Home Stories A to Z

Creating beauty out of chaos and sharing my home decor stories

Wood Shavings Wreath and Buffet Vignette

As a wedding present, over eleven years ago, I received a lovely piece of commissioned art in a handmade frame in this very box pictured below.  The friend who made the frame saved all the wood shavings to line the box.  I loved the gift, and I just knew I could do something with those gorgeous shavings.  Now, I know if you follow my blog, you’ll never believe me, but I really am NOT a hoarder.  In fact, I am known for throwing things away.  Hubs used to come home and immediately check the trash to see what I had thrown away that day.  In my love of purging, I accidentally threw away our marriage license (and Hubs had to go through three bags of trash to find it.   It was finally recovered and covered in decaying chicken.  Oh yes, we still have it.  It’s in a plastic bag, or two, with some mold spots.)  So Beth, you kept the box of wood shavings but tossed the document of your covenant to your one true love? Um…yes. Yes, I did. Don’t judge.

So after 11 1/2 years, it was really time to do something or part ways with said precious wood chips.  I stripped down an old wreath to its grapevine base and with my glue gun rapidly went to work.

I didn’t fuss over where the curls went.  I just blobbed on some glue and stuck them on.  The wreath was finished in no time.

And here she is all fluffy and wood chippy, looking cute in my dining room.

Here is another little trick for you. I took this lovely Thomas plate…

…placed it on top of my footed bowl…

….covered the top with wood shavings, and placed my white pumpkin on top.

 

In the center of the buffet, I used my zen, stone-filled candle holder; however, I removed the stones and replaced them with wood shavings.  I also removed the candles and instead used my handmade spools and a little Hobby Lobby sign.

I like how it is Thanksgivingy without being too traditionally so.

On this candle I used a scrap of jute, a left-over kitchen knob back, and an upholstery tack.  I liked the colors of the books but the titles crack me up.  The psych book is mine and the church one is Hubs’.  Actually, I’ve read most of the church one too and it’s a great book!  The psych book is good if you have insomnia.

The lighting on the main level of my home is horrible.  I can never quite capture things the way I want to and it drives me crazy!

Okay, here you go.  Try to ignore that blonde with the camera. See how much better the light is head on?

So, I can’t really say that it was worth hanging onto for over eleven years, but I am liking the way it looks!  What do you think?  Do you have something you’re hoarding that is just waiting to be recreated?

Linking up with Justa’s Show & Share Day!
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Comments

  2. Great job!!!! This is exactly what I will do with some pine shavings I have been saving for….. 2 days!! Haha:)

  7. It is a true piece of art! What a keepsake. Sorry to hear about your wedding license – haven’t we all done something like that?? Thankful Nester had this party so we could meet such talented new friends.

    xoxo michele

  8. Husband is a custom cabinet maker so I have laid claim to all his wood shavings now. It will take a while as he gets the long shavings in fits and starts..

  9. Hi Beth!

    Your newest follower here (as of today!) – I realize this is an older post, but I LOVE this wreath, and think it was wise of you to hold on to the box of wood shavings for so long! What an awesome, unique craft project!

    Also, I think your home is just beautiful, and am absolutely IN LOVE with your exposed brick wall. Seriously, I want to marry it, it is so gorgeous!

    Anyhow, I'm digging through your blog looking at all your great projects and posts, so if you hear anyone rooting around tonight, its just me!

    Best to you,

    Kimberly

  12. Just stopping in to say your room is gorgeous! I saw your feataure at Layla's and haven't been over here in a while. I'm loving this makeover! I'll have to see if you mention where you bought the lanterns, they are so pretty!
    Take care
    Kristin

  13. I would have never guessed those were wood shavings, but I just love how it looks!
    The lighting in half of my place is horrible too, so I completely understand =(

  14. Cute cute cute cute cute! I have so many things I keep b/c I just know I can make something. I definitely need to try. Very inspiring!

