9 Lives Boutique – For the Animals

Last weekend I got together with my old friend Jennifer from high school and we did a little treasure hunting. Our original intention was to go to garage sales, but instead we ended up browsing several thrift and antique stores in Lake Geneva. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is a town about 15-20 minutes from me. It’s rather touristy and usually quite expensive. Jennifer took me to a little store that I just fell in love with. Not just because of the items inside, but because of their mission. Saving the animals.

The 9 Lives Boutique, located at 835 Geneva Street in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin makes its home, like many of the other stores around it, in an old house turned shop. The wood floors creek as you walk and there’s that distinctive antique aroma when you walk in the door. So what makes this store different than the many other stores in the area?

100% of the proceeds benefit the homeless animals that are cared for at the Lakeland Animal Shelter. So anything you buy in this store helps a dog or a cat or some other defenseless animal that is not fortunate enough to have a loving home. The prices are very reasonable too. Makes sense. They don’t overprice their items because they want them to move! Next time I do a clean out of my belongings, I’ll be donating to them as well as my regular donation bin. I just love the cause behind it!

Here’s a few of the goodies I purchased. I’m excited about going again since their inventory is constantly changing. There’s a lot of craft inspiration in a shop like this as well. Knowing that I’m helping by shopping is such a joy! So if you’re ever in Lake Geneva, be sure to visit this shop. Spread the word too. 🙂

You can “like” the 9 Lives Boutique on Facebook too!

There are plenty of shiny red, white, and blue decorations out there, but every now and then a patriotic project comes along that feels a little more heartfelt. This 4th of July Patriotic Flag Wreath from CraftBits is one of those projects.

Instead of being overly fussy or store-bought looking, this wreath has that lovely rustic Americana feel — a grapevine wreath base, a flag draped diagonally, and a large star layered over the top. It is simple, bold, and just handmade enough to feel special without turning into an all-weekend project.

You can find the full tutorial here: 4th Of July Patriotic Flag Wreath on CraftBits.

What I really like about this wreath is the story behind it. The original CraftBits tutorial explains that the project was made using a damaged flag brought home by a veteran, and his wife, Marsha, turned it into this beautiful wreath for her family to enjoy. That gives the project a little more meaning than a standard seasonal door decoration.

The supplies are very simple: a grapevine wreath, an American flag, a large metal star, and glue. The flag is folded lengthwise to create a sash, then secured diagonally across the wreath. The star is layered on the side to cover the gathered section and give the whole piece a finished focal point.

This would look beautiful on a covered front porch, garden gate, entryway wall, mantel, or even as part of a Memorial Day or Veterans Day display. It is not just for the 4th of July either — with the right styling, this is the kind of patriotic wreath you could bring out for several red, white, and blue occasions throughout the year.

If you’re planning more handmade patriotic decorating, you might also like our 10 DIY 4th of July wreaths to dress up your front door roundup, where this CraftBits wreath is already included as a classic front-door option. For a bigger porch refresh, pair it with our 15 DIY 4th of July porch decor ideas and add planters, lanterns, bunting, or painted rocks for a full summer entryway look.

One helpful note from the tutorial is that you can glue the flag in place, or stitch it to the back of the wreath if you want the option of removing it later. That is especially worth considering if you are using a sentimental flag, a vintage flag, or one with family meaning. Stitching gives you a bit more flexibility and avoids permanently attaching something you may want to preserve.

You could also soften the look with a few extra details. Add raffia for a farmhouse feel, tuck in cream or red faux roses, use denim ribbon, or add smaller stars around the grapevine base. I’d keep the extras fairly restrained though, because the flag and star are already doing the heavy lifting. This is one of those projects where too much “more” can tip it from rustic to crowded very quickly.

For supplies, Amazon is a handy option for grapevine wreath forms, metal star accents, glue, and mini flags. Etsy can also be useful if you want a handmade metal star, rustic Americana embellishments, or vintage-style patriotic trim, but I’d keep it simple so the wreath still feels meaningful rather than overly decorated.

This is a lovely beginner-friendly patriotic craft because there is no complicated measuring, no sewing machine required, and no special tools beyond basic craft supplies. It is also a good project for using a flag that may not be suitable to fly outdoors anymore but still holds meaning. As always, if you’re using an actual American flag with sentimental or ceremonial value, take care with how it is handled and displayed.

The finished wreath has that warm front-porch welcome feel — festive enough for the 4th of July, but classic enough to suit a farmhouse, cottage, or rustic summer decorating style.

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