Wow, my 2018 started off with a bang! This month has been full of new incredible experiences and I am now catching my breath from all the birthday celebrations for my 5-year-old. Yes, you read that right…plural…we had 5 straight days of singing happy birthday, from his preschool pals to a mariachi band at a local Mexican restaurant. I’m not quite sure how we are going to top this birthday!
Earlier this month, a sweet friend of mine opened up a beautiful store called Gather & Grace that is geared towards mothers and children offering children play and craft classes during the day, parenting support classes, and moms’ night out gatherings in the evening. Annnnd that brings us to Craft Night No. 2!
I don’t know about you but making AND keeping New Year resolutions is nearly impossible. It puts too much stress on what to do and not to do and feels like a set of rules. For the past two years, I have chosen to instead focus on a Word of the Year. 2016 was “Treasure” and 2017’s word was “Focus,” both of which really helped ground me, especially since I’m easily distracted with my wandering thoughts and ideas. Having a Word of the Year gave each year a purpose and meaning. So why not make a craft project that can be a beautiful reminder of our goals and hopes for the new year?
Hoops are all the rage right now so it was a no-brainer to incorporate that element! The ripped fabric strip is the perfect place to display the chosen Word, which was cut out of black matte heat transfer vinyl and ironed on. Lastly, add a trio of paper flowers as well as paper greenery in various shades of green (to create color variation) and you’ve turned a basic embroidery wooden hoop into a statement piece wreath!
Leading a group of women through the exercise of finding their Word and showing them how to make their own wreath was incredibly fun and rewarding! Everyone left feeling so empowered not only in their Word but also in their crafting abilities. I truly believe we are ALL capable of being creative! I mean, we all played with scissors and glue as children right?! So it’s not that foreign as people might think/feel! Much of this craft was simply curling and manipulating paper petals/stems and gluing. The best part was assembling the pieces together and seeing how beautiful and unique each person’s wreath turned out! I hope their Words help make 2018 their best year yet!
