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I finally did it!

Monday, December 5, 2011
After coveting (really coveting and I know it is a sin) Eddie Ross' vintage ornament wreath for a few years, I finally made my own.  Seriously, I had this photo in my files for years and I would look at it all year long.  I just loved it.  Making the wreath was pretty easy but gathering the materials was not.  As soon as I saw this wreath in 2008, I began looking in antique stores (after Christmas) and on-line for just the right vintage balls.  In fact, that is how I ended up with my vintage silver tree last year.  So after finally buying enough balls on e-bay and in shops, I made my wreath.  And I love it!

My dining room table looked like this for a few weeks as the boxes came in and I decided which ornaments to use and which to keep for other things. 

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I got so excited over each old ball.  I love their age, patina and imperfections.  I see incredible beauty in each and every one.  I think I was driving Dave crazy showing him each one and imagining their story.    I would look at them, smell them and imagine the homes they have lived in.  I know I am a little whacky, right? Look at them...

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Aren't they beautiful?

And here is my wreath....

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It was night time and this is in a long hallway so the lighting is not great.  If we get some natural light this week, I'll take more photos because honestly these do not do it justice.


If you want to make this wreath, here are my tips:

Search E-bay and Etsy for vintage shiny bright balls.  They are most available this time of year but bidding can be fierce.  I am not a big e-bayer but I won some auctions by sitting at my computer for the final seconds.  I had good luck on Etsy too.  

Look at estate sales.  That is your best bet for low priced boxes.

Go to antique mall type places that have lots of booths.  Prices are high but you can see what you are getting.  Some of the ones I got on E-bay were not as good once I saw them in person (size or color).

You MUST hot glue the tops of the balls (see Eddie Ross).  Otherwise you will break these very fragile and expensive balls.  I only broke one and that was from dropping it.  I worked on bubble wrap on my table.

Have a second person (a strong husband works well) and some good clamps or pliers to finish the wreath.

Get thick beautiful ribbon.  It makes a difference.

I will show you the rest of our Christmas decor this week.

Happy Monday:)


55 comments:

  1. stunning..and oh so full of history and love!

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  2. gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!!!!!

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  3. This is so incredibly beautiful. I have been wanting to do this as well, so I definitely need to start looking out for vintage ornaments.

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  4. Absolutely fantastic! I bet you smile every time you walk by. You are sure to enjoy this for years to come.

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  5. Beautiful!! Now, I'm kicking myself for NOT buying the "vintage balls" I saw at a garage sale back in August! I'm learning that..."hindsight" can be very painful!!

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  6. SOOOO beautiful, Kim!! I have a collection on Shiny Bright ornaments just waiting for this project (wanted to do it last year) .. and now again this year, but just can not find the time! Still don't have the tree decorated and it's been up for a week now. Crazy busy with this little business of mine.
    You have motivated me though!!!

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  7. What's so crazy is that several of the ornaments (& even the boxes) you showed, I see every year on my mom's Christmas tree! I can't wait to show her your post to remind her what "treasures" she has.

    What a beautiful wreath!

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  8. Love, love, love!! What a happy wreath!

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  9. Fabulous; I also have a picture that I have held dear of the exact same wreath, although it was on someone's door in a neighborhood I stalked for beautiful ideas.

    Yours is spectacular and inspirational.

    Another good source is Salvation Army Stores, Goodwill, etc. :)

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  10. I love it! It looks beautiful and will always mean tht much more because you made it yourself:). Wishing you a very blessed Christmas! Michelle and Meaghan Grace

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  11. I just love it! It is beautiful and will always mean that much more because you made it yourself:). Wishing you and your family a very blessed Christmas! Michelle and Meaghan Grace

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  12. OH MY WORD!!! Those remind me of the bulbs that we had on our tree growing up. I am sure they have all since broken and gotten replaced by now.....so beautiful. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog!!!!

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  13. Just lovely.... enjoy the fruit of your labor friend.
    Merry Christmas!

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  14. Gorgeous! I made one two years ago but did not use vintage balls. They make all the difference.

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  15. Can I place my order for one now??? Beyond gorgeous!!! Eddie would be so proud.

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  16. Kim, it turned out beautifully and will surely be a family heirloom in itself one day. You did a great job! Don't you just wish it could stay up longer than 1 month out of the year? Happy Holidays to you and your family!

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  17. awesome! this should be in a magazine!!!

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  18. Kim, that is SO BEAUTIFUL! You should be proud. What a keepsake to pass on to your children one day!

