Happy New Year, 2015

Wreath Obsession - Part 4

The obsession is catching - this was made by one of my Girl Scouts. 

Wreath Obsession - Part 3

I spend too much time and money drinking coffee (and tea and chai) either home made, or shamefully often, from coffee shops. (Although many Girl Scouts around here hold adult planning and recruitment meetings at coffee shops.) I frequent Panera, Starbucks, DD, any handy cafe, any time I feel the need of a pick me up.  In an effort to reuse the cardboard sleeves used to keep hands from burning, I've been saving them. DD and friends have donated theirs.  I cut them open and separated the unglued sides from the glued ones.  Sadly, Starbucks prints a date on each one, so they are not as useful as they might be, and have to be painted.  I fooled with whether to cut holly leaves, paint with thinned latex, acrylic or alcohol...but finally made this.

The ethereal tulle bow does not photograph well, but the streamers are long, and notched at the bottom.  Here it is before the bow.

I think the different textures are attractive, don't you?  I used unthinned latex paint, a .50 cent sample that I picked up in Florida at an Ace Hardware (always check the sample sale table!)

I hope this is the last wreath I feel compelled to make in 2014.  (Is there a support group for crazy crafters and Pinterest addicts?)

The GE committee will be meeting the first week of February to begin work on the workshop schedule for GE 2015, so if you have suggestions, requests, or you want to teach one, let us know by email or comment here!

Now where the heck am I going to put this?

Wreath Obsession - Part 2

One small problem with the wrapped styrofoam wreaths is that they take up room to store.  I started seeing a lot of art on Pinterest that used old book pages, and scrapbook paper that looked as if it were covered with faded script.  Combining those two things with the leftover sheet music and a set of star-shaped cookie cutters, I came up with these totally flat wreaths, of which I made 7 last Christmas. Dollar store ribbon (from the wedding and baby sections) and paint dipped pine cones (yes, I saw that on Pinterest) finish them off.

 I gave all but one of the Christmas wreaths away.  On to Valentine's Day with more cookie cutters as stencils and doilies as a background.

 I found some heart shaped doilies at the store, added wrapping paper and hearts cut from bulb catalogs, and heart shaped resin 'jewels' sold at the dollar store as 'table scatter.'

Spring, Easter and Patriots' Day followed in their usual order.

Back to the stars and music, picks from the Dollar Store, ribbon from stash.

DD graduated from college.  This one stayed on the door all summer!  BTW, she had a wreath of some kind on her dorm door all year long. Every time she came home or we visited I gave her a new one.She made the first one herself using an old grape vine wreath, some shells she collected, sea stars we got as wedding favors, and lavender and hydrangeas that she picked from our garden.  That apple didn't fall too far!

 

Finally, fall came around again.  Leaves, nuts and pine cones dominated my thoughts.  Note the orange bow and apples which were recycled from the previous year's wrapped wreath.  I take the bows off to store the wreaths and reuse them.

The book page leaves on the second wreath are sprayed with alcohol ink.

As winter rolls around, all thoughts turn to holidays once more.  Last year I gave star wreaths to my wonderful service unit cookie and fall sale chairs.  This year, my rocking parade coordinator got this for Hanukkah. She said is her first wreath ever!

I made a few that I forgot to photograph as well.

As we start to think about workshops for Great Escape 2015, I'm thinking I might want to teach one on wreaths.  Ya think?

Next post; combining two obsessions, coffee and wreaths.

Wreath Obsession - Part 1

For almost three years now I've been obsessed with making wreaths.  I don't know why - I think it's something about the form of a circle within a circle.  I find the symmetry comforting.  (Why yes, plane geometry was my best math class ever!)

I challenge myself to make them from free/almost free materials.  I had some photocopied sheet music sitting around (it had been in the basement for years - took it out of a recycling bin) and I saw a wreath on Pinterest made of cones of music on a cardboard base.  That was in October 2012.  This was the result.  It's on my bedroom door right now.

I used the same stash to make these folded and cut ornaments.

The following Thanksgiving, I made these using garden center catalogs, a few scraps of watercolor paper, and some hickory nuts.

At the same time, I decided I wanted to use up some odds and ends of fabric by making these "Rapid Wrapped Wreaths."  Fabric wrapped over a styrofoam base, but I use pins to attach everything so that they can be rapidly changed to be used for other occasions.

The holly leaves and berries are cut from paint chips.

On a bedroom door for a girl's room.  I have to put wreaths on every door in the house - even the laundry!

The bunny is from the dollar store; the ribbon was in my stash. Felt left from a project so old I can't remember it!

The plastic heart/dove is from a chocolate box.  I added the cardstock and doily.  The fleece is left over from making Christmas stockings about 16 years ago.

Two flower picks from the dollar store, cut and reformed with floral tape into two nosegays.

More flowers and leaves from the dollar store.

Pumpkin from the Dollar Store plus tulle left over from last high school reunion.

