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22 January, 2011

A Tutorial: An Easy and Inexpensive Faux Lavender Wreath!

IMG_5317 I love lavender! It’s so…well…French! And a lavender wreath has long been on my wish list, but they are sooo expensive! I have even tried growing my own, but lavender doesn’t like Georgia's red clay soil.

IMG_2635 So I was really excited when I saw the faux lavender at Hobby Lobby. It’s the most realistic I have yet to see! Even our co-host Baby Kitty checked it out and had to agree! Then my little wheels started turning…what if I could make my own wreath?

IMG_2630I bought a twiggy wreath form with a 40% off coupon and a lavender bush which was on sale half-price…all from Hobby Lobby…and got to work.

IMG_2649 First, I cut the lavender from the bush using wire cutters, separating the leafy portion from the blooms.

IMG_2650 Then I simply pushed the leaves into the wreath until each section was firmly attached. I didn’t need hot glue or wires. They just stayed in place…easy! I placed them in the same direction as the twigs, in a sort of spiral pattern.

IMG_2651 Next, I worked in the blooms in the same method and pattern. They just stay in place as well…no glue necessary.

IMG_2666 And here is the result! I really like the way it turned out! Even a faux lavender wreath can be expensive…and forget a real one unless you are fortunate enough to live where it will grow and can make your own! Mine only cost about $8.00 total! Woo hoo!

hall1 I added it to this frenchy shabby mirror in my little hallway. It was a great find for $35 from a near-by lighting company that was going out of business. This is my little bit of shabbiness in my country French home. I am a Provençal blue and yellow person and, as much as I would love to, I just can’t do my whole house in white like I see on so many beautiful blogs. I get hungry for my sunny south-of-France colors.

hall3 You may remember the table, too. I found it at a flea market, already painted the just-right color and shabbied up by time…love it! I just added a topiary stripped down to the bare bones that was topped with an interesting finial, a half-price boxwood topiary from Hobby Lobby…

IMG_5313  …a stack of old volumes of Shakespeare (a Goodwill find) all tied up with twine and a starfish. I like the contrast of the white and dark and the variety of textures!

wreath1 But my favorite thing is the lavender wreath! When I look at it, I am reminded of my favorite day of my retirement trip to France visiting the little hilltop village of Gordes and the nearby Abbaye de Sénanque  with its famous lavender fields…and a *sort of* encounter with Russell Crowe! lol But that’s another story! (Click here to read that post!) Ahhh! What a nice image on this dreary winter day!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my wreath!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Before and After Party on Wednesdays
Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Linda at A la Carte for Junkin' Finds on Fridays
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Fridays
Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!

83 comments:

  1. Debbie, that is just adorable! I love the wreath, and it does look so simple. I want one for my front door! I might just have to "borrow" this idea.

    Hope you are well and that my friend Baby Kitty is able to get outside. We've got some cold headed our way today. I just got back from seeing "The King's Speech" with a friend. Mr. Magpie is in an all day meeting, and he's so hard to nail down that I went with a friend to the matinee. If you haven't seen it, go! It is a neat, neat movie, and there is no justice in the world if Colin Firth doesn't win best actor for it at the Academy Awards (he took it at the Golden Globes). The actor who played the speech teacher is wonderful, too, and I hope he wins best supporting actor at the Oscars.

    I'm not sure the picture should win best picture, but those two actors deserve to win! Go see it. You'd love it.

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  2. Oh my Debbie!
    That is truly gorgeous! You have me so inspired now!
    I love the shabby table and how lovely that wreath looks on your very wonderful mirror!
    Thanks for the tutorial, I may need to make one of these myself!
    Happy Weekend,
    Cindy

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  3. I just love the wreath! When I lived in VA I had tons of lavender! I really miss not having it here in GA, but I'm going to try it this year by diggin out a big hole and putting in some really good soil:) We'll see!
    Robin:)

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  4. Oh, the lavender wreath is just lovely. I love the entire vignette--the wreath on the mirror, the boxwood topiary, the twiggy pyramid, all of it is put together just perfectly.
    CAS

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  5. Lovin' your new wreath Debbie-it's beautiful! I have two lavender plants in the garden and your faux look very realistic-enjoy:@)

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  6. That is gorgeous and LOVE it with the mirror!!!

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  7. Love the lavender wreath! West to read about your encounter with Russell Crowe...you're a lucky woman! :)

    Stop by when you have a chance. I'm having a $30 Gift Card Giveaway to help with those things that you buy at Hobby Lobby or Home Depot.

