Nature Inspired Fall Wreath

FallSwag |Vin'yet Etc.

Hello friends! September 23rd marks the first day of Autumn and to say I’m happy about that is a HUGE understatement, this is by far my favourite season… and, to top that off the bugs are all gone!ย  That’s a win, win in my books! ๐Ÿ˜€

I can’t think of a better way to welcome in my favourite season than by participating in a fall wreath blog hop…ย ย  I am quite excited to be joining some of my favourite Canadian bloggy friends, each of us is sharing our own unique version of a fall wreath, so inspirational.

My “wreath” isn’t really a wreath, not technically… if we wanted to be very specific this is actually a fall swag and to complicate this a little bit more, while it is inspired by nature it’s also inspired by “junk”. So, instead of trying to fit ALL of that into the title, in an effort to simplify I’m calling this, Nature inspired fall wreath. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Nature Inspired Wreath | VinyetETC

This pitchfork, is my junk… we’ve had this handsome fellow for quite some time now and truth be told, Iย  can’t believe that I haven’t used it before now. It’s rusty and rustic, just how I like it. I knew I wanted to use it, but how? I perused Michael’s one day and I found some faux wheat and some interesting looking fake “flowers” this I felt, would be a great start.

Pitchfork Fall Wreath | Vin'yet Etc.

I cleaned the pitchfork with soap and water, once it dried I lightly sanded and oiled the stock, then I sealed the metal parts with Minwax paste finishing wax, I really wanted to keep that awesome rusty patina and darken it a bit… the wax worked perfectly. I began the swag by simply laying on the faux foliage, I used the wheat as my back drop and added the rest of the foliage on to the front of the pitchfork.

LayeringFallFoliage | Vin'yet Etc.

Then I started to layer, really there is no one way or a magic formula to this, not in my case at least. I just used what I bought at Michael’s and scrounged around my house for things that looked fall. These awesome leaves are from another project I did… they’ve been hanging around here for awhile too, extra bits and pieces gathered for layering was the perfect recipe for this swag. I used my glue gun, some wire and some dark brown jute to fasten everything, I didn’t get too fussy cutting off the long strands of brown jute as that just added to the swag.

BalanceThe Swag | Vin'yet Etc.

Every once in a while I stood the pitchfork up on a chair to make sure it was staying symmetrical, I’d stand back and to see if it needed more filler, or if it needed to be balanced by adding more to one side or the other. This is going to sound strange… but when I’m working on something, I stand back and look at the piece or project and I squint. Weird? yup, but it works. The squinting helps me see empty spaces and what may be missing without focusing on all of the little details, this technique really helps me see the “big picture”. Squinting is one of my best design tools. ๐Ÿ˜‰

SneakPeekOnInstagram | Vin'yet Etc.

Then I just kept layering and adding until I was happy with the look of the swag. This is a sneak peek I shared on Instagram of the swag when it was about 90% done. I decided to use some of those rust coloured leaves as a central focus point, but they seemed to get lost against the other foliage, the tones were too similar.

VintageSheetMusicLeaves | Vin'yet Etc.

I really wanted to use them, but I needed to contrast them with something… vintage sheet music worked perfectly, just the exact contrast I needed. I used the rust coloured leaves as a guide and traced the shapes onto the sheet music and cut the shapes out, not perfect, but they didn’t need to be.ย  I sandwiched a bit of copper wire in between the sheet music and the rust coloured leaves, a little dab of glue from my glue gun and inserted them into the center of the swag, I also added some raffia as filler and I was almost done.

Lark's head knot | Vin'yet Etc. My biggest challenge, strangely enough was the type of bow this swag should have… I made up a “pretty” bow with some burlap strips and when I placed it,ย  it looked very strange. This swag is more rustic than pretty and not fancy enough for a bow, at least I didn’t think so.ย  I decided to tie a simple knot instead, I used a lark’s head or a cow hitch (pictured above). I use this type of knot everywhere, and on most of the swags I do. With burlap you can fluff and trim the ends, make them a little more interesting.

Here is the finished product, I hope you like it.

FallSwag |Vin'yet Etc.

FallSwag | Vin'yet Etc.

I decided to hang it on our front door, I hid the hanging jute behind some burlap strips and used a heavy duty tack to anchor it into the top ledgeย  of the white door trim. It’s heavy and I didn’t want it banging on the glass when Mr. Mans flies in and out of the door, I used some heavy duty two way tape on the wooden handle to keep it secured to the glass.

