Getting the Flat Ready for Autumn

It all started with my mentioning to my mom that it would be nice to have an autumnal wreath for my front door. I asked her to help me keep an eye out while we were out and about.

She countered by showing me a picture of a felt wreath and suggesting we make one for my door.

It was flat and required a sewing machine, so not quite what I was thinking, but it got us thinking. I did have some felt left over from another project, after all. This got us brainstorming about other things I already owned that we could use to make an autumnal wreath. I had a large (ish) embroidery hoop and some leftover floral wire. So, I ordered some felt and started cutting out leaves. It looked a little flat, so I started making the leaves different sizes and trying to fold them a bit when I glued them to floral wire.

Then, my mother suggested that we embroider some of the leaves to cover where the wire is glued on. I told her she was welcome to do so but that I was focused on getting enough leaves cut and glued for this not to look sad. She embroidered several leaves for me. I think there were twenty or so that she did. But she refused to do any more after that because of how time-consuming and tedious it is. Apparently, it's something I can do for myself for next year's wreath. In the end, there are more than 500 leaves, and it was only enough for a crescent wreath and not a full one.

So, even though it will likely be an ongoing project, I love how it came out.

My hope is that I can make more leaves and build out the ivy base so that I can just change it out for the seasons.

But the thing I love most about this project is the fact that my mother, who often complains that I have too many projects going on at all times, gave me a new project. And to top it off, she suggested things to make it more complicated and never-ending. She hates that it will look much better with embroidery and that now I will be cutting out leaves for spring and embroidering them.

The new never-ending project now hangs on my door, warmly welcoming people to my flat for this lovely Autumn season.