inkspired musings: Recycled Fabric Wreath, Daffodils, Spring Quotes and fav movies

What a beautiful morning!

We're having light rain that might turn into snow a bit later. No mention from the weather folk of accumulation. Yesterday I had 3 daffodils checking to see if it was time to bud out or not. In the past few years I think I have had daffodils poking out above a layer of snow every spring!

"Come and let us seek together
Springtime lore of daffodils,
Giving to the golden weather
Greeting on the sun-warm hills."

- Lucy Maud Montgomery, Spring Song

Dover publications has a pretty coloring book of the letters of the alphabet.

Here is one that's perfect for today!

"Listen, can you hear it?

Spring's sweet cantata.

The strains of grass pushing through the snow.

The song of buds swelling on the vine.

The tender timpani of a baby robin's heart.

Spring!"

- Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, Northern Exposure

This adorable little sprite is for sale from http://www.stitchandpurl.etsy/

Here is a torn fabric strip wreath from HollandFabricHouse, etsy:

I have seen many of this type of wreath, so I don't think I'm stealing any one's original idea.
SCRAP FABRIC STRIP WREATH:

things you will need: >wire hanger
>pliers to bend ends of hanger
> a pile of leftover scrap fabric, chosen for theme and/or color
>1 length of ribbon for center bow
>optional - loop of ribbon for hanger
How to's:
Tear your fabric into 1" x 6" strips. Don't worry if some are 5" long - that is good.
I like the way the torn fabric looks, but you can certainly cut them with scissors or rotary cutter. You can also cut them with pinking shears for another look. All work great!
For a more elegant than shabby chic look, you can cut each strip into a ribbon point on the end, or make sure it has a clean straight across cut at the end.
Now go tear some more. This project needs plenty of fabric to make it look "fluffy"!

Take your wire hanger, and unbend the 'hook' top. Use your pliers, no need to kill your hands.
Now, open up the hanger to as straight as possible. Form a large loop or circle with it. Twist ends together to form a large wire circle. Too big? Use some wire cutters to cut the wire down to size desired, and twist the ends together. Clip off any sharp wire ends.
Wrap twisted ends with bow ribbon, to hide the wires and to protect your wall or you from any sharp leftover ends. Knot towards the back. Make a large loop from 6" cut of ribbon. Tie in place, or hot glue or Tacky glue the ends so it makes a nice hanging loop, around the twisted wire/ribbon wrapped section.

Now take that pile of fabric strips, get a cup of hot tea, and pop in your favorite movie.

Some of my favorites are:Goldie Hawn's Protocol, Bird on a Wire, Seems Like Old Times or Overboard
Steve Martin's Bowfinger (Eddie Murphy+), or Roxanne (Daryl Hannah, Shelley Duval+)
The Princess Bride (Carey Elwey, Robin Wright)
The Crew (Richard Dryfuss, Burt Reynolds +)-does have bad language - :0(
Crocodile Dundee (Paul Hogan)
Once Upon a Crime (John Candy, James Belushi, Cybill Shepherd, George Hamilton+)
Twins and Kindergarten Cop with Arnold Schwarzeneggerany John Wayne movie!

Tie a fabric strip around the wire wreath. You don't have to knot, just pull securely without ripping the fabric. Slide to one end, where your wrapped ribbon is.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat!
Tie as many strips on as you possibly can. Fluff out wreath.
>optional - to fill in any holes or boring spots, take a 6" length of coordinating colored 1/8" or 1/4" ribbon. Tie in between the fabric strips, randomly around the entire wreath. You may have to knot these, or drop a dot of glue on the knot as ribbon can be slipperey and want to come undone.

Tie a biggish bow in contrasting, complimentary colored ribbon. This is the same ribbon we used to make the loop hanger. Decide if you like your bow at the top, bottom, or even off to one side.
Take a super thin wire (or twistie tie) and attach bow to wreath. You can hot glue parts to make the bow stay where you want it.
Hang it up!
Here are directions to make one in a heart shape, and gearing it to children learning how to tie:

http://piggygiggles.com/component/content/article/55-valentines-day/181-fabric-valentines-heart-wreath