Christmas Wreath

So much has happened since my last post, not least moving to Wiltshire Cottage - more on that coming soon.

We moved to this perfect little place just before Christmas - and one of the first things I did was to  make the wreath for the front door. Priorities!

I always make mine - I much prefer a real one and shop-bought ones are very expensive and a bit limited, usually to holly alone.

Part of the joy is the walk in the woods to gather the material, very midwinter - still and atmospheric...

 

I like a mixture of holly, broad glossy evergreen leaves and interesting firs.

 

 

I have been trained in Floristry and am very aware that this is not the 'proper' way to wire up a wreath - but works just as well.

 

First, take a wire wreath ring (£1 or so on Ebay) and make a padded base by binding generous bunches of straw to it, using twine:

 

 

Next, take even sized sprigs of your base fir (these were Christmas tree trimmings) and bind using twine or fine green wire:

 

 

Then, add your contrasting foliage by sticking the stem firmly into the straw base, and using a length of green wire to tie the tip of the sprig in place:

 

Until you are happy it is an even spread. Then, simply keep layering up contrasting foliage in this way until you are happy with it.

 

I prefer a lot of simple greenery, although you could hot glue on some pine cones or baubles if that is your thing. As a finishing touch I cheated and glued some red beads for 'berries' onto the holly.

 

 

The photo above was taken after a frost, so it looks a little sad!

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!