It’s been full go organization mode around here. I’m getting rid of all the things. Well…almost. This post is a story of two treasures uncovered from piles of craft projects gone wrong and decor that has seen a better day. One, a keepsake I will have forever and the other, a hobby long forgotten.
I’ve declared a no spend January. Well, okay, maybe low spend. So, what I’ve really been doing is clearing the clutter. It’s amazing how your space can change with a little clean-up and clean-out. The best part? It’s free. You don’t need expensive baskets and tubs to clean out and you just might find a treasure you had forgotten about.
Like this clock. My parents were at my dads first parish as a young minister when an elderly couple gifted them this chiming clock. The elderly couple had just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary and didn’t have anyone to pass the clock down too. They had received it when they were married 65 years ago. Talk about an heirloom. They amazingly gifted it to my parents because they said it would be in a “good home” and they would take care of it through the years. My parents are coming up on their 60th wedding anniversary and this clock chimed in my childhood home for years.
They passed it on to me about 10 years ago and it lived on my mantle in my Georgia home for many years. I don’t have a fireplace in this house and with a little one who likes to touch everything, I had packed it safely away. When I uncovered it in the great purge of 2018, I decided Luke was old enough now to handle having the clock out. It has the most beautiful deep gong and I adore the ticking of the clock when the house is quiet. To me, it is such a comforting sound.
Another treasure uncovered was a huge box of yarn. In Georgia, before I blogged, I knit scarves and little blankets. When we moved to Florida it just stayed so hot all the time and knitting just dropped off my radar. So, what do you do with tons of yarn? You craft.
You make a ton of big pom poms and tie them around a wreath you found in the bottom of a box. I used a regular styrofoam wreath form (pick one up at the Dollar Store) and wrapped it in yarn. That was the hardest part. Truly. Then make your pom poms using some cardboard. Shape the pom poms so they are nice and round and use the two long tails from making your pom pom and tie them around the wreath to secure to the form. No glue needed. How easy is that?
The wreath adds a whole lot of texture, puts to use something that was just laying around, and didn’t cost a penny. Could you ask anything more of a craft project? If you want to make a wreath like this there are a ton of tutorials on Pinterest (why be redundant) and if you don’t have yarn laying around check out your local thrift store. I always see yarn there. If only those women who donated it had thought of pom pom wreaths. 🙂
I want to say thanks so much for stopping by this little blog of mine and spending a few minutes of your day with me. It means so much to me. Have a fantastic day friends!
Hi Nancy! Beautiful clock …and story. Wow. What a treasure. The pom pom wreath is beautiful, too. I love easy crafts and this one needs to stay on my radar. XOXO ~~ Susie from The Chelsea Project
Thanks Susie! It’s been nice to hear the clock again and the pom pom wreath was just so easy.
Nancy
Always love finding uses for stuff. My organization project 2018 has given me new eyes on things I took for granted. One great thing about taking down Christmas is the new ways I find to use what I have. Thanks for sharing your clock story and your wreath project.
Isn’t it great? This weekend I’m planning on sewing up some pillow covers from my big tub of fabric. Once I started digging in I was like, “ooooh I love this fabric”. I guess that’s why I bought it in the first place. 🙂
Nancy
Now that’s about cute! Wow what a beautiful old clock,can’t believe it still works after all these years.I love the colors in your wreath also,it just makes you feel good to see something you made from left overs.Stay warm in sunny Florida,it’s 24 in Cedar Key this morning.
It has been so cold here too! I just don’t have the wardrobe for this anymore. I have cold snap clothes. That’s it. Enough clothes to wear through a cold snap and then back to my sandals and crops. 🙂
Nancy
Oh! Nancy! What an heirloom piece you have with your gorgeous clock! It’s just so beautiful! I know you will treasure it! I just love where you have put it — on your writing desk — and with that lovely pom pom wreath that you made above it on those antique shutters! Wow! It all just looks so lovely! You are so talented, Nancy!
I always enjoy your posts! You always do such a great job of explaining everything! You always make everyone feel that they CAN do it! So, thanks, Nancy for all you do for us!
It seems that January is the perfect time to organize, purge, etc.! And, it always makes you feel so good when the job is done! It’s always amazing when you realize what you can live without! And better yet, it’s nice when you see other friends, etc. enjoying your stuff! This really makes it worth it!
I’m going to make a pom pom wreath as they are just too cute!
Blessings! Thanks, Nancy, for being such a special gal!
Thank you so much sweet Mary-Ann. It does feel good to clean things out and organize the spaces. I think it makes the whole family want to keep the house clean. At least for a little while. LOL. I’ve uncovered so many things I had forgotten about and have so many projects up my sleeve with things that were right under my nose the whole time.
Thank you so much for your kind words, friend. Have a great day.
Nancy