I just realized something. This will be the 5th year in a row we aren’t going to have a Christmas tree. I thought it was the third, or maybe the fourth, but 5??!
I think I make Ebenezer look like Cousin Eddie of National Lampoon fame. Shame on me, but that’s what happens when you’re a snowbird I guess.
You know how I figured it out? I was looking at my past ‘wreath’ posts and the one from 2014 mentioned it. I guess blogging comes in handy for stuff like that. But I said it then and I’ll say it again, ‘thereβs no direct correlation between my self-esteem and how pimped up my house is this time of year’.
But mind you, there IS a direct correlation between my ability to create and my self esteem, so every year right after Thanksgiving two friends and I head to the Berkshire Botanical Gardens (‘BBG’) to volunteer to make wreaths for their upcoming fundraiser (how’s that for a segue?).
BBG does a fabulous job of providing the volunteers with tons of materials that line the walls of a room about 100′ long x 40′ wide. You name it, it’s ours for the taking…acorns, pinecones, ornaments, gorgeous wired ribbons in every color and pattern imaginable, dried fruit, mesh fabric, feathers, pods, spray paint, all sorts of greenery. I could go on, but suffice it to say we are limited only by our imagination, and I think you’ll soon agree imagination is one thing the ladies who volunteer all have in common.
Case in point…
I put this next one together. I made use of some silver spray paint and sprayed some magnolia leaves and clear ornaments to bring some bling to the party, because what’s a party without bling?? Certainly not one I’d want to attend!
The wreath in the middle was made by my friend. She hand painted the inside of faux poinsettias red and I love how they turned out.
This is her signature style wreath. You can see the one she did last year here, which I think you’ll agree has a similar feel. She likes her feathers :).
Most wreaths sell for well over $100, so our time and effort is well worth it! Do you have a favorite?
it better be mine…
In other news…
Our very short Christmas shopping list is complete! We went to the Mall this week and got it done in one tortuous day. (Have I mentioned I dislike Malls immensely??) My gift of a new iPad came early. I’ve been bitchin‘ complaining about my old one for weeks, so I kinda knew Santa would get me one, but I couldn’t wait. (Have I also mentioned patience is NOT one of my many virtues?). My old one is about 6 years old and was driving me nuts, crashing nearly every five minutes.
Remember when I mentioned I’ve gotten into chess? Well, I’d be playing on-line and nearing the end of a game and the iPad would crash. Of course, it was only the games I was winning when it did that. Or maybe I’d be commenting on YOUR blog, and type everything up, then it would crash. So I’d end up leaving you an inane comment like ‘great job’, ‘looks great’, ‘you’re the bestest’. You know, the kind of comments we all role our eyes at. (Come on. You know you do.).
I ended up getting the iPad mini 2. Don’t you just love how Apple designs everything so you need to get a new cover when you upgrade?
Oh, and I made some more cookies this week. One is an old favorite, but another is new to me and definitely going in the cookie rotation! Just what I need. More calories. They’re sandwich cookies filled with dulce con leche and covered in ganache. I’ll try to share the recipe soon, but in the meantime here’s a pic of three of them. Just in case you’re chocolate ganache challenged, they’re the three dark ones in the center. I brought these cookies to a luncheon and I’ll share the pics of her lovely home soon too. So much going on this time of year, posting once a week doesn’t seem like it’s enough!
Now go ahead and be a wisenheimer and leave me a comment saying ‘you’re the bestest’, ‘great job’ and ‘looks great’. I promise I won’t roll my eyes…
Emily McGriff says
Hahaha, I won’t leave that comment Doreen unless my computer crashes! Wow, I would love to go and make Christmas wreaths with you, how fun and what a great cause. I would be surprised if they sold for any less than what you mentioned. Beautiful, I love yours and your friend’s and they are all gorgeous. You have been busy and I’m sure it will be warn and cozy there as we close in on Christmas Eve.
Hope your holidays are wonderful………
Kimberley says
Your wreath IS the bestest! π Seriously, I love how you spray painted the magnolia leaves – I love bling too! π
All of the wreaths are so pretty and what an amazing way to raise money!