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  8. Debbie! You are just amazing, friend! This lavender wreath is so pretty and I've priced some of these too and just walked away in sadness! I'm so happy to know only two lavender bushes were needed! It's gorgeous and now I want one too! You're such an inspiration!!
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  9. I love the wreath and the beautiful mirror! What a find and the wreath looks so perfect in combination.

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  10. Hi Debbie, As always I enjoyed my visit here so much. You always have the best projects going on. Yes, that lavendar looks very real. I have to agree with Baby Kitty, and you know I AM the silk plant lady! :)

    Everything looks so good on this wintry day in January!

    Donna

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  11. Your wreath is just so pretty. I've priced wreaths like your. They were a LOT more than $7.00! NICE! La

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  12. I thought it was "real" when I first clicked in :) I do love lavender too and have tried to grow it in SE Georgia...several times...oh well :)

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  13. Hi Debbie!
    I'm in love with your beautifully created lavender wreath! It's perfect for your mirror and entryway area.

    hugs

    Sissie

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  14. The lavender DOES look real and the wreath is gorgeous!! Add to that the fact that you don't need a glue gun and I am all for it! Thanks for the tutorial...you may be seeing one on my blog soon! ;-D

    XO,
    Jane

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  15. It looks wonderful! Fabulous job and so thrifty also!! hugs, Linda

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  16. Hi Debbie,
    I am lovin your lavender wreath! What a lovely job you made of it and for so little too. I also love a white room but I'm also liking warm colours too. My wooden furniture is all white in the living room but the accents are aquas and pinks. The blues are all downstairs in the family room. Love your style!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  17. Oh Debbie, that turned out so beautifully. It's perfect! Does it smell good?...Christine

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  18. I love lavendar...your wreath looks great...

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  19. Debbie, that looks so good and great tutorial. Love the mirror. I didn't know there was a lighting place going out of business here. That was a very lucky find. Love your vignette.

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  20. Your wreath looks great Debbie! And so easy peasy! I've long wanted to plant lots of lavendar and this will be the year for me, so hopefully I'll be able to make one too! That $35 frame is killer! I love it! Sooo frenchy fabulous! Vanna

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  21. Debbie, you are always creating. This wreath looks great hanging on the mirror. With all your creative wreath ideas, you could start a little business. ;-)
    You inspire me! ~ Sarah

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  22. Oh Debbie, you amaze me. This is just stunning. You are so creative, and I love the look of it, so beautiful hung on the mirror, which is awesome. Such a pretty vignette on your cute little table. Very pretty. Thanks for linking to the party. Love your wreath. Hugs, Marty

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  23. Love the wreath Debbie. I love lavender too, but do not have much luck growing it here. There are a few lavender farms nearby, and I'd really like to visit one. Your hallway vignette is just beautiful! I love that little table, it's perfect there. And what a great mirror. The wreath is the perfect finishing touch. Hope you are warming up some. It was 20 degrees this morning when I left for work, but it hit 62 this afternoon! Hugs, Kat

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  24. Deb that is the best faux lavender I have ever seen. It truly looks real. Great job on the wreath!!! It looks so pretty hanging on your mirror, which by the way I also love, KS

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  25. It's beautiful! You are so talented, that you can see the plain wreath and transform it to lavender beauty!

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  26. What a wonderful idea. Lavender grows here like weeds and I pull it out. So now this spring I have a great project to do with some of it!! Thanks for having my favorite blog.

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  27. Debbie-I dont take the time to stop and ssay often ow much I enjoy your blog and for this I say "I am so sorry. I am a bad blog pal"
    This wreath rocks!! I love love love it~~ If it wasnt storming-i live in MN~~ I would be on the way to Hobby Lobby!!! BTW have you tried growing Lavender in Pots in GA? I bet you could grow your own then!!! I would love to live in a place where snow is rarely seen :} Be well ~ Your projects are always so inspiring!!!

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  28. You go Martha....um, I meann Debbie. What a perfect fit over your shabby mirror. Love it. I love lavender too. When we lived in Belgium it was planted all up and down the front sidwalks. I made lavender pomanders and sachets every year for gifts. I miss the smell whenever you walked by and brushed up against it. :(

    Hope you're having a wonderful weekend. Hugs, Barb

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  29. I love the lavender wreath. The lavender looks so real. Definitely something I'll keep in mind next time I cut my lavender down...