  15. Your wreath is gorgeous, and way more worth 11 years of storage space than any of the crafty stuff I've been hanging on to. And I am ompletely envious of your perfect brick wall.

  16. Ok…just added my email addy to my profile. I never thought of doing that before you mentioned it. Thanks Beth:)
    Sarah
    HandbagsnPigtails.blogspot.com

  17. Great idea, I would have never thought of that. Oh, and I love your brick wall. Gonna look around your blog for a while. Stop by and visit mine when you can. Teresa

  18. Beautiful!!! I just love what you came up with! It looks fantastic!! Love it on the mirror there! 🙂

  19. This is absolutely beautiful! And that's just looking at it–in my mind's eye's nose (does that make sense?) I can just SMELL it. Ummm. Wood shavings. I can see why you kept them.

    Beautiful vignette! Well done!

  20. I'll admit I was wondering about the wood shavings you tweeted about, but now that I see it, it's WOW! Your whole vignette is beautiful against that brick wall, which I'm totally in love with.

  21. LOVE it! I would have saved those too…beautiful:) The whole display looks perfect! Great job.

  22. I love the way your vignette looks natural and fall like but with not typically so. It's gorgeous.

    Oh and I have a ton of things that I am keeping for some reason that I usually can't remember! I need you to head over and help me purge (I'll hide the marriage license before you get here!)

  23. Amazing! Think of all the things you could make with that big box of shavings! Love the wreath.

  24. YOU, my friend, are beyond incredible!!!! That is one of the best vignettes I have seen. It is gorgeous and classic. You have gift…a true gift.

  26. i always have something waiting to be created with!
    i have such a hard time decorating. i have a beachy theme with blues and whites and starfish!! i don't know how to turn that into fall decorations! (we live in hawaii and i feel like the beach is acceptable all year but i want to decorate for the holidays)

  27. I *love* the wreath! What a great idea! I love the whole vignette. So nice and cozy. 🙂

  29. This is gorgeous and too funny, we are alike…I do enjoy throwing stuff out or tossing things in a bag to be given away, though not the marriage license…yet! Janell

  30. LOVE this,Beth! It couldnt have come at a better time either. We're hosting two other couples tomorrow night for dinner and a game night and I was clueless as to how to decorate my buffet. After a quick trip to the store, its cozier than ever and looks better than ever!
    Sarah
    HandbagsnPigtails.blogspot.com

  31. Love the wreath!!! What a great idea, now just to find a carpenter and ask for all of his wood shavings.

    Oh how I would love to have a red brick wall in my house. Stunning.

  35. Such a sweet story. I hope your friend will be able to see this story and the brilliant wreath you made from the wood shavings!

    I think you can always get a copy of a marriage license, but never could you acquire those precious sentimental wood shavings.

  36. beth,

    it's beautiful!!!!!!!!!!! gorgeous.

    you know i went to the country living (magazine) fair a couple of weeks ago & there was a vendor that made all sorts of things from wood shavings! she was selling her stuff like crazy. she had the biggest lines. so…great minds…i tell ya!

    your vignette looks wonderful! so festive.

  38. what a wonderful idea! i love that the shavings mean something to you too!!

    I shared your link on my Tatertots FB page 🙂

    xox
    Jen

  40. I think the wreath looks fabulous…you better hope Pottery Barn doesn't see it. They will start making them!!

    Xo,
    Jane

  41. those look familiar… i love your eye for what would look unusual and beautiful and i love your tenacity in saving what you value! even if it is wood shavings…. love you.

  42. Love that! Would never have thought to do something with the would shavings. Amazing you kept them that long.
    Brooke

  43. BEAUTIFUL! I love all the curls!

    We also have the Emotionally Healthy Church book… it was reading for my hubs too! 🙂 The Elders had to read it and discuss it at thier meeting. I ask if they were going to get all mushy and share thier feeling and cry. : ) He did not think that it was funny! He said I should probably read the book.