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  19. I've read your blog for years, but this is the first time I've been compelled to comment. The wreath is gorgeous. Congratulations....we all know how projects can go unfinished for a large variety of reasons. To have that gorgeous piece of art hanging in your home is an accomplishment!

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  20. Gorgeous! You are such a fantastic, talented decorator!!! Can't wait to see your other holiday decor photos!
    I loved the way you decorated that piece last year with all of the mercury glass and silver and it is fun to see what you've come up with this year. Have fun!

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  21. That's gorgeous! I just bought a silver ball wreath from Target lol. I don't think I have the patience to make one. Yours is really beautiful

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  22. It's GORGEOUS Kim!! I'm gonna forward this on to House Beautiful! :)

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  23. Wow, I'm impressed! It is just gorgeous :)

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  24. STUNNING!!
    I hope you enjoy it for many, many years to come... maybe one day it will become a family heirloom and hang in Kate's home, too :)

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  25. LOVE it! You are so good!! It's beautiful! Can't wait until you make me one!! ;)

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  26. Holy cow! That turned out soooo cute! I love it!

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  27. Just stunning..love the colors you used! I want one!
    Norah

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  28. Love it!!!!!! so fab!!!!!! I want one!!!! you have great taste, like always!!!!!!!!

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  29. beautiful! you SHould post this photo on pinterest. Now I want to make one too.

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  30. GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Love,
    Di

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  31. Love love love!!! I can't stop staring at it :)

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  32. Beautiful - I love vintage Christmas balls!

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  33. Absolutely stunning!!!! Now I want to make one. I collect the same kind of Christmas ornaments and I use them as part of my decorations every year. It would be fun to use them in a wreath.
    The images of the wreath are lovely.
    You have such beautiful taste.

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  34. I'm kind of obsessed with Shiny Brite ornaments and have this same wreath photo saved. I buy them at estate sales and antique stores. My mom won't part with all the boxes she has from her childhood -- they still fill her tree -- and I think that's part of the reason I like them so well.

    We put them on the "Girls's Tree" but it might be safer to make them into a wreath. At least one gets broken every year.

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  35. So beautifu! I think I may try it next year.

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  36. Gorgeous!! I LOVE all things vintage, but especially Christmas decorations. And I hope you're keeping those vintage boxes. I have a weakness for vintage packaging. :)

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  37. Oh, Kim, it's beautiful. I love the colors and the ribbon. I have a few of those same ornaments on my tree (they belonged to my Gramma). I love this idea but would to get quite a few more. Very pretty.

    Gin =)

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  38. Absolutely stunning...and I also love how you kept the decor around the wreath simple. Thank you for sharing this gorgeous project...Off to do some pinnin'

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  39. Wow I am most impressed!! First that you made it, second that it came out so amazingly professional looking and just think of how proud you will feel every Christmas when you pull it out knowing YOU made it!

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  40. YAY! Just saw that you were featured on Eddie's blog! so wonderful and your wreath is beautiful. congrats and all my best, donna

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  41. Lovely! I have a shiny brite obsession to say the least. BTW....I hope you saved your ornament boxes as they are valuable. The graphics are adorable and people make all sorts of cute things out of them.

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  42. Congratulations on the amazing work you did and on being featured on Eddie's blog!

    You'll love that wreath for years to come!!!

    Elizabeth

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  43. Absolutely beautiful! (I'm making mine tonight and I love the idea of stringing them on wire instead of gluing them to a wreath form.)

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  44. The wreath is so beautiful, Kim! (I'm terribly behind and trying to catch up in bloggy world, but I'm so glad your family is doing well. Harry looks as cute as ever. Will is such a grown up. And Kate is absolute adorable -- her personality jumps off the page. We just moved ... to your old stomping ground - Glenmore. We love it here and are slowly getting settled. Wish you were my neighbor! =) Much love and merry Christmas!

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  45. I love this wreath! So fun that you collected all the ornaments to make it.

    xoxo.

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  46. know I am late to this party
    but this is beyond gorgeous just
    posted this on my pinterest

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  47. Just hopped over from Eddie Ross. What a pretty wreath and magnificent picture of it!

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  48. I love your wreath and especially the whole vignette you have made with the mirror and sideboard. I would love to feature your wreath on my WISH Wednesday series. I can't see your email address on your blog, but if you wouldn't mind emailing me to let me know if I have your permission to use your photo. Thanks.

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  49. Kim, I read your blog every week and love your holiday decor! Totally copied you on this wreath. Would love to email you a picture but can't find your email address on here!

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Thank you for your kindness.