FallSwagFrontDoor-VinyetETC

I included this photo to show where the double sided tape is, there is a tiny bit of white sticking up above the handle. This isn’t the exact tape I ended up using, I had some stronger stuff in my tool kit,ย  it’s much stronger and it’s also clear, so you won’t see it at all from inside the house or peeking out like you can see this tape. It’s working like a charm, this “wreath” isn’t moving.

FrontDoorFallSwag-VinyetETC

The sun was really setting by the time this photo was taken… but I wanted one last look.

FallSwagBlackKitten-VinyetETC

This is Kiefer, or Kitten, or Snooks… his name kind of depends on the mood I’m in, I’m a nickname kind of girl. ๐Ÿ™‚ I love how he follows me around when I’m puttering, he insisted on being in the shot.

FallKitten2-VinyetETC

And again… because he’s so darn cute!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my version of a fall wreath, our porch is all ready for a fall tour so stay tuned for that post coming very soon. In the mean time you should go and get inspired by all of the other awesome fall wreaths shared by this group of wonderful and talented friends. 14 lovely wreaths for fall, all so perfectly unique!

14 Lovely Wreaths For Fall | Vin'yet Etc.

DIY Autumn Metallics Wreath From Lemon Thistle
Copper Wreath From Love Create Celebrate
Dried Hydrangea Wreath From Garden Therapy
Fall Hydrangea Pumpkin Wreath From Time with Thea
Cotton Bud Fall Wreath From PMQ For Two
Kitchen Wreath from Personally Andrea
Copper Pot Scrubber Wreath From Life Is A Party
Embroidery Hoop Rag Wreath From AKA Design
Wistful Wheat Wreath From Sustain My Craft Habit
Feathers & Foliage DIY Fall Wreath From New House New Home
DIY Foraged Fall Wreath From The DIY Mommy
Monogram Succulent Wreath From Fynes Designs
Rustic Fall Box Wreath From Echoes of Laughter

ย Thank-you for joining in on our wreath hop… Happy Autumn from Kitten and I! Signature

 

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41 Comments

  • Reply diana September 22, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    Laurie ~ You are the most creative individual I know ~ I love how you always think outside the box (or wreath in this case) ~ whimsical ~ LOVE IT! Love you! Thansk for being a friend!

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 3:58 pm

      Thank-you so much sweetheart! What a lovely thing to say! Love you too, enjoy your adventure! xoxo

  • Reply Virginia Fynes September 22, 2015 at 12:12 pm

    Amazing idea! I love how you always repurpose the cutest antiques!

  • Reply Heather @ New House New Home September 22, 2015 at 1:28 pm

    Years and years ago, I made a “wreath” with a fork for a friend. It was actually a huge (3′) salad tossing set along with a spoon. Your fork wreath reminded me that a wreath doesn’t always have to be a wreath. I bet it looks amazing on your country home.

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:27 pm

      You are so correct, I swag pretty much everything. I have a beautiful pair of snowshoes (my Grandmother’s) I put a beautiful swag on every year for Christmas. Your fork wreath sounds wonderful, I bet your friend really appreciated having something so unique. ๐Ÿ˜€

  • Reply swell conditions September 22, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    That looks SO good Laurie!! I like the fork idea, perfect for a Fall theme!

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:24 pm

      Thanks so much for stopping in Heather, I love the way it turned out! xo

  • Reply Karen September 22, 2015 at 2:45 pm

    Laurie! I could live on your porch, it is just so warm and inviting. I’m going to try squinting more often!

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:22 pm

      You would not believe how much time that saves me… I tend to get a bit wrapped up in the details, when I squint I am able to see the big picture so much better, it works magic on the Christmas tree too. ๐Ÿ˜‰ I sure hope you get to visit our porch one of these days. xoxo

  • Reply Stephanie Rose September 22, 2015 at 3:19 pm

    It’s lovely. Great job!

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:20 pm

      Thank-you Stephanie!

  • Reply Shauna September 22, 2015 at 3:54 pm

    It makes me think of growing up on the farm and how much I enjoyed the harvest season. Next time you need wheat I’ll hook you up. Great job!

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:19 pm

      Oh snap!!!! I would LOVE some wheat, some real wheat! I will let you know next year for sure!!! Thanks for dropping in, I am glad this reminds you of harvest season… that’s kind of what I was going for. ๐Ÿ˜€

  • Reply Angie@Echoes of Laughter September 22, 2015 at 4:54 pm

    This is SO pretty! The pitch fork is such a unique idea and perfect for Fall, and you embellished it just perfectly! Happy Fall! Angie xo

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:18 pm

      Happy Fall Angie! Thanks again for organizing this fun hop, I had a blast seeing all of the unique ideas! I think this swag is the perfect fall greeting for our front door, thank-you for stopping in. xoxo

  • Reply Linda aka Crafty Gardener September 22, 2015 at 6:04 pm

    I love your use of the old garden fork for fall display. I used an old rake this year for mine.

