So I've really been itching for a project in Swaziland. I love to cook and be in the kitchen, like to knit and am in the process (albeit very long!) of making a patchwork afghan, but I also like a quick project every now and then.
Two weeks ago, I saw this cute idea for a coffee filter wreath by my dear friend and Lazy Mom contributor Traci, but I didn't think I could pull this off in Africa. If you're familiar with "here", you know that we don't have dollar stores, craft stores, or anything remotely close. But, I've had this silly wreath on the brain for thirteen days, and when I have things on my brain, I can't shake them... especially when I dream about them. :)
I decided today that I was going to give this my best effort, so I went to a garden shop here in Mbabane, my shot in the dark. If they didn't have it, chances were no one would. We frequent Carter's (the shop) every so often, and the manager knows us (okay, she knows the kiddies -- not sure if she could pick me out of a crowd without them!). Wouldn't you know that she tracked down both a floral wreath and burlap by the meter (remember we're metric over here!). Awesome!
I knew I had a hot glue gun at home... bonus. I had to plug it into a converter (yes, we're metric and 220, too -- we're complicated!) so my gun wouldn't blow up or burn the house down, but I knew that the gluing process would be relatively easy. The only thing that was going to be a challenge was the coffee filters. I haven't seen an unbleached one here yet, and keeping a white wreath clean would be virtually impossible in Africa.
So, because TIA ("this is Africa"), and nothing is convenient or easy, I knew I would need to get creative and dye them. And so I did -- with tea bags. I dipped them, wrung them out, put them in a dryer bag, and threw them in for a tumble... really. There was absolutely no way that I would have the patience to let them air dry overnight. If you know me at all, you know that I like things done yesterday -- especially if I'm dreaming about said things.
A couple of hours, a floral wreath, some burlap, about 150 filters dipped in Five Roses (only the best for a wreath crafted in Swaziland!), hot glue, an organza ribbon, and lots of love.
The finished product:
Very fun... very inexpensive... and I'm now officially crafting in Africa. :)
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