When I was first planning our Southern Gentleman’s Home Office Update I made a list of things that reminded me of Honey.
College football.
Rufus the deer.
His collection of engraved flasks.
Cotton.
The first three items on this list are fairly common but cotton may make you cock your head in confusion.
You see Honey’s family owns a farm where there are rows and rows of cotton. So I envisioned a wreath made with cotton straight from the farm. Just a small little wreath to hang beside Rufus.
Unfortunately there are projects that look fabulous in my mind but life isn’t always high cotton. My plans for a DIY Cotton Wreath definitely didn’t come together quite like I wanted.
Back in the November I asked Honey to bring me two things home from his latest trip to the farm: antlers and cotton. The antlers were already hanging around the barn and our oldest son was more than happy to tromp out into the cotton field to bring his mama some cotton branches.
The cotton branches were so pretty that I quickly arranged them into a rustic Christmas display for the front porch.
After Christmas the cotton branches were stored in my disaster of a craft room until last week when I decided I make a DIY Cotton Wreath for the home office. They were not as pretty as I remembered them but I was determined to transform them into some DIY home decor project.
A small wreath from the thrift store was exactly the right size for the space beside Rufus.
I quickly got busy snapping apart the cotton branches and poking the cotton bolls into the grapevine wreath.
The first thing I noticed was that the cotton bolls were too big for the 16″ wreath. The non-uniform cotton flopped this way and that not staying where I wanted.
I decided the rule of three should be applied and added two more bunches of cotton. It was still not looking exactly like I wanted. At this point I could have run to find the glue gun but I was already doubting this DIY Cotton Wreath would make it on the wall.
Seems like all that time hanging out in my craft room had dried out the cotton. Instead of being pretty and fluffy they looked raggedy.
Then Tootsie came home from preschool. She squealed with excitement at Mama playing with “her cotton balls”. Turns out she had gotten in my stash and had a little party with the cotton branches.
Well that explains my messy looking cotton!
I rolled my eyes and continued to apply all the cotton to the small wreath. In the end the DIY Cotton Wreath was lopsided and way too disorderly than I had originally planned.
But maybe that’s the point.
Maybe life isn’t always supposed to be about living in high cotton.
Maybe life is more about letting little girls play in Mama’s craft supplies than making the perfect home decor piece.
The DIY Cotton Wreath is resting peacefully in my craft room upstairs. It’s waiting to see if I will start all over or be happy with its imperfections.
You know the more I look at it the happier it makes me. Maybe it will get a place of honor next to Honey’s prized deer.
If I can keep Tootsie’s little hands off of it.
Want to catch up on all of the Southern Gentleman’s Home Office Update? Here’s links to all the DIY home decor…
How To Make No-Sew Curtains
DIY Curtain Rods & Finials
Navy Lamp Upcycle
Easy Vintage Wood Bookcase
DIY Sweater Lamp Shade
DIY Brass Pineapple
Most Confused Room in Our Home
Thrifty Office Artwork
DIY Leather Footstool
Have you had any DIY disasters lately? Make a do-it-yourself Mama feel better and tell me all about it in the comments!
Your comments totally make my day!
They give me huge motivation to keep creating and having fun with my 3 Little Greenwoods!
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I love this and would love a box full of these cotton branches!!!! That is wonderful you have that farm in your family! It turned out beautiful!
Maybe some day I’ll ship you some cotton!
{big hugs}
I love it just the way it is! Oh, the memories – my grandpa had acres of cotton and tobacco when I was a little girl. He passed away some years ago, but I still remember walking in high cotton! Leave that beautiful wreath alone. It made me smile and brought back some great memories. There’s not a thing wrong with it!
Aww… that’s so much Alli! My childhood was filled with cotton and tobacco fields too. #SouthernGirlsRock
I love the lesson that shines through in this post–you’re right, life isn’t always about living in high cotton. I actually think with a pop of color or a little bit of flowers that this wreath would be super cute… in the meantime, may your daughter have fun with her cotton 🙂
Thanks so much for the suggestion, Cat! My little cotton wreath does need a little something else. 😉
What a sweet post Ashley! I love your perspective!! My sis-in-law lives next door to a cotton field and I’ve already asked for several branches….so I’ll be trying my hand at a DIY cotton ball wreath soon.
Oh, I can’t wait to see your DIY Cotton Wreath!
What a beautiful wreath! I love when people are able to use nature to create such amazing things. I am so not that person. Loved reading the story behind it too.
Thanks so much Kirsten!
I love this post. I’m right there with you; the imperfections make it so cute. You could use the cotton for a Christmas wreath for sure!
Oh! That is a great idea! I will definitely keep my cotton for a Christmas project.
None of my crafts turn out well by my standards. But, I still do them. I think Pinterest is dangerous sometimes. I really liked the wreath with the handful of bundles on there. It’s really rustic and charming.
So happy that you love my DIY Cotton Wreath! It is growing on me!
I love your story behind this wreath and I love it in all it’s rustic, lop-sided glory! I have been wanting to do a cotton project (it’s all over here too) and would be so proud to have a wreath like this hanging up 🙂 Pinning for next cotton season!
Thanks so much, Emily! Good luck getting some pretty cotton for your project!
I really like it. What a great wreath.
Thanks so much, Karissa! My DIY Cotton Wreath is growing on me too!
It can be so hard when we have one vision in our mind and it just doesn’t come together quite that way, but I really think it’s lovely just the way it is! Thanks for sharing it with us at The Creative Circle!
Thanks so much, sweet friend! My DIY Cotton Wreath is growing on me!
I don’t think it’s a disaster at all. It’s stunning in it’s own natural and rustic beauty. Love it. Thanks for sharing at The Creative Circle!
Martha Stewart made one of these years ago and i always loved it, but was unable to find the cotton to make one! Not fair you have a whole farm of it!! Love that! Thank you so much for sharing this pin on the P3 party Board! We loved your pin and it will be featured this Friday on Made in a Day! So expect a little traffic from me on Social Media tomorrow.
Kim
YAY! Thank you so much for featuring my cotton wreath!