What a relief to have all of your shopping done…I am almost done…just a few more gifts to make! Like you, I hate malls too (even more so this time of year!)
Enjoy your new iPad…you’ll be a comment whiz now! π
Have a happy mall free weekend! Hugs! Kimberley
Marilyn @ Pink Paper Cottage says
Wow… you are a girl of MANY talents! I like the first two wreaths (yours of course).. and love how you spray painted things silver.. especially those little heart shapes shells or walnut shells(?)…. I would HAVE to add a few red berries though, as Christmas to me is RED RED and more RED! I do like the one with the feather too. Many talented ladies there and what a wonderful and fun way to raise funds.. and to help out. What fun that would be. I’ve never ever made a wreath before! It always seemed kind of daunting to me. And the cookies looks yummilumly. I have no tree up yet.. only because I’ve been too lazy to do it. We have our newish kitten and I just KNOW he’ll have fun climbing the truck of our artificial tree, like our last year’s kitten did.. so not looking forward to that. I might not even put one up.. not sure yet.. but I do love the twinkly lights at night. Congrats on your new ipad.. I have yet to own one, but would love to.. maybe one of these days (or years) Santa will be good to me.
Rita C at Panoply says
I love your comment on pimping up your home and its [non]correlation to your self-esteem, lol. I would probably have to say the same is true for me, but on the creativity correlation. Wow, what gorgeous wreaths you gals assembled for the BBG! It would be really hard for me to pick a favorite, but I do love the feathers, fruits, and other natural elements on the wreaths.
I know getting new tools for technology is always great….once you’re past the learning curve, right? There’s always some new challenge, even if it’s as small as finding your cover is obsolete with the new one. I have an iPad but it’s old, and I gave up on it a long time ago. I use a Microsoft Surface Pro for portable computing and love it, but the point is finding what works for you. Glad you’re back in the game – literally. I find it fascinating you’re learning chess. Great job! (there, I said it, hehe).
Cookie queen! Note to self: never get into a cookie exchange with Doreen Sargente. I might be able to set your table, but I sure wouldn’t want to compete with your mad baking skills!
Have a great weekend.
Vickie says
All of the wreaths you’ve shown today are beautiful and it’s a wonderful fundraiser! I can’t decorate a wreath for the life of me, so ours are pine wreaths with a red bow and pine cones, just the way they arrive from our high school band fundraiser.
I hate shopping, too, and since our extended family has made the choice to only buy for our grandchildren I don’t have to do any of it! My husband LOVES to choose toys for them, so he did it all on Amazon and after I wrap them today, we’re done. I personally enjoy the music, decorating, and baking, so that’s on my agenda this weekend. I’m planning fun games for the kiddies and hoping for good weather for sledding. We’re concentrating more on what we’re DOING together than what we buy for each other, and that makes me happy.
I do hope Santa buys me a new laptop (do they even sell them anymore?) because my old laptop has been freezing up and shutting down on me for years. ugh
I’ve completely fallen off my whole food diet this holiday season, so I may as well make some cookies and eat them too. Thanks for sharing, Doreen, and have a wonderful weekend!
Cecilia says
You’re the bestest…lol. I know what you mean about the iPad crashing right as you try to send a long response. So annoying. Ok, those cookies look amazing! Yum, yum! As for the wreaths, totally hard to pick a favorite but the first one and the other full one with pinecones win, I think. Love the fullness of the greenery and the woodland feel of them. Hope you are staying warm! Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs,
Cecilia
Marsha says
It was hard not to drool all over the monitor looking at your plate of yummy cookies. I have my collection of recipes and now I need the energy to take on the new task. I hesitate because of all of the calories and weight gain that I know will happen once they are baked and ready to consume. Your pictures are prompting me to start. I love the beautiful wreaths. Everyone who participated is so creative. I would love to know what was used in the wreath under your friend’s wreath from last year. The long stem pods look so different from what I seen used in a wreath and it almost looks like dill stems were used. I love the variation of greens. Have fun using your new Apple technology and Merry Christmas to you and your family. Hugs, Marsha
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage says
Wowsie!!!! Your girls do great work. I loved every single one. How fun and what a great cause. Love this.
