A little bit about my recent absence here at Classic Amy Joanne.

Thru this year I have been changing things up in life and the biz (read here), all while fulfilling my previously scheduled and promised obligations ~ then during late Summer and the Autumn seasons one thing happened after another like a twangy country song~ taking on and learning a new job, a broken down car, a two week sickness with a four week cough, rain on event days, jury duty and more. For the first time in my life I truly understood what ‘burn-out’ meant, from a self created over-whelming schedule with no wiggle room…..but strangely enough thru it all, I learned lessons and felt a sense of calm, and that is where my Faith came in, because I know God has plans for me (and you too) and his timing is always perfect, I’m simply just ‘in the waiting’.

It is ok to just rest in a season of hustle.

Let me share a little of what I have been doing while ‘in the waiting’.

I’ve been working on all sorts of creative ideas ~ and one of them being wreaths ~ wreaths created with hand painted & penciled ornaments!

It all started with compliments received on a wreath, (shown below) I had hanging in our dining room ~ from many friends who visited during our ‘In-Studio’ Gatherings.

“Really?, that wreath???”

No kidding, it is a tossed together wreath made up of ‘this and that’….the grapevine wreath was from an ol’ 1990’s front-door wreath that I had to vacuum the dust off of, the greens were in my ‘extra greenery’ bag ~ that almost ended up in the trash because I was tired of moving it and the ornaments were in the attic for years with no place to call home.

Simply adding the greens to the grapevine wreath and then wired on the ornaments (made of tin from Della & Company) ~ painted thru a Sonja Richardson design.

Literally tossed together.

mmmmmm, the wheels were turning! I then started dreaming of the possibilities to create wreaths with the same ‘this and that’ for all kinds of themes to adorn any door or even to use as a candle ring too!

The very first ‘this & that’ wreath being ‘Cottage Christmas‘.

Starting with an evergreen wreath base and adding greens with wiring from other project leftovers and new Christmas picks from Hobby Lobby. Fresh boxwood or holly would look beautiful too (see post here).

Even adding silk summer ivy ~ I simply sprayed each petal with glitter spray and then dusted with dry glitter ~and let dry. Summer greens can look like Christmas too!

Then creating a wide ribbon ‘hanger’ with a favorite fabric cut to size, I just love wide fabric hangers.

Then adding the ornaments randomly and scattered with baker’s twine, of course.

The ornaments will be available soon thru Sheila Landry of Tolepainting Designs (here).

The ornament designs were created in paint & pencil ~ you can find each element thru my many design pattern offerings (shop here).

The green pear is a new design and not found in any pattern ~ but you can find the line drawings (gifted here) with all the colors listed for the green pear….a little Christmas treat from my hands and heart to yours.

Look for fresh new wreath designs coming in 2024 (delivered in a new way) ~ Jams & Jellies, Garden Fresh Veggies, and more!

We’re hitting the ‘refresh button’ here at Classic Amy Joanne ~ I’m looking forward to a refreshing change….things may look a little different, but we’re keepin’ all the homespun goodness!

Hope you will stick around, you’re just going to love it!

enJOY!

~*~

PS ~ this wreath would make a perfect door knob gift or a cottage classic giftable too! (read more here).