Hose Wreaths

When my friends came curbside junking with me for the first time this spring, they were inquisitively watching from their vehicle as I jumped out to grab quite a few old hoses. When we stopped for lunch, they questioned why in the world would I want old hoses? Decorative possibilities galore! Do other people not see the potential? Guess not...not unusual in my life!

I started noticing all the pretty colors of hoses in the curbside piles a couple years ago. Red, pink, yellow, aqua, green in all different variations. I pictured using them all together as garden decor. Big Boy cut the first batch, but the task has been handed down to Mr. Freckles now. They cut them in 16"-20" sections with a hand saw. I then scrub them up to get the majority of dirt off. I use a 5 gallon bucket of soapy water, and sometimes lay them out and sprinkle them with Bon Ami if they need a little more grit. Washing them in sections is much easier then the whole Boa Constrictor!

  

After I rinsed them with the hose, I stood them up to drain any drips out and let them dry in the sun.

When I made a few of these a couple years ago, I used a metal wreath base, covered with green burlap. It worked, but my new idea was to use grapevine/birch wreaths as a base. I picked up a few at church sales this spring, and had a few already in the stash.

First, I laid out hose sections on the wreath in an appealing conglomeration of colors. After a little practice, I decided I liked the solid colors on the bottom, and the patterned ones on over the top.

  

  

The second layer of hoses, I wove under the first layer, so they all weren't just laying flat. I attached the hose sections with a double thickness of bindwire. It's a raffia covered wire that's a floral supply basic. We have a few spools for sale in the store. After twisting a couple times, I trim the ends and tuck them behind. The grapevine was much easier to attach to than the wire form I had used before. I also was pleased with the texture contrast.

  

  

Next I added moss to the rough ends of each of the hoses, pushing a little bit into the end with a pencil. I love the texture this adds.

I then added fake succulents, clay pots, and vintage metal garden accents for artistic flair.

  

  

I got three done for the store, and am working on a big one for the big, empty, space in my garage peak. I may add a few more garden tools to some of these from the stash at the store, because adding a little rusty metal is always good!

 

(And yes, sanding and re-teaking my table is on my to-do list!) For my garage wreath, I'm going to try attaching some clay pots of real succulents/groundcovers and see if they'll grow around and over the hoses. I'll let you know if it works...

Old hoses...another roadside treasure not to be overlooked for the decorating possibilities!

 Sharing this project at:

http://knickoftime.net/2015/06/vintage-inspiration-party-193.html

http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2015/06/pj-284-upcycled-link-party.html

http://www.thepainteddrawer.com/2016/06/painted-drawer-link-party-57.html

Comments

[Jen Y]

This is the prettiest hose wreath I've ever seen. I so love what you've done with it. I've been saving old garden hose & tools to do this but hadn't seen the perfect wreath to copy yet. I think I'm ready to put mine together!

I found your blog from the link at Funky Junk Interiors.

[Lora Bloomquist]

Thanks, Jen! Happy creating:)

[NP]

I love this wreath. What a great way to use old hoses.

[Lora Bloomquist]

Thanks, NP! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!