My new friend Kate messaged me one day last winter asking if I’d like some gumballs from her sweet gum tree to use for a craft project.
Um . . . okay . . . I guess, maybe?
So with visions of gumballs dancing in my head, off I went to meet Kate and her two beautiful babies at TCBY. It was a rainy day much like today and a perfect day for a project, though I didn’t know what I’d do with a bag of gumballs other than eat them. Well of course this turned out to be another one of those “Southern things” that a native Northwesterner like myself would know nothing about!
THIS is the dried fruit of a gumball tree . . .
. . . and this is where a portion of my bag of gumballs ended up until today . . . when the rain came gushing out my gutters . . . and the cloud cover was a dark shroud over the house . . . and I came to the end of myself while trying to write, because I’m always more creative when the sun shines.
Sometimes one gets stuck and needs to take a break from being creative to do something that’s creative in a whole ‘nuther way. So out came my ugly/faithful old glue gun and a tired grapevine wreath wearing remnants of hard glue where I’d torn some previous adornment off. . .
. . . and VOILA, a gumball wreath was born.
I don’t know about you but I think this prickly gumball wreath adds great texture to the mantle in my den and finishes off my Fall mantle display to perfection.
So do you want to hear something funny about these gumballs? I knew you would, because y’all are like that.
Last week, when I shared my post on Southern Etiquette and How to Make Your Neighbors Jealous of Your Front Porch I showed that picture of my Junky Chicken Wire Cloche all filled with gumballs and one of my readers commented saying this:
“I’ve always disliked those things, but I love how you put them to good use. Takes a newcomer into the south to see some of the beauties that we native southerners miss, I suppose. Welcome to the south.”
Isn’t that fantastic?
Sometimes it takes seeing something for the very first time to realize it’s beauty.
It really got me to thinking about how many times I miss out on the beautiful that God puts right in front of me because I’ve grown used to what’s there, and maybe even begun to have a little bit of disdain for the familiar.
Old Things New. Creating beauty out of what others have no use for is a big part of how this blog started, and seeing the beauty that God sees in other people (especially when no one has ever called them beautiful) is the other part of this blog that is becoming ever more important to me. It is what I want my LIFE to be about!
The fruit of the sweet gum tree, when it dries into a pod is given a lot of other names besides sweet gumball. These pods are also called “burr balls”, “space bugs”, “monkey balls”, “bommyknockers” and “sticker balls”. Names that aren’t so nice.
I’m thankful that God gave me eyes to see the beauty in these sweet gumballs. My prayer is for fresh eyes to see His beauty in ALL those He brings my way . . . even those who might be a wee bit prickly. Are you with me?
Gigantic blessings to you my friends,
TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NiftyThriftyThings, SilverPenniesSundays,SundaysAtHome
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Michele Morin says
November 6, 2015 at 8:28 amOh, there is beauty here on every level. Isn’t it just glorious that God gives glorious gifts in the most unexpected places!
Wendy Johnson says
November 6, 2015 at 8:58 amYour whole fireplace area is beautiful and the gumball wreath just adds to it. I really enjoy reading your posts. I always feel for lack of a better word …better.
Peggy says
November 6, 2015 at 10:51 amYour wreath is beautiful! And your blog is beautifully written. Thank you, I needed this first thing this morning. God puts people like this in our lives and we need to bring the beauty out in them. Tears in my eyes. Bless you.
Shelly says
November 6, 2015 at 1:33 pmSweet Patti, Your stories are always so inspiring. I’m glad your new friends asked you to come get some sweet gum balls instead of some sticker balls. Interesting! All to say, I LOVE the insight of calling into beauty things that have potential. I need to go find some potential today in the PNW! ❤
Weltha says
November 6, 2015 at 2:17 pmBlessings! Never in my 60 yrs have I seen a gumball wreath! Love it! We don’t have gumballs here in Maine but we do have dozens of different types of Pine Cones….some even resembling your gumballs. I think I’ll try this. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sharon H says
November 6, 2015 at 6:10 pmThat really is very nice, Patti. It’d be pretty in a shabby chic white too, looking like snow! and I’m with ya on that prayer. Hugs to you
Carole West @ Garden Up Green says
November 7, 2015 at 9:50 amVery pretty wreath looks great on your fireplace. we had a gumball tree in our front yard. For the first 4 years I enjoyed using them in different fall projects and finally the tree began to die and this year we had to cut it down. My husband was thrilled to see it go. I miss using the gumballs but I don’t miss the mess they left behind in the front yard.
Joan says
November 7, 2015 at 10:23 amWhat a great wreath! I love it! I live in the west (California) and we have trees that drop dried pods like those… Liquid Amber trees (I looked it up and I guess in the south they are called sweetgum trees!) Now I’m inspired to gather some up and make a wreath as well! Thanks for the inspiration!
Joanne Viola says
November 11, 2015 at 8:06 amBeautiful! May we see the beauty in those things around me that others would see as a nuisance. This post says so much 🙂 Blessings!
Debbie Wilson says
November 11, 2015 at 8:51 amI love your style and what you created. Beautiful!!
SheilaG @ Plum Doodles says
November 12, 2015 at 3:06 pmPatti, your wreath and your fireplace are beautiful. You truly made something prickly into something lovely. Your sweet spirit shines through your writing, 🙂
Jen says
November 12, 2015 at 8:36 pmWow! Such a gift you have for creating beauty! Love the wreath! Stopping by from 3-D Lessons for Life. ~ Jen
Jann Olson says
November 17, 2015 at 1:11 amPatti, the wreath turned out beautifully! I had never seen the gumballs before. I would be gathering them up by the armfuls! lol! They looked great under the cloche as well. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Sherry says
November 17, 2015 at 10:37 amThat makes a great wreath! Thanks for joining Home Sweet Home!
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says
November 17, 2015 at 4:54 pmOh my goodness, is that ever cool and beautiful!
So awesome and clever.
Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).
Wishing you a lovely evening.
xoxo