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  30. That is so pretty and I love their lavender, it is very realistic and will last forever! :)

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  31. Salut Debbie....that turned out great - Love.It. And that mirror is just perfect for it. What a gorgeous combo and vignette! Linda

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  32. Debbie, I just discovered your enchanting blog today and after reading just a few posts promptly subscribed to your list of readers. Your home is absolutely lovely. I simply adore all things French and would call my style French country with a touch of English country with a touch of Pottery Barn shabby chic. I am amazed at your fabulous bargain finds that you mention throughout your posts. Any suggestions or tips on shopping at Good Will? I've never been able to find such wonderful bargains!!

    Au revoir,
    Your newest fan, Yvonne from North Carolina

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  33. Dbbie -- this is so pretty -- love your lavendar wreath! You always come up with the very best ideas.

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  34. Debbie,
    What an adorable lavendar wreath! The entire vignette is stunning!
    We grow lavendar in the Southern front flower bed in red clay soil On Crooked Creek. I mounded up the soil and place three bunches on each mound. It is so lovely when it blooms with the gingersnap hued roses, silver of the dusty miller and golden daylilies. Early, we had it on the Western side of our home and the sun was too much for it here on the prairie. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us through this post!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  35. Pretty! Very realistic lavender, I think silks are getting better made all the time.

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  36. Sooooo pretty! Love the soft look of that HL lavender.The real stuff won't grow in Kansas either, I think it must be the humidity! Thanks for showing us how to do this..simple and cheap, that's how I roll!

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  37. Debbie, dropping back by to take another peek at your wreath. I just love it. I would love to do one of these for my front door, but I'm wondering if I would need three or four bushes. I don't have a coupon, but it's so cute I don't care! I have my Christmas arrangement still up, and I think it's time to rectify that. LOL!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  38. Debbie this is beautiful!

    I planted lavendar in our little side garden, last year. Perhaps I will be able to harvest some for a wreath. I had a bed of lavendar at the farm that produced beautiful plants year after year. Hope this new little patch does as well.

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  39. I grow lavender in my front yard. I'm using your wreath as inspiration to make my own come summer.

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  40. I love the wreath you used as your base. I have some dried lavender that I grew and this is the perfect way to use some of it. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  41. Your wreath is beautiful and what a deal! Thanks for sharing with us how you made it and where to get everything.
    Cindy

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  42. Debbie, what a great idea! I'll be making a V-day wreath soon so maybe I'll pick up some of those lavender shoots from HL, too! It turned gorgeous with that table, mirror and vignette!

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  43. What a great idea to make your own. It looks perfect on your mirror. Blessings, Kim

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  44. That is just gorgeous and I want one! Thanks for the tutorial!
    Lacy

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  45. I planted Lavender 2 years ago and hope it will bloom more this third year. Your wreath tutorial was very welcome. Thanks.

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  46. Debbie you are so right about the lavender looking so real!! This is such a neat idea! I have a friend who started some lavender plants for me so maybe I will have some real lavender to make one of these this summer! Now I just need to find a great looking twig wreath like yours!

    The vignette is so sweet also- love that topiary and the books with the starfish- that's another thing I need to look for- love the look of the starfish I see around blog land!

    bee blessed
    mary

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  47. Debbie it is an absolutely beautiful wreath!! I love where you put as the vignette below is also so lovely!!

    to brighten your day....

    Come and join my Gorgeous Giveaway from Blydesign!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  48. Wow, great job on the lavender wreath, I love it! Thank you for joining in on Masterpice Monday. Mary :O)

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  49. Debbie - This looks fabulous. Love the lavender. Thanks so much for linking to the Sunday Showcase - I greatly appreciate it. I'll be featuring this today. Hope you have a wonderful week ~ Stephanie Lynn

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  50. Debbie, Your wreath is fabulous!! I have tried to grow lavender with no success. I ended up buying bundles of it. I love this.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  51. Great wreath, what a pick me up for a winter's day. Great pricing too.

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  52. That looks lovely! I didn't know lavender wouldn't grow in GA, though...what a bummer.

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  53. Your wreath is beautiful. Thanks for the tutorial. The whole vignette on your table looks lovely. And I'm with you ~ I need some color in my life!
    Blessings
    Sue

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  54. I am sooooooo going to benchmark this!! (that means "copy" in a nice way) Wonderful idea & beautifully done & so EASY, too! You could supplement your upcoming trip to France nicely by making & selling these, ya' know. LOL Just a thought! Thanks for sharing yours.

