqPqk_hFl7Txvteh9UuMBbl0cvZ_pC-D4emR9U3RWTUJ4CSnTWx3kCRV7y2gNI-eD6B7/s640/IMG_6873.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />And proceeded to glue all my paper roses... for hours. Sorry, no pics of this process... hard to arrange and snap pics with one hand before the hot glue dries.<br /><br />In the end, I had this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHatdJBQOhJCRiM_cZZyP_fvoyJjqu-XfbxE3OS3Han4R0GxUJpNh5bZGrTLxoD_xYXOhAg0xaOoFnNNLPzOiUS8nAzHTGA13tkVHwfs4jzXGjj30_UJpQR3DUNGJoUGGmceAAA01mCqy/s1600/IMG_6894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHatdJBQOhJCRiM_cZZyP_fvoyJjqu-XfbxE3OS3Han4R0GxUJpNh5bZGrTLxoD_xYXOhAg0xaOoFnNNLPzOiUS8nAzHTGA13tkVHwfs4jzXGjj30_UJpQR3DUNGJoUGGmceAAA01mCqy/s640/IMG_6894.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />I picked up some $3 ribbon to hang the wreath from, and added a bow:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpv9hXoS7lc4hJqZKlCL29dwJ4gsH63ROsqGHNSvyhT1BAi4agob_YfXHlf6fgf8rdGQCJHRF0k00guyXfbsmRMGuwcn7Xcwr7gwiCcC9eDeFPP9TlqJEkPAyrYtUbxuUBvS_HhxfxUVPx/s1600/IMG_6893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpv9hXoS7lc4hJqZKlCL29dwJ4gsH63ROsqGHNSvyhT1BAi4agob_YfXHlf6fgf8rdGQCJHRF0k00guyXfbsmRMGuwcn7Xcwr7gwiCcC9eDeFPP9TlqJEkPAyrYtUbxuUBvS_HhxfxUVPx/s640/IMG_6893.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><br />Ta-da! $8 wreath.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUqtZjvs8A8xmKDwEsbtVXzZIZyYfcWOTTO4hbPMaXIUAtGiGtv5lV9v3iAjMBSEZh9S9H9tXhs3mv24Ywn5vYTfhMt4Z13k86XAGl9cz7pV6swxvtGe2hdX7_OMvGqeZRK4d55EGopoj/s1600/IMG_6887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUqtZjvs8A8xmKDwEsbtVXzZIZyYfcWOTTO4hbPMaXIUAtGiGtv5lV9v3iAjMBSEZh9S9H9tXhs3mv24Ywn5vYTfhMt4Z13k86XAGl9cz7pV6swxvtGe2hdX7_OMvGqeZRK4d55EGopoj/s640/IMG_6887.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><br />Time to tend to some drinks & appetizers... but first, I'm giving some love back to my customers who helped me make it this far. Someone will win a free print by leaving a comment on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/jennasuedesign" target="_blank">facebook page.</a><br /><br />Have a warm, happy, thankful day.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hIQnbXAwDyaGAMqMsgUDN7opcFzgxEs23rJKRrAp2n0UTqu-auFdP81cjlg2vm0lfzLZ5dfCjU5RR9jzgJs0S_FFXpvNCYxS4y6dFIAqR0DsGSCnvghW0hiSZsTWa0CXbIj4J86OAh8O/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hIQnbXAwDyaGAMqMsgUDN7opcFzgxEs23rJKRrAp2n0UTqu-auFdP81cjlg2vm0lfzLZ5dfCjU5RR9jzgJs0S_FFXpvNCYxS4y6dFIAqR0DsGSCnvghW0hiSZsTWa0CXbIj4J86OAh8O/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div>

Thanksgiving Love + Wreath

Today I am thankful. The windows are open, a cool breeze drifting through the house, cider mulling on the stove, holiday candles burning, sw...

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Happy Thanksgiving!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hp3llglqwUJlZzWOhMQZG-rwstQ7S7nJzdDNAOPL0yIKQr0cHJ-mRe-NmiSC2IxfK3ZkvzEfnFllcfzYediQ-52LQ4xqVswiwJha0tccSaIJfPFgPY-CSP0lh25VRudGUikYmWXkAAs/s1600/IMG_7062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbF4zo0mDPs916lwpa4fD-S2lvmJ3jOVb0dPfxApWl5U7AxxVydkgXrG3mhMBxc4fjzzxPxux3guMwTWVBVIGNpsubnMlCqC-lMjoNLrKYYqHFyVRr6ydLqC_l7NHOyxXHfDEMoaCp5g/s1600/IMG_8650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbF4zo0mDPs916lwpa4fD-S2lvmJ3jOVb0dPfxApWl5U7AxxVydkgXrG3mhMBxc4fjzzxPxux3guMwTWVBVIGNpsubnMlCqC-lMjoNLrKYYqHFyVRr6ydLqC_l7NHOyxXHfDEMoaCp5g/s640/IMG_8650.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I hope everyone has a bountiful Thanksgiving - We have so much to be thankful for!<br /><br />“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a bountiful Thanksgiving - We have so much to be thankful for! “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we...

