Easy DIY Wreath + Plush Robin Pattern

I've had a straw wreath at home for about 2 years now...The shame!! I bought it on a whim, hoping an angel would come down from heaven and show me what to do with it...

Since I've discovered the wonderful world of crafts, I have been looking at the world with new "crafter's" eyes :)  Everything I see "speaks" to me in ways that they never did before. The first snow fall, a bird singing, my lounge curtains, a piece of rubbish in the streets...The world has new meaning and the possibilities are endless!

So with this new approach to life and after a light bulb moment, I decide to tackle my long forgotten straw wreath, and breathe new life onto it!

Since I had all the materials at home (the pine cones were free, courtesy of my gorgeous pine trees), I did not spend a penny! :)

 

I used hot glue to secure the pinecones to the straw wreath. Add a nice bow (a little crooked, but charming nonetheless) and there you have it!

It looked really simple and rustic. I was aiming for a wreath I could use all year around, and not just at Christmas time. So I am planning to take the red bow off and hang it in the hall.

Although it looked just how I wanted, I think it was missing something to make it more festive....

Enter.... the Bird! What else? :)

I had previously made a sweet little bird using a pattern for a bluebird, but it wasn't quite what I wanted, so I made my own pattern to make it look more like a Xmas robin :)

I also made it in felt instead of fabric.

 

Robin Pattern (enlarge photo and use as template)

To make the plush felt robin:

1. Fold a piece of brown felt in half and draw the bird body following the pattern, so you end up with 2 pieces attached at the fold-line. 
2. Cut the pattern for the chest once, from red felt. 
3. Pin the chest piece to the body starting at the dot on the neck (see the pattern for details)
4. Starting at the back of the head, stitch by hand using any embroidery stitch you like. Click here for a link to know more about embroidery stitches.
5. Just before closing, fill the bird with pollyfill. Sew on sequins or beads for the eyes.
6. Attach the robin to the wreath using hot glue.
   

 This pattern was my 3rd attempt....If you have a better one, please let me know?