Merry Christmas my friend.
Kris
Karen says
I would say the green wreath with the apples caught my eye. It is simple but definitely says “Christmas” I still have plans to make those yummy looking sandwich cookies you shared with us last time. Yeah, they look full of calories and I sure don’t need them but my excuse now for eating sweets is that it’s the holidays. I will find another excuse later…LOL
Cindy says
Doreen I look forward to the wreath post every your the bestes, LOL. The cookies sound awesome, please share the recipe. I remember you mentioning your Ipad
Cindy
Cecilia MyThriftStoreAddiction says
Doreen, your wreaths are absolutely gorgeous! What a fun way to get together with friends and assemble them! Your cookies look divine too π Blessings, Cecilia
Olympia says
Doreen, dear, this is a real Christmassy post!I’m getting better in the mood for Christmas now…Wreaths, they are simply gorgeous but personally I prefer those naturals, beautiful foliage, a lovely ribbon and that’s all! Your cookies seem fabulous, I also make them for the festive days and share recipes and experiences from their making is always exciting. Dearest friend, wishing you and your family the happiest countdown to the most beautiful time of the year.
Love
Olympia
kim says
What a great fund raising idea! The first wreath is my favourite. I have to say they are all pretty impressive though!
It’s obvious you truly enjoy baking, Doreen. I sure wish I had that chip in my brain this time of the year. I’m making myself do cookies with the grands when they arrive. That’s my excuse for not baking now and I’m sticking to it! Thank goodness Santa brought your gift early. I would have gone insane having to deal with all that X*#%!!
Anyway, where are you going for Christmas this year?
Mary-the boondocks blog says
Doreen!!! You’re the bestest! I love your wreath! Your use of the spray paint really transformed it and made it all Holiday Happy! I am such a fool for wreaths I always try to come up with crazy ones. I even made one from tubing. My favorite has to be the last one with the pomegranates. There is just something about the warm look of that fruit. Now send some of those cookies over to me and that way you won’t be so tempted! Haha! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Carrie@northwoods scrapbook says
Hey Babes!!
Oh I would so be there with you expressing myself creatively in wreath form too if I could! That would be so fun and they all turned out so beautifully! Yours is gorgeous (not just sayin’ it so you’ll like me) π – it’s truly stunning! And I love all the northwoodsy ones of course….with pinecones and those kinds of goodies.
Maybe you should make a wreath of cookies! Good grief Lady – another amazing cookie?? I think I’m putting on extra pounds every time I read one of your posts. At this rate I’ll be asking Santa for a new wardrobe! π But you know I secretly love it!
Oh and no worries on your tree (or lack of). The joy is in your heart, not your eyeballs, so it’s truly all good. Just doll up one of your gorgeous snow covered ones outside instead!! The fairies would love that. π
Blessings and have a great weekend!! xoxo
Poppy says
Gorgeous wreaths, Doreen, and even more importantly, they were made for a good cause. It is so comforting to sit around with friends and create such fabulous stuff – so much more rewarding than that ‘other’ seasonal activity – shopping (ugh!).
Happy weekend!
Poppy xx
AnnMarie says
Love, love, love all the wreaths! You girls are very talented. Oh, to have all those fabulous materials to do whatever with on a wreath! I picked out a gift today for me from my husband but he makes me wait till Christmas! And they are gloves! It is so bitter cold here now….I need them. Nice to get a new IPad BEFORE Christmas, but you deserve it for making all those gorgeous cookies. You do share with hubby at home, right? π
tammy j says
no i’m not kissing up. I have two favorites. yours with the silver bling and gorgeous ribbonry… is that a word? it means total ribbon excellence!
and I also like the one in picture number 9.
I almost didn’t have a tree this year. but then I love them. so I did.
ya gotta follow your drummer darling bean. even if it’s in a sweet little RV called BAM! XOXOβ₯
Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow says
I remember the wreath making day from last year π They are all gorgeous. I’d have a terrible time deciding which one to take home. I will say the grandkids would love that cute one with the nuts and little owl!
