homemade wreaths?

[janeyo]

Just wondering if any of you arty creative types has ever made you own wreath?
Is it easy to do?
I was away the day the creative gene was handed out but would like to have a go as we've got loads of conifers. If it wsn't too hard.

[binley100]

You could either buy a polystyrene ring from a craft shop and poke all your bits into it. Or get some florists wire and wire your stems to each other and gradually build it up like that .
You could even use some chicken wire to make a frame and either wire things to it or poke the stems through it.

[bluemoon]

It's something I've always fancied trying too. They have the 'blanks' in Hobbycraft and I'm always tempted to buy one then have a go. How hard can pushing a bit of conifer in be? I ask myself. Next door had a holly tree, and I always 'liberated' some of that and planned to use it in the wreath that I never made, (only the branches which hung over my fence though) but they cut it down in the summer to make way for one of those rotary clothes drier things. I was mortified.

[binley100]

You could try a different shaped one....

Rustic Holiday Twig Wreath : Holidays and Entertaining : Home & Garden Television..

[Jeanied]

We always made vine wreaths using long vine prunings (apt for this forum, don't you think?). You wind the prunings round a shape to begin with and then twist them round the circle to complete. You can tuck the greenery into the shape because it isn't solid! Very chic!

[winstonwobble]

I had a go last year it looked a right mess but nobody dare say that my family know who's boss and who cooks christmas dinner!!

[Lovage]

I have made hundreds of these over the years, mostly in the traditional way.
The commercial wreaths are made on a simple wire frame - a few pence to buy from a wholesaler, a florist might sell you one for 50p or you can often fine old ones in the churchyard!

First you form a base by laying sphagnum moss or straw on the frame and winding string around to secure. String needs to be about 1in apart - moss or straw not too tight or it's hard to get stuff through it.

Next the moss or straw needs to be covered with flat conifer like lawsons cypress. If pieces are cut to about 9in long the stem can be tucked under 2 or 3 strings to secure then the next one covers the stem and the strings. Proceed around the base in one direction until all the moss or string is covered.( alternative at this stage is to lay the conifer on and wrap with reel wire which is hardly visible )

Third stage is holly - cut sections about 6in long, remove the lower leaves then push through the conifer & straw or moss, securing at the back by bending and pushing under a string. It needs quite a bit of holly, through the sides as well as straight thru the middle. Variegated holly really gives it a lift

Finally decorations of your choice, ribbons, wired cones, baubles, berries or whatever takes your fancy

You can do the straw or moss anytime, conifer in Nov and holly in Dec, not to soon or it will dry out and remember to keep outside, cool and damp for max life

It can be quite fun and creative - definately worth having a go!

[pipscariad]

Making my own wreath every christmas is something I really look forward to. Having said that I've only done it for the past 5 years , but it's worth a go, esp as you have conifer branches at hand. Last year I used a proper frame as Lovage has described (a new found friend makes wreaths to sell, and she showed me how), and it was very sturdy compared to my previous ones, but that said, they were fine, and I only used florists wire (which I bought from a local flower shop). It's easy with florists wire as you can just make a rough outline with several strands twisted together, then use more wire to bind the conifer etc onto that frame, and if you use plenty then it bulks it out and makes it stronger. You can add pine cones, nuts or berries later, once you've shaped it. If you use holly though (too ouchy for me most of the time ), it needs to go in as you make the wreath.

Good luck of you decide to have a go - it might be the start of an annual tradition!

[scarey55]

I have made my own before and I might have a go this year. Mine were just a metal coat hanger pressed into a ring and covered with hay or straw or whatever dry grass I could find from hedgerow. I tied it to the coat hanger with straw coloured twine and then decorated it with conifer branches, holly, ivy and ribbon.
Perhaps we could have an "exhibition" of our work on here.

[Flummery]

Our village 'In Bloom' group are making these for sale in the village. We're collecting the greenery from our own and other villagers' gardens (with their permission!) and from a local farmer's hedgerows, again, with his permission.

Our leader in this is a member who is a florist. We're using a wire framework and the greenery and berries are cut into short lengths and bound in bunches into the framwork with wire on a reel. We've had quite a few orders - even more when they saw this example!

We're doing them the weekend before December - just over a week away. I've been walking the hedges spotting stuff this week.

[HeyWayne]

LadyWayne made three the other day. It was from an idea she got whilst on a day course at Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons. She and a friend went a couple of years ago.

All you require is:

Oasis circles (bought from our local garden centre)
A glue gun
Corks - lots of corks

She simply glued the corks around the oasis ring and then glued some more round the edges. She had a load of champagne/sparkly wine corks too - so stuck them in the centre.

They look pretty cool - a bit different.

We still have lots and lots of corks.

[Dane End Dolly]

We did a wreath making session at our gardening club last year and Lovage has described exactly what we done, it is quite easy when you get going and it does look great.

K

[northmaid]

What a creative bunch we all are! I made a wreath last year and thought it looked great; somebody else did too as it was pinched from the front door! Will be making another this year but will try to remember to bring it into the porch overnight.

[Dane End Dolly]

Isn't it pathetic that people will steal the wreath from your door, I cannot believe sometimes how low people will stoop, the wreath must have looked fab.

[janeyo]

Ok I have given up on the idea as yours all sound so lovely and mine will be rubbish. That pic is amazing!
IF and it's now a very big IF I have a go I will post a pic so you can all have a good laugh