arranging evergreens for our front door masterpiece

Thar she blows!

I made my own wreath for the holidays the first Christmas we moved into our home, which was two years ago. It was very easy, because a huge cypress tree tilted in our front yard as a result of Superstorm Sandy. (Yes, it didn't fully fall to the ground, but it tilted enough where it had to be cut down and hauled away. RIP cypress.)  The cypress branches were quite full AND we had about a million of them, so I was not intimated in the least bit to try my hand at wreath making. I had never done it before, but I have beginners luck with a myriad of things (golf, bowling, darts) and thought it was worth a shot. This past holiday, I wussed out and didn't try to recreate my masterpiece. Instead, I painted over my pastel printed paper flower wreath from spring with holiday colors and felt just fine about it. 

We had so many mini boughs leftover from our Christmas tree this year, I knew it was time to put my big girl pants on and attempt to craft an evergreen wreath again. I was tired and sleepy last night, but started the project anyways. It worked out so unbelievably well that I couldn't stop until it was finished - and finish it I did. In the words of my sister - take that Martie Stew (Martha Stewart for short)! I was nervous because the branches were a little skinnier than I had wanted, but it worked out just fine. I am so, so happy with it. I may add some holly to it this weekend (fresh from our yard), but for right now I am jazzed with the naturalness of it all. I love our wreath and am really proud of myself for making it. I was so excited I even mustered up the energy to vacuum up my mess before I went to sleep. I am sure my neighbors were really psyched to hear our vacuum running at 10:30 p.m. Sorry neighbors!