The cookies look amazing. I have only baked two batches so far !
I want that what looks like shortbread with a jelly filling / heart cutout on top cookie π
Amy says
What fun! Like a giant arts and crafts class! Of course I have a favorite – yours – because you’re the bestest! Seriously, I love the silvery bling. They are all beautiful, and I can see why they would sell for so much money. The cookies look delish, and I’m not leaving my laptop till you post the recipe for the new sandwich cookies!
kelly says
What beautiful wreaths! I can tell that you all put a lot of work into them. They all look so professionally made! I hope that the fundraiser goes well.
Jemma says
Doreen!
I remember that this is a wonderful tradition for you and it looks as though this year was no exception!
These wreaths are all masterpieces.
I would love, love to go with you on this wreath making sort of day, there is something so satisfying about creating with friends!
xo
Jemma
Carla TePaske says
Thank you for sharing the wreaths. Beautiful.
I am still laughing at your 6 year old I Pad story. HA!
You go girl with learning Chess. That is a goal of mine for 2017!
Carla
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
Amazing wreaths! I won’t have a Christmas tree at Cottage this year as well… I have a Christmas branch… Does that count for my self-esteem?
Debbie - MountainMama says
Oh wow, you are a lady of many talents, my friend!! Wreaths, cookies, what’s next?? Those cookies are making me drool little weight watchers drops on my keyboard….thanks for that, ha ha!!
ps….GREAT JOB!
Dewena says
Doreen, the wreath making even sounds like something even I would love to take part in. I’d probably be sneaking glances at the people around me for ideas but I’d love it. I once went to an interior designer’s home for a topiary design course and had so much fun and turned out a pretty topiary–remember them? I think I through it out a few years later when all the natural elements in it turned to a dust ball.
Your silver magnolia leaves wreath is beautiful, Doreen!
So glad to hear you’re loving learning chess, I can just see all the little gray cells multiplying! I never learned how but one of the nicest phone calls I ever got from a customer in our family business was from a former governor who said his wife told her women friends that her roofers (our sons) played chess every day on their lunch hour!
Julie says
Hi Doreen, I love all of those gorgeous wreaths and yours with the sprayed painted silver is just stunning. I have not finished my shopping or wrapping of presents yet! I will finish hopefully this week. LOL. By the way I featured your cookie post at our C&C with J&J. Hope you enjoy the rest of the week.
Julie xo
Benita says
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! So much talent, I love them all. But like you, I’ve got to have some bling, bling to ring in the season. The silver is perfect and I love it! While I’m not crafty, I can make one mean bow…oh well, we all have our talents, right?! π Love and hugs!
Cindi says
I have looked at all the wreaths over and over and I just can’t decide!
They are all so unique.
I bet that’s so much fun creating them.
π
I understand how you feel about malls, I never go to them.
In fact I still haven’t bought one single gift yet
but I will probably just get it all online or gift cards.
(Baa Humbug! LOL!)
You’re so funny!
I’m always laughing reading your posts.
I understand your pain about the iPad, I have a laptop that just keeps shutting down
and my PC is 10 years old.
I just ordered a Ideapad from Microsoft when they were running a one day special at an insanely low price.
I was thrilled to open it last weekend and then spent the weekend in tears trying to get online.
I called on Monday to return it but I MIGHT have it figured out now.
I swear, this stuff drives me crazy so I understand how maddening your iPad had to be for you.
Here’s the a Merry Christmas and devices that work!
XOXOXOXO
handmade by amalia says
The wreaths are all wonderful, all the more so because they are made for a good cause. I think the one with the apples caught my eye because it is quite different.
Amalia
xo
Red Rose Alley says
Ooooo, I think I like your wreath the best, Doreen. I love silver and white at Christmas time. You did a great job. Now, the wreath with the pinecones, apples, and fruit comes in a close second. : ) It’s fun making wreaths. Nel made hers this year too, and it looks great on her front door.
~Sheri
rue says
Great job!
:p