Friday, March 12, 2010

Feeling Better and Gettin' Crafty!

Hi there!

It's been a few days since I last posted and I wanted to reassure you that my stomach bug moved through fast and furious. I was feeling a lot better by Wednesday, but was behind on things I wanted/needed to get done, so I caught up on those. I fully planned on posting yesterday, but had a slight detour in my plans due to estimates we are getting on upgrading our electrical panel and furnace. I called to make an appointment to find out the guys could actually come about an hour later. That took up time I planned on using to finish up the projects I've been working on. No decisions have been made on what which company we will go with as the prices between the two estimates we've gotten so far are so extreme from one another that Steve wants another estimate to see if there is a happy medium.

I just finished up my latest crafty efforts and wanted to share with you. You might remember a week or so ago I wrote that I wanted to crochet some egg motifs to make a garland/swag for the porch. I wasn't sure if I would use worsted weight yarn or thread crochet. Well, I made one egg with the thread crochet and it came out so tiny, I nixed that idea right away. So, I crocheted 20 eggs in 5 different colors. Before the guys showed up I was working on putting up the swag and discovered that what I feared might happen did. The eggs are too large/heavy to work the way I originally planned. So I had to switch to Plan B, only I didn't have a Plan B! LOL I fiddled and futzed for awhile yesterday and then gave up for the day. This morning I had an idea to try a roll of tulle and after lots more fiddling and futzing, I'm happy with the results. Whew, a lot of jabber, but it's been a few days and I feel sort of chatty. LOL So, here's what I ended up with:
Jeanne Tomshack 2010

Jeanne Tomshack 2010

Jeanne Tomshack 2010

I first tried attaching the eggs to each other using white organdy ribbon, but it just didn't look all that great. I ended up cutting a long length of the tulle and tying it around the top of the post. I let it fall and tied it again behind the railing. Then I used straight pins to just pin the eggs to the tulle. I was a little concerned that the weight of the eggs would drag the tulle down, so I tied another piece behind the yellow eggs (which was about halfway). They float a little in the breeze and look nice, I think. Then I attempted to use the rest of the eggs to create a garland of sorts on the railing. I tried tying them in all sorts of ways and even took a quick trip to the Dollar Tree and Michaels for an inexpensive green, leafy garland. I found a couple at Michaels but they weren't on sale and I guess Michaels now only allows you to use one coupon per day. They used to let you use a Michaels and a Joann's/Hobby Lobby one at the same time. It irked me that they changed the policy, so I passed on getting them. I tied them in a different way when I got home and thought it looked decent. I have four extra eggs that I'm not sure what to do with, but that's okay.

On that quick trip to the Dollar Tree, I found this:

Jeanne Tomshack 2010
And a roll of ribbon, so the trip wasn't in vain. LOL

After I got back and finished fiddling with these eggs, I started fiddling with some different eggs! I saw this idea on a blog (of course) but now I can't find the particular blog I found it on. So, I did a search and found this site which explains how to do the project the way that the gal did on the blog I can't find now. I took the idea and did my own thing as you can see here:


Jeanne Tomshack 2010
The directions say to use a piece of cardboard. I had a foam wreath from the Dollar Tree handy(and not a good sized piece of cardboard), so I decided to use the wreath form instead. The eggs I got at the Dollar Tree (18 in a package, I bought 3 pkgs). I hadn't finished hot gluing the eggs on at this point in the picture. I added some to the inner part of the wreath and glued a bunch sticking out from these two rows. I used a low heat glue gun, one of those small ones and a bunch of glue sticks. After I was done with that, I started adding some crinkled paper shreds that I had in my stash. I just grabbed a little wad, add some glue and stuck it down with either my fingers or the flat end of a pen. A little ribbon bow here and some trimming there when all was done and I ended up with this:

Jeanne Tomshack 2010
Which I put here:
Jeanne Tomshack 2010

And it makes me smile to look at my porch.

*Ü*

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a fantastic Friday! Thanks, too, for all your wonderful support when I was feeling puny. Oh, and for agreeing that Jessica made a pretty darn cute Piggy #2 in her Three Piggy Opera performance. 
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16 comments:

Heidi Storey said...

That looks awesome Jeanne!!! I may have to copy that egg wreath idea. It is super cute, colorful and springy.

Erica said...

that egg wreath is adorable!

Melanie said...

Howdy! Am so glad I found or was directed to your blog...can't remember how now. Has been awhile.

Love all of your creations!

Alanna said...

First, I'm super glad that you're feeling better. Second, it is simply amazing the things you come up with. Your front area looks fabulous with all your new decorations and your egg wreath is simply to die for. I hope you have a fabulous weekend and enjoy the nice weather we're having.

Sparkplug17 said...

Glad you're feeling better! I love your egg wreath!

Anke said...

I really like that large wreath at the bottom, what a cool idea and so colorful! Might just have to copy that I am glad you are feeling better, those bugs are nasty!

Kathi Carlson said...

I am so glad you are feeling better!

And, wow! You've been busy with the "funnest" things. Your crocheted eggs are so cool, and it looks like you came up with perfect solutions for displaying them.

I love your wreath, too! It's so colorful and springy, a lovely addition to your porch.

As always, you've inspired me. Have a great weekend, wonderful friend!

Kim Burmeister said...

Jeanne, I am so glad to here you are better. I bet your family is glad too...hee hee!

Your Easter decorations are wonderful. Love the wreath!

Carolyn said...

So glad you're feeling better!! And WOW it all looks so pretty!! You are quite the decorator!

Have a great weekend!!

mE said...

Glad you are feeling mo bettah! Those eggs are darling!

AND THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the egg wreath idea! I'm goign to go throw on a bra and run to the dollar store for some eggs. LOL! I've been wanting a new "egg wreath" for my front door but haven't wanted to pay the ridiculous price for a premade one at a reg store. I have hot glue and leftover hot pink easter grass... PERFECT for casing your wreath!

Hugs!

E.

Felicia Fernandez said...

Oh, I just want to come over and steal your decorations!!!!! I am going to have to thy the egg wreath, it is SOOOOOOO cute. I love the egg garland, but I don't know how to crotchet so that's out. I am happy to hear that you are better and craftin' fast and furiously!!!! Hugs!

Beth aka BR-T said...

Oh my gosh this is brilliant my kiddos would love love this! Of course knowing my youngest son he would try to open the eggs in search for candy! Beth

Beth aka BR-T said...

Oops I forgot to say I am glad you are feeling better, I don't believe MOMS should ever get sick! Beth

Sarah said...

Jeanne your house always looks so wonderful with all your home made and beautiful decorations. THose crocheted eggs are fantastic as is the egg wreath...awesome!!! Love all your goodies and glad you are feeling better.

stampmonkey said...

I'm sorry you weren't feeling well, Jeanne (as you can tell from my lack of comments lately, I've been MIA from blogland), but glad you're feeling better now!

Your egg garland/swag came out really cute, even though it was tough to decide how to hang them. And your egg wreath is sooo cute! I'll bet your girls (and neighbors) are even more tickled than you are when they see all your fun, festive decorating. ;D

sunghee said...

Glad u r feeling better. WOW WOW WOW!!!
I love how you used the easter grass on your wreath.