  45. LOVE this, you are awesome! (I love getting your tweets throughout the day by the way)
    Your stories that go along with your projects are great, I like it that you're "real", makes me feel like I know you! Have a great day-Hugs, Violet

  46. I love this post . . and no judging at all 😉 That wreath is amazing. How fun that it has gone from inside the box to now a gorgeous creation. The brick wall is fantastic as well. I really love the candle on the books all tied up. great look.

  47. This is your FABULOUS big sister: you now know what to make me for Christmas! (That is, if there's any shavings left over. LOVE IT!!! It reminds me of shaved white chocolate. Ok, now I'm hungry. 🙂

  48. The wreath is fabulous!!! I can't believe you held onto those wood chips for all those years. Sounds like something I would do. Yes, I am a closet hoarder. I always think that I can repurpose something at a later time. But I never do. My hubby was just cleaning out the garage yesterday and I panicked that he might have thrown out something of mine. But if I don't know what it was, I'm sure I will never miss it. I'll just have nightmares of what it could be. lol.

  49. This vignette is lovely and very fall like….my only comment might be wood shavings over open flames?? Could spell disaster…at least in my house and with my luck it probably would…now if those tea lights are battery ones then you are in business girlfriend!!

  50. I adore the wreath because it is so unique and creative! I also love your brick walls.
    hugs, Sherry

  54. Beth,
    I LOVE this. Where do you keep all your awesome wreaths when they're not looking amazing on your walls?

    You should open up at etsy shop all about wreaths! I don't think I've ever seen a shop that had that theme.

  56. Gorgeous wreath!!! Great idea. 🙂 And I think you win a prize for "best use of a Thomas plate ever." 😉

  57. Love it! It's absolutely beautiful and works so perfectly with the vignette. What a fabulous idea!

  58. Dammit, you're one talented woman. But I'm afraid of your basement.

    And now I know just how to torture you: take away your glue gun! Not that I would EVER do such a thing!

  61. Oh Beth….I do not hoard, but I am a sentimental sap. I have baby clothes, toys, stuff from when I was little, from high school…blah blah blah! I probably need some kind of sentimental anonymous group. (it's all neatly tucked away in my garage if that makes any difference) I am very organized, so maybe it's ok that I'm sentimental! 🙂
    I love your wreath though…I wouldn't have been able to part with those cute little wood shavings either. I'm always thinking…."I could make something with that". 😮 That's where I could get in some trouble!
    Hugs
    Missy

  63. This is so ingenious and cost you nothing (well maybe storage for the past 11.5 years). Love it!

  65. I'd say it was worth saving them. I usually throw the wood savings on the compost pile. Will think twice about that now.

  66. This is beautiful!!!

    I love the whole vignette and it's incredible that the wreath took so little time and effort – it really looks like a piece of art. Great job! LOVE!

  68. Awesome idea! I too have been saving wood shavings from my hubby's projects around the garage. They are just so pretty, I couldn't throw them out,but I had no clue what to do with then…until now1 Thanks!!

  71. Really lovely. I love it on the mirror. Great idea to make something of the shavings and I think the lighting looks good, not dark at all.

  72. Love it!!! And yes, I do have something that I have been hoarding…and waiting…for inspiration to hit me. I have box of ornaments from my childhood, and a box of ornaments from my hubby's childhood – have never put them on my tree (think 70's chic here…green flocked reindeer, anyone?) Every year I tell myself that I am going to find something to do with them – but alas, they stay in the box and wait for another Christmas to pass them by.

  73. First of all- Love it! Secondly- I can't believe you threw out your marriage license lol and Last- Nice useage of the term 'buffet' lol I'm glad I asked last night on twitter LOL

    and yes, you might be a slight hoarder…but only because you came up with a bunch of reasons why your not…. 🙂
    -Kristi
    @ Creative Kristi

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