Happy New Year!

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2015!  As many of you have noticed, I had to take a little break this fall.  Sometimes, life just gets busy and something needs to give.  I’ve been taking lots of pictures and notes, so I’m looking forward to catching up over the next few weeks.  In the meantime, here’s a look back at some of my most popular posts of 2014!

Painted Rock Garden Labels

1.  Painting Garden Rock Garden Markers:  A fun project to jazz up the garden.

 

 

Biltmore Estate

2. Girls Weekend in Asheville:  A wonderful weekend away in a great city!

 

 

IMG_5288 (1)3.  Angel Wings in the Snow:  Fascinating tracks in the snow.

 

 

Creeping Thyme4.  Creeping Thyme Problems:  Trying to salvage a mess in the garden.

 

 

snowflakes5.  Peggy’s Snowflakes:  Every snowflake is truly different.

 

 

stephi gardens6.  Gardening:  All in the Family:  From grandparents to great-granchildren, gardening is a family tradition.

 

 

Homemade Suet Cakes7.  Homemade Suet Cakes:  Giving homemade suet a try.  The birds loved it!

 

 

glass pumpkin8.  Visiting the Glass Pumpkin Patch 2014:  I love seeing all the different creations the artists bring every year.  

 

 

Yarn wrapped bottles9.  Yarn Wrapped Bottles:  A fun and easy craft project to decorate for the holidays, a party, a wedding, or for whatever you have that needs some color.

 

 

Raised vegetable bed10.  My New Raised Bed: Construction:  I needed more garden space so we built two new raised bed gardens.

 

 

Yarn Wrapped Bottles

Yarn wrapped bottles

My mom Peggy and I had some fun making these Pinterest-inspired yarn wrapped bottles. You can use this fun and easy craft project to decorate for the holidays, a party, a wedding, or for whatever you have that needs some color.

First, gather your supplies.  Depending on the size of the bottle and thickness of yarn, this project can take 15-30 minutes per bottle:

  • bottles (wine, beer, vases, food jar; anything will work)
  • white glue or mod podge
  • yarn, twine or macrame cord (something a bit thicker and has texture works best)

Yarn wrapped bottles

Yarn wrapped bottles

Starting at the top, apply glue to the top of your bottle.

Yarn wrapped bottles

Leaving a tail, that will be hidden, gently wrap the first few rows of twine, being sure it’s straight and aligned with the top of the bottle.  Keep wrapping, covering the tail.

Hint: Some bottles have a big ridge near the top like this one.  Just wrap the yarn  a couple of times over itself to raise up the row right below it, then continue on.  The bottle will be covered and look fine.

Yarn wrapped bottles

Keep wrapping.  No glue needed for the straight parts.  Add some glue when you get to the bottom of the bottle neck.  This helps keep the twine from buckling and slipping as you go over this rounded part.

Yarn wrapped bottles

Keep wrapping.

Yarn wrapped bottles

You’ll need glue again as you get to the bottom.

Yarn wrapped bottles

Gently wrap the last couple of rows.  The twine can have a tendency to want to slip off, but with glue and a gentle touch, it’ll stay.  If really troublesome, let each row sit for a few second to let the glue grab it before moving to the next row.

Yarn wrapped bottles

Cut the end and secure it with glue.  If you have any visible glue spots (trust me, it happens), it’s easily wiped off gently with a damp cloth once the glue is dry.

Yarn wrapped bottles

Now you have your finished project!  But you can add ornaments, decorations– whatever you want.  Then pick a new fun yarn or twine and you’re ready for the next one!

Yarn wrapped bottles

Yarn-Wrapped Bottle Gallery
 

Yarn wrapped bottles

Yarn wrapped bottles

Yarn wrapped bottles

Yarn wrapped bottles

Yarn wrapped bottles

Yarn wrapped bottles

Yarn wrapped bottles

Yarn wrapped bottles

Yarn wrapped bottles