old country house blog

RAGGY VINES…READY OR NOT..HERE IT COMES…

IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN…

COLORS AND EXCITEMENT…SHOPPING AND SPENDING…

…..DECORATING AND BAKING…IF I BAKED…

Visit butterbeansandcornbread.com
Visit butterbeansandcornbread.com

AND for pulling out the Holiday Decorations..and in this case…my old favorites…

MY RAGGY VINES!

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I confess…I have a
“LOVE/HATE”
relationship with Holiday decorating.
There, I said it.
With three kids, now ALL teens …who are getting bigger every day…
decorating for the holidays means
More work…
MORE stuff, MORE clutter,
MORE clean up.
But more than anything, I think the reason I get a bit
apprehensive is that every year…when Dec 1 rolls around…..
and  I pull those boxes out and
I have to take a deep breath and sigh
….as I realize how FAST the years are going.
How much is changing…People that won’t be here…
Too fast. Just too fast.
It, for me is bittersweet.
There you have it.
…and yet…when my home is all done.
…all decorated, and the tree is up.
I LOVE IT!
I ADORE IT!
I wake up every morning before the kids get up, make my coffee
and sit and just stare at the tree.
 It is almost
like a meditation.
and I LOVE LOVE LOVE
to listen to my Christmas music…
everywhere,
until
the kids beg me to stop.
This year will be different.With my Maura gone. A piece of my heart is still so very sad.
But I will take the opportunity to distract myself with the SPIRIT of giving and the busy-ness and Happiness of Christmas
A few years ago, in the interest of saving a few pennies
on Holiday decorating,
I started making these Raggy Fabric Vines
They are super dooper easy, and fun to make.
so here is your tutorial!
 RAGGY VINES
Time to make – 30 minutes to 1 hr/each vine.
supplies needed:
1. Scissors
2. Fabric scraps or yardage (approx 1/2 to 2/3 yrd per vine)
3. Rope- I use twisted sisal rope that I got at Lowes, about $6.50 for a 100ft roll.
4. Cutting board or surface to work on.
(warning- this is a very “thready” craft, you will want to do a vacuuming afterward…but it is all worth it!)
Instructions:
gather your supplies…
…score your fabric on the sides
and then tear into long strips. The width is up to you.
I usually do about 1.5 inches
stack your strips
…and then cut them into the length you want.
For smaller vines, 6″ will do, for
longer, fatter, raggier vines, 12″- 15″ strips is good.
…tie off the end of your rope pieces.
I cut mine pieces about 70″ each
and then tie off about 1 foot on either end.
I used white duct tape to secure the ends.
…lay your fabric piece under the rope
tie it on…
…and so on and so on…until you reach the other end!
You can design a pattern
or do it all the same…have fun with it!
What I LOVE about these Shabby RAGGY fabric vines is that
we can use them over and over again, every year.
They have become part of our Holiday decorations.
Part of our tradition.
…on the stair railing…
…along the mantle…

…over the windows.
I have even done these in pastels

and have used them to decorate kids rooms…

the possibilities are endless!
We can get through these Holidays..together…everyone has something in front of them that makes them pause, and sigh and then forge ahead…we all can support each other…toast those who are watching from above..and LOVE those around us who make our lives so special EVERY DAY…not just at HOLIDAY time. Lets take this time to reach out….
..and GIVE OUR HEARTS….
So go grab yourself some rope and some fabric, the kids or a friend and your other supplies and have fun!
It is a great craft to do with the kids of all ages!
They can put them in their bedrooms or give them to the teacher for a gift!
Ellie helped me when she was just two and I made my first batch. 
OKAY… next week I promise Photos from THIS YEARS CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!!!

3 thoughts on “RAGGY VINES…READY OR NOT..HERE IT COMES…

  1. Oh, I love it! I was *very* into pom pom garland years ago, and still use my pom poms every Christmas, but this looks like a nice addition. I’ve been clearing out my sewing room, so I have TONS of fabric ready to pack up or give away…I think I’ve found a new purpose 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration!!

  2. Beautiful thoughts and those “vines” are so cute! I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season and I am glad to know there is someone else out there who drives their family nuts with Christmas music!

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