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:16 pm

      OH, how cool… I’ll have to pop over and see it. Thanks for dropping in. ๐Ÿ˜€

  • Reply Dannyelle @ www.lifeisaparty.ca September 22, 2015 at 6:33 pm

    Such a great idea to rework an old piece, and nothing says harvest like a garden fork. Looks great.

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:15 pm

      That’s so true Dannyelle, I was thinking that exact thing while making this. Thanks!

  • Reply Thea September 22, 2015 at 7:48 pm

    I am not surprised you were able to take a vintage piece and create a gorgeous work of art around it using a variety of fall materials. It really does look like art. I so enjoyed reading your narrative. I could just imagine you standing back and squinting as you were designing. Your sway looks perfect on your front door! Happy first day of Spring!

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:14 pm

      Thanks so much Thea! ๐Ÿ˜€ You have no idea how much I squint at stuff… it saves me so much time seeing the whole look of something rather than getting wrapped up in details. And thank-you for such a nice compliment, you are so sweet! xoxo

  • Reply Ariel September 23, 2015 at 1:15 am

    So delightfully true to your style! Great idea with the pitch fork! I love non-circular wreaths ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:35 pm

      Haha, I love non-circular wreaths too! ๐Ÿ˜€ thanks for stopping in.

  • Reply Colleen Pastoor September 23, 2015 at 2:19 am

    This is all kinds of rustic wonderful! I especially love the sheet music leaves.

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:11 pm

      Thank-you, Colleen. I love the sheet music too, my favourite part… rustic is kind of my thing, I’m glad you liked it. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Reply Andrea @ personallyandrea September 23, 2015 at 2:44 am

    Hey Laurie, I’m so jealous of your collection of cool antiques. This looks amazing as part of your whole front porch, can’t wait to see it all together. And squinting…ha! Best design tool ever.
    xo

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:10 pm

      You have no idea how squinting comes into play for me… if I don’t squint I get too wrapped up in the details and it takes me forever to get stuff done. Squinting has been my go to thing for years and years now… as wonky as that sounds. lol Thanks for the kind words and for visiting the porch, it’d be so cool if you could visit IRL one day… maybe we could get on that sometime soon! xo

  • Reply Lindi September 23, 2015 at 4:56 am

    I LOVE what you did for this wreath! Such a unique idea!! I definitely have some old gardening tools I can steal from my mother-in-law for this next year! Lol.

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:06 pm

      Thanks Lindi! Steal away, you can swag anything!

  • Reply Pam @ House of Hawthornes September 23, 2015 at 10:46 am

    Happy Autumn! I adore your wreath/pitchfork/cool thingie! Cute idea.

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:05 pm

      Thanks Pam, I’ve been wanting to use that thingie for a while now, glad I finally found a use for it. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Reply Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces September 23, 2015 at 11:19 am

    Such beautiful front door and the pitchfork is superb. Great job, Laurie! I love your cat too, BTW. ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:05 pm

      Haha, that cat… he’s such a little cuddle bum, I think he has separation anxiety! Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by! xoxo

  • Reply Amy | Canary Street Crafts September 23, 2015 at 11:31 am

    Such a unique idea and so pretty! It looks perfect on your porch.

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:02 pm

      Thank-you Amy! ๐Ÿ˜€

  • Reply Erin @ the-organized-life September 23, 2015 at 8:43 pm

    What a great way to decorate your door! Happy fall!!!

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:01 pm

      Happy Fall Erin, thanks!

  • Reply Christina September 24, 2015 at 1:45 am

    This is beautiful and SO clever! I love the use of the pitchfork, and I ALWAYS love your style!

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:01 pm

      Thanks Christina, I really appreciate that! I must tell you I am mad crushing on your style too, bloggy crush for sure and your images <3!

  • Reply Sonja @ SustainMyCraftHabit September 24, 2015 at 10:30 am

    I LOVE this Fall wreath and it looks so wonderful on your porch. And what a great porch it is!

    • Reply Laurie September 24, 2015 at 4:00 pm

      Thanks Sonja, hoping to get that porch tour up on the blog soon! Thanks for stopping in. ๐Ÿ˜€

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