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Potted Paper Whites Hostess Gift Idea

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMjaBxE31pJiEXOkHDkIP_3yF4SnCQPJUdkDU4D-9Sfr57hosl_QEThZRg_OwkO-VlSWH6iGLZTyQP_ior4AJYi4c15dySfvntKC7rgX7fi1gbf_JPDcFeCGWRCGZEhiNe2mtHz809d4/s1600/IMG_9217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMjaBxE31pJiEXOkHDkIP_3yF4SnCQPJUdkDU4D-9Sfr57hosl_QEThZRg_OwkO-VlSWH6iGLZTyQP_ior4AJYi4c15dySfvntKC7rgX7fi1gbf_JPDcFeCGWRCGZEhiNe2mtHz809d4/s640/IMG_9217.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Potted Paper Whites</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i>hostess gift ideas</i></span><br /><br />Paper Whites are my favorite Holiday flower.  It is really a Spring bulb that is grown indoors for the Holidays.  When fully grown, they're tall and elegant with white blooms and smell amazing.  Instead of a regular pot, I planted the bulb in a decorative bowl.  I covered the top of the soil with patches of moss - much more elegant than exposed dirt.  To package, I set the bowl down into a cellophane bag and tied it with natural twine.  I attached a printed tag to it so she'll know what to expect!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZlLM-t3z9ff4Lw9V1YZL-oSCJctLLZB0q7MeO9AY3PU7nPpi8bfJ-N7pzTKyUWdE5wsWYJhyZSl0UynJU0UnQiLUPiwdcmU0edRqZsXv6-8WSBr4-GWdiSDbfIxcXk-mvjUI7S6llL0/s1600/IMG_9065.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZlLM-t3z9ff4Lw9V1YZL-oSCJctLLZB0q7MeO9AY3PU7nPpi8bfJ-N7pzTKyUWdE5wsWYJhyZSl0UynJU0UnQiLUPiwdcmU0edRqZsXv6-8WSBr4-GWdiSDbfIxcXk-mvjUI7S6llL0/s640/IMG_9065.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I used this vintage bowl from Anthropology instead of a flower pot.  I think this bowl would look great on the breakfast table when it the flower is in bloom.  Fill the bowl with potting soil.  Oh yes, that is Mr. Darcy's nose... checking out the dirt.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxNJNAGO83E3PwxoJuXfmTncT4wPzmeR7wogsqNoHzAe1MuEJQNjQ3u3vAX-KeNbdm_9iTsTM6DgvrHlRdOyYnPtND32pnZ8d8W0TzGYZsggJF1tsMooDahsCIf88PpD0_-o1rdfXE1Y/s1600/IMG_9067.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxNJNAGO83E3PwxoJuXfmTncT4wPzmeR7wogsqNoHzAe1MuEJQNjQ3u3vAX-KeNbdm_9iTsTM6DgvrHlRdOyYnPtND32pnZ8d8W0TzGYZsggJF1tsMooDahsCIf88PpD0_-o1rdfXE1Y/s640/IMG_9067.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> Plant the bulb in the dirt, with the top poking out.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKztyNwJ0qlUpY-wwuApzBTLKhgC_ra0MjvNSGROq4n8HLLFhfUDnvPjWkaV-C3dTCFVH5wABMOK00YZLkjD1ettxozi4Ac4ulzqy2JXxiPuidJllITi68Cyh9_UhBu5fa4A9llrIjvps/s1600/IMG_9068.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKztyNwJ0qlUpY-wwuApzBTLKhgC_ra0MjvNSGROq4n8HLLFhfUDnvPjWkaV-C3dTCFVH5wABMOK00YZLkjD1ettxozi4Ac4ulzqy2JXxiPuidJllITi68Cyh9_UhBu5fa4A9llrIjvps/s640/IMG_9068.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Tear the moss into small pieces that fit around the bulb.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwhkI4n20V5kl1c-AwfK4T-kvQOiMlRnhyphenhyphenr6jImCU5XKi1ILcDMfNrB98o48h3Ld7neFPj1J30-AHdn_bo4rZGjsz2eTOyly3mUZw5fYADUJN06rqUarefPtmf6sZO9smaMJ4nfASC0E/s1600/IMG_9206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwhkI4n20V5kl1c-AwfK4T-kvQOiMlRnhyphenhyphenr6jImCU5XKi1ILcDMfNrB98o48h3Ld7neFPj1J30-AHdn_bo4rZGjsz2eTOyly3mUZw5fYADUJN06rqUarefPtmf6sZO9smaMJ4nfASC0E/s640/IMG_9206.JPG" width="636" /></a></div><br />To package, put the bowl into a <a href="http://everyday-occasions.myshopify.com/collections/packaging">cellophane bag</a> (you can buy in <a href="http://everyday-occasions.myshopify.com/collections/packaging">my online store</a>!) and tie the top with natural twine. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqBvfa7wAU1KTR5EVDA9Umcuz0nzksmcJ-5WRtEP-d_YHxa83h8hGQm-pVdviO5CNQC4WPRtwuDvwShfQ-d8zHhtqWHk66RaCxplr35ajOijU7EdmkeMYwMja_A3bZmRh_pnEFpeMJbY/s1600/IMG_9210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqBvfa7wAU1KTR5EVDA9Umcuz0nzksmcJ-5WRtEP-d_YHxa83h8hGQm-pVdviO5CNQC4WPRtwuDvwShfQ-d8zHhtqWHk66RaCxplr35ajOijU7EdmkeMYwMja_A3bZmRh_pnEFpeMJbY/s640/IMG_9210.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><br />Finally, I made a label and printed it out onto cream cardstock.

Potted Paper Whites Hostess Gift Idea

  Potted Paper Whites hostess gift ideas Paper Whites are my favorite Holiday flower.  It is really a Spring bulb that is grown indoors fo...

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