11:44 am - 31 degrees - overcast...
Every year after Thanksgiving I
make a number of lush, full, fresh Christmas wreaths for family and friends. Whether on the front door or above the
mantle, few things convey the holidays better than a fresh wreath.
This weekend while Tony and
Caitlyn went out searching for the perfect Christmas tree, Jack and I wandered
around the property in search of greenery for our Christmas wreaths. We found noble to use for the base greenery
with some hemlock and cedar for accents.
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Bagging up our Noble Fir cuttings.
I cut everything into around 6"-7" or around 10"-11" cuttings. |
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Different size cuttings make different size wreaths.
Both wreaths are on an 18" frame.
The wreath on the left is made up of 6"-7" cuttings.
The wreath on the right is made up of 10"-11" cuttings. |
I think mixing different kinds
of greenery creates a beautiful textured look that just adds a little something. I will use whatever greenery is available
around the property like noble, cedar, salal, or hemlock, and sometimes we’ll
get some cuttings from our parents’ homes.
I’ve used arborvitae cuttings from my parent’s and we’ve taken holly cuttings
from Tony’s parents. We just use
whatever is available.
Before I start making wreaths the
first thing I do is get organized - I cover the dining table in a heavy
plastic, get out all the tools and supplies I am going to need like the wreath
frames, wire, wire snips and hand pruners, and I set aside my piles of
greenery.
When I’m ready to make the
wreath, I lay the wire frame in the center of the table and secure one
end of the wire to the frame. I then
gather up greenery cuttings, usually around 10-12 pieces layered in whatever
order I think looks good – a few cuttings of noble, then a hemlock, then
another couple nobles, topped off with a cedar or two. Lay the bundle onto the frame and wrap
the bottom inch in wire a few times to secure it to the frame.
I continue to gather, bundle
and wrap until the whole frame is full.
Then I will work my way back around the wreath gently spreading the bundles
out a bit and tucking in an extra piece of greenery here or there if I see an
area that is a little thin.
After the wreath is looking
nice and full, I will add a few small embellishments like red ilex berries or
small pinecones just to add some festive color and more texture. I prefer simplistic wreaths decorated by
nature’s embellishments whereas others prefer adding bows, ornaments or other
decorations.
After all the greenery, nature's embellishments and decorations have been added, it’s time to add the hanger.
One way is to use a piece of wire that I twist and form into a loop,
then attach to the back to be used as a hook.
Another way is to cut about 1 ½ yards of ribbon, wrapped the two ends of
ribbon around the frame about 8”-10” apart from each other, then stapled each
individual ribbon end together to secure the ribbon to the frame. Then cut the ribbon in half at the top of the
loop and tie a bow with the two ends.
This full, lush wreath will
make the perfect greeting hung on your front door.
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