Back to School Wreath

This is my 'new' wreath for my front door.  I live in a historic house, that looks something like an institution.  It has been mistaken for both a church and a school, so I thought it would be perfectly in keeping with the mood of the house to do an antique Back to School autumn wreath.

As an antique dealer, I always have lots of old goodies stashed away.  The antique school slate above was purchased for a song, because it has a crack across the slate.  The sweet little speeches book is part of a set, and I chose this one because of the title.  Isn't the leather strap fun?  It was a last minute inspiration that hit after the book was attached, the strap is actually part of an old roller skate.

I found the cute old school picture here on Graphics Fairy, and cut it down to a manageable size.

I used the antique red velvet ribbon to hold the wreath, because the red repeated the other reds in the wreath, but also because I could imagine it being tied in a little girls hair on the first day of school.

And here it is as it appears on my front door!!  Hope it will help everyone get in the mood for school!