With one red and one yellow wreath, you can redecorate for a full year.  Red for Christmas, Valentine's Day and Patriots' Day, Memorial Day and 4th of July.  Yellow for St Patrick's Day, spring, summer and fall.

Then I started making wreaths out of old books, pizza boxes and other paper - those will have to wait for a separate post or two!

What's Your Destination?

Know some teen girl scouts?  Remember to tell them about destinations!

Formerly known as "wider ops" destinations are travel, adventure and service trips for girls aged 13 - 18.  They can go far away (Costa Rica! India!) or stay close to home.  They can learn, camp, climb, paddle or just have fun.

See them all here:  destinations!

GSEM is sponsoring a destination this summer called Whales, Tales and Trails.  It will take place on the North Shore of Massachusetts, in and around Boston, with one side trip to New Hampshire!

http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/travel/whales-tales-and-trails/

Experience Massachusetts from the shores to the woods, through the eyes of settlers, sailors and some of America’s most important writers. Walk in the footsteps of Americans of many heritages while exploring Boston’s neighborhoods and coastline. Debate whether the witches persecuted in Salem were really witches or just citizens caught up in local disputes.  Journey to the sea, and watch mighty whales breech and blow. Take action as we provide service in a coastal fishing community. Find unique treasures in Boston shops and in small coastal boutiques. With imagination and creativity, our stories of the past and present will help you create an exciting chapter in your life-long journey of discovery.

Girls should submit their applications ASAP for the second round!  See the website for all of the details!

Where's Your Camp Home?

Great Escape, of course, is held at Camp Wabasso.  A great place for winter sports, as well.

It used to be at Camp Favorite, on Cape Cod.  That's where my daughter first learned to sail.  A fabulous place to take troops in the spring/early summer.

I went to Cedar Hill, as did my daughter and generations of other girls.  Can't count how many troops I've taken there as a leader/encampment director.

Maybe you float your boat at Camp Runels?

Which one of our GSEM camps is your home?  Virginia, Edith Read, Winnetaska, WIP? Rice Moody or Maude Eaton? Menotomy?  Somewhere to dream about as the snow starts to fly....

(thanks to the GSEM Waltham Store for lending me these shirts, which BTW are on sale for just $5 next week....)

Camporee 2016

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts has started planning for a Camporee in Fall 2016.  I know that may seem far away, but when you are planning an event for 2000 people, that time will pass quickly.

Fluke has a blog post over on the Camp Runels page with photos from 2012.  Here's one just for fun!

If you want to get involved, there is a discovery meeting on Thursday, November 13 at 7 PM at Camp Cedar Hill and we'd love to have you come find out more. To RSVP or to find out more information, drop Jill an email at jregister@girlscoutseasternmass.org - hope to see you there!

Adult Learning Conference

I met some people today at the ALC who haven't attended GE yet. Lesley and I invited everyone we met (and those we didn't meet too!) to join us next September 25 - 27 for a weekend of 'glamping.'  That's glamorous camping, and I think GE qualifies because you don't have to look good, but you'll eat well and have fun.  Bring your buddies!

If there's a workshop you want us to offer, a new craft or activity you want to learn, let us know!  Here's one from this year - Happy Halloween!

Email gsgreatescape@yahoo.com and let us know your desires!  (Hey busy moms!  When was the last time someone asked you for YOUR desires.) We'll put you on our list and let you know when registration opens next spring.  Remember that if you sign up before August 1, you get a $10 price reduction!

And if you didn't get to today's ALC there's one in Kingston next Saturday.  Sign up here:
 Sign up!

Sign up Daisys - Cadettes here:
http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/search.html?id=13033

The Importance of the Outdoors and Camps

One of the main goals of the Great Escape is to support our Girl Scout Camps.  When adults come to GE at Camp Wabasso, they are more likely to bring their troops to camp there.  And of course, Great Escape has donated lots of dough and lots of time to camp improvements at Wabasso and beyond.

Camps and camping are an important part of the Girl Scout experience - this report from GSUSA's Girl Scout Research Institute details exactly how important.  You can help by taking this survey!

And by the way, GSEM runs a program called Teen Escape that reminded me a lot of GE!  Here's some happy campers from this last weekend.

Blowing tissue paper fishies across the floor in "Minute To Win It"

Taps

As you know, at the end of camp it's tradition to retire the flag and sing "Taps."  Here's a virtual "Taps" for Great Escape 2014.  

Here's a nice photo from Jen from Sunday morning - the fog was just burning off as she walked to the dining hall for breakfast. 

Sunday morning breakfast was amazing, wasn't it?

 Milk, juice, coffee, tea, cocoa, bagels, pastry, oatmeal, french toast and sausage.  Don't you wish someone would cook for you every Sunday?  Our GE cooks got up early that day and this cooks'  parade proves it!

 Most of the photos posted in the last two weeks were taken by our roving photographer, Louise.  Thanks for your good work!  Isn't this one lovely? 

Until the next friendship circle, Goodbye Girl Scouts!

Hasta la vista!