For a few years now I've been wanting to add a pumpkin wreath to my autumn collection.
I bought the forms and gathered lots of ideas.
This year I found an idea that inspired me due to its simplicity. I'm not sure who the original artist is:
Once again, I wanted to use supplies I had on hand to create this piece. I didn't have the exact velvety leaves used in the original inspiration photo, but I did have lots of fabric leaves on hand.
First I pieced together some leftover foam core, adhered it with packing tape, traced the shape of the wreath onto it, and cut it out with an Exacto knife.
Using a piece of fuzzy orange fabric I'd bought at a thrift shop, I cut out the shape of the pumpkin, adding a seam allowance.
I made slits in the fabric seam allowance. Then I smoothed the fabric around the foam core as I hot glued the fabric in place.
To make sure the fabric was extra secure, I used painter's tape to cover the edges of the fabric.
The backing is complete. Here's what it looks like from the front. I was very pleased with how the process was going at this point.
Now to move on to the florals. I started by rough-cutting some brown craft felt strips and hot gluing them to the spines. I wanted to have something wider than the wire frame on which to glue the leaves.
It's ok that it's so messy because it would all be covered.
Then I added a base of green leaves around the edges to use as a visual base. I think the placement is fine. But for me, this is where my wreath started going off the rails. This is the second time - or maybe third - that I attempted to use these leaves. One time was on a Spring wreath where the dull green leaves were the wrong color. I tried them again this time because I hoped they'd make a nice base for the bright Autumn leaves.
The placement is quite nice.
At the top, I had the green leaves cascade down a bit from the stem. That made for good coverage.
Then I glued on the colorful leaves. This is where it visually fell apart for me. The colors do not work well together.
I do like how the leaves are placed. To cover the bottom of the wreath form a little better I added small sprigs of flowers I had on hand.
At this point only the stem remained to be covered. So I attached the orange backing to the wire frame. I poked hole in the foam core with the tip of some scissors. Then I threaded zip ties through the holes, and around the frame. When all was in place, I pulled the zip ties tight and cut off the trailing ends.
When I stood back and looked at the wreath, I was unsatisfied and disappointed. Those green leaves ...
:: sigh ::
So I grabbed more of the Autumn florals in my stash, and tried to cover the green leaves up some more. Here are some details:
Bottom sprigs
Berries along the sides
Sunflowers at the top to cover the stem and add a focal point. I tried adding a bow, like in the inspiration photo, but that didn't work at all.
The finished piece is OK. It's fine. It's simply not what I had in my mind.
I like the orange background a lot. I don't think I've ever used a background on a wreath before and find it to be an interesting variation.
I'm not convinced this looks like a pumpkin anymore. It looks like a weird oblong oval wreath. It's far more complex than I had in mind ... all because of the wrong shade of green. But this is how I learn.
Here's the wreath in place in our entryway. I may move it outside on the porch.
What's fun about the creative process is trying new things. Some work. Some don't. Some, like this, sort of work and help me learn so that I can make something more pleasing next time.
I did enjoy the hours in my Studio spent creating it.
Plus, I used up more stash which is one of my 24 Goals in 2024.
