Old Leather Horse Harness Christmas Wreath

Last year I picked up this old leather horse harness at an estate auction  from a farmhouse here in South Carolina.  

(this is the back, I did not take a before pic)   I actually bid on it because it had a roll of old chicken wire with it. The wire was perfectly aged and rusty in spots and would work perfectly for so many projects I have on my list.   The harness got put in the attic of my workshop for a while, I even think it made it into the Goodwill donation box at least once before I decided to hang onto it.   Boy am I glad I kept it.  

 

 

After a thorough cleaning and oiling the leather,

I drilled small holes on each side of the top.

I did this because the buckle was missing and I needed a way to hold the harness closed.

 

 

I ran a heavy gauge wire through the small holes on each side and twisted it together to close the harness and began decorating it with faux greenery and a burlap ribbon bow.

 

 

The horseshoes are probably my favorite part.

My neighbor is a farrier and he was kind enough to bring me a dozen old horseshoes.

They also needed a good cleaning and I sprayed them with a clear matte sealer.

The horseshoes are wired together and through the small holes I drilled in the harness.

 



I'm in love. If only I had a big red barn to hang it on.  

 

I'm also thinking that it would be a great focal point for a rustic winter wedding.

What do you think?

Just add small signs with the name of the bride and the groom to each horseshoe?

 

 

  'til next time,     Linking to: 52 Mantels The Pin Junkie Common Ground My Repurposed Life Funky Junk Interiors The Newlywed Pilgrimage Between Naps on the Porch