...because home doesn't happen overnight.

I found a scrap piece of jute burlap at JoAnn’s a few months ago.  I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but I liked the texture and the price tag – just a few bucks.  So, I brought it home with me and stuck it in my craft closet.  While ‘shopping’ in the closet for my winter mantelscape, I rediscovered the burlap and decided it was a good, rustic texture for winter.  One morning I threw together this simple centerpiece wreath using my burlap scrap, twine and scissors.

I didn’t go by any tutorial.  I just kinda winged it.  If you wanna try it for yourself, follow these simple steps.

1 – Cut burlap into squares.  {Mine were roughly 3″ x 3″.}  No need to be precise.

2 – Fold burlap square in half and poke with scissors to make a hole.  Alternate placing the hole nearer the folded side and nearer the rough edges.  {Squares with holes nearer the fold will have rough edges facing out, while squares with holes nearer the rough edges will have folds facing out.}

3 – Thread burlap ‘ruffles’ onto twine…alternating as you go.  Folded side out, rough edges out, folded side out…until you have the size of wreath you want.  Then simply tie loose ends of twine together in a knot. Adjust burlap ruffles as needed.

I put my wreath around a Goodwill glass bowl and placed a tea light inside.  Then I propped the whole thing up on a cake stand.

It’s all things I love in one:  textural, shiny, white, simple and rustic.  Oh, and crazy cheap.  I love that too.  Couldn’t you see these burlap wreaths used as centerpieces at a wedding reception? They’d look lovely with soft flowers in smaller vases and tiny votives sprinkled around them in the middle of a table, no?

images:  all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

I’m guest blogging over at Bloom today.  It’s a post all about easy and unique ways to make your home more personal.  Click here to check it out.  If you’re wondering what Bloom is, this is what Emily and Anne have to say about it…in their own words…

“Home is the definition of God; a place of infinite power”
Emily Dickinson

We believe that. We also believe that it takes a mighty effort to make it so.
We believe in making the effort.

We also believe in:
mindful parenting
whole foods
kindness
creative play (for children)
creative outlets (for their parents)
graceful living
great books
home making
finding your passion
keeping your sparkle
“Living the life you’ve imagined” (a la Henry David Thoreau)

We also believe in authenticity. And sustainability. We’re not above scrambled eggs for dinner. Or going to the grocery store in yesterday’s make-up. We believe in using what you have and being who you are. We believe there’s more than one right way to do most things. We believe in practicality over frivolity, and that even the simplest life can be beautiful.

Lastly, we believe in evolution – that getting from where we are to what we imagine is a process.

If any of those ideas ring true to you, then you should hop on over to their blog for some inspiration on insightful living.  {See this amazing house tour for example.}  They’re proof that a passionate life indeed exists after childbirth.

Happy blog hopping!

images:  from Jordan’s Cicada Cottage House Tour via Emily & Anne at Bloom