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  55. Beautiful, I can almost smell the lavender(the real, not the faux). I long for a Hobby Lobby!

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  56. It's a stunner for sure! Love it. Thanks for the how to, 'cause now I have to ;o

    xoxo,
    Ellen

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  57. Debbie,
    Your THRIFTY wreath looks outstanding...just LOVE those HB coupons:)

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  58. Hello Debbie,

    I love your wreath! It looks great!

    ~ Tracy

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  59. Debbie thanks for linking up to JFF this week. I really love this wreath. hugs, Linda

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  60. Hi Debbie~ What a beautiful wreath!!I This came out absolutely perfect-and it looks gorgeous with your mirror! I love how easy you made it look- I always look for lavender for a beautiful wreath too- this might be the way to go!! Thanks for sharing this at Feathered Nest Friday this week! :)

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  61. Love the wreath! Hobby Lobby has their wreaths 50% off this week...two guesses where I am headed!

    Thanks!
    Sharon
    thegrayhair@gmail.com

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  62. Debbie this is a great idea. If I use anything other than real -- I try to use the next best thing -- dried natural leaves, plants, grasses and this lavendar really looks good -- that mirror was made for you to showcase this wreath -- perfect pick of where to hang. Thanks for the inspiration Terri

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  63. oh, this is so so pretty, it looks real to me, great job on this, love your blue furniture! And Baby Kitty is a sweetie Pie! Thanks for linking up to VIF!
    hugs,
    Debra

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  64. Beautiful!!~ I love how your wreath looks on the mirror..very cool look! I blabbed about your kitty from the party!

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  65. Lovely wreath, Debbie it looks wonderful on the mirror above your little table.
    I will bookmark this tutorial for later in the year, when my lavender is in bloom.

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  66. Beautiful wreath. I too love lavender. I can grow butterfly lavender but it wouldn't look good in a wreath. I never thought about buying the faux lavender. This is great and looks so real. Hugs, Ginger

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  67. This looks so lovely. I look forward to you stopping by at My Dream Canvas:-)

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  68. Oh goodness... what a stunning effect! You'd never know it was faux either, the lavender looks so incredibly real!

    I've featured you on SNS #67's sidebar this weekend. :)

    Donna
    http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

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  69. Your wreath looks fantastic and I love it hanging on that mirror. The mirror is really beautiful.

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  70. I love your wreath. The whole display you have created in you hall is gorgeous. You really have an eye for displays. Thanks for sharing. Now I need to go out and find me some faux lavender~~~Sherry~~~

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  71. Debbie, you are brilliant! How do you come up with these ideas? Love your wreath, and I am sooooo going to try this! Your mirror is gorgeous, and the vignette on the table is perfect. Thank you for showing us how to make it, and especially thank you for linking this to Favorite Things. I love it! laurie

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  72. so pretty and dainty, thanks for showing us this!

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  73. This wreath is lovely. :) I have scheduled it to be featured on Craft Gossip tomorrow night. Thanks for the tutorial!

    If you would like a "featured by" button, you can grab one here!
    http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/grab-a-craft-gossip-button/

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  74. Debbie this entry was a delight! Thanks for the great idea! You are very charming, I might also add!

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  75. Thank you Debbie for this great entry! I love the completed look! You are very charming, too!

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  76. Merci Debbie pour cette adorable couronne de lavande. I grow my own lavender in the garden in Greece where I live, and will try to make a wreath with it (I just think I should coat it with hair spray). Oh, and thank you for loving everything french !!!! Votre blog est fantastique !!! Merci pour les idées !

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  77. Thanks for posting your how-to lavender wreath, absolutely beautiful. I know how expensive they can be even with faux materials. Wished we had a Hobby Lobby here in Maine.

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  78. Hi Debbie ~
    I love your wreath ~ I have a real small wreath and think this would look so pretty with the lavender on it.
    I never would have thought to use lavender ~ thanks for sharing... I love your posts. they always inspire me.
    Have a wonderful week.
    Rose

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  79. I bought the wrong kind of wreath, not the fanned out one, but it still looks great, thanks!

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  80. I added a link back on my blog to you for this, thanks...

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Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment! I appreciate my wonderful readers!... Debbie