Wreathing class and tips

Our class in early December was a celebration of the senses and the season together!  We foraged enough greens that the room was literally over flowing! Alma Rosa Tasting Room was the perfect warm, cozy atmosphere and the wine was incredible!  The fire kept us warm, the eucalyptus smelled so wonderful, the wine tasted heavenly and using our hands to build the wreath to celebrate the holiday felt so right!  Thank you for all who came out to enjoy the afternoon with us! 

Make your own wreath! You'll be surprised how fun and easy it is and how much greenery you can find right outside your own door! Wreaths also make wonderful gifts!

Wreath Making Tips:

Supplies needed:

Metal wreath form or grapevine wreath form
Clear rubber hair ties
22-gauge floral wire, cut into 5-inch strips
Garden shears
Wire cutter
Greenery of choice (Pine, juniper, bay, olive, kumquat, willow. So many options!)

Let's get started!

If using the wire frame: 

1. Decide what greenery you will use and bunch them together. The pieces should be about 5 inches long.  
2. Tie green bunches together using clear rubber hair ties. 10 bunches is a good starting point. 
3. Using floral wire, attach the bunches to your wire frame. Each bunch should overlap with the previous one to cover the stems. Move in a clockwise motion to complete the wreath.
4. Decide if you need to fill in any spots. If you do. Add them. 
5. Twist all wires an extra two to three times to make sure greens are secure. Remember, as they dry they will shrink. 
6. Additions: Decide if you want to adorn your wreath with a bow, berries, seed pods or sprigs of lavender, rosemary or eucalyptus and slide them into place. You can secure them with wire or glue. 

If using grapevine wreath form:

1. Cut greenery to about 10-15 inches long. 
2. Start winding the green around the wreath. Keep winding and inserting green where you see fit. 
3. Just keep going until you feel your wreath is complete. 
4. Additions: Decide if you want to adorn your wreath with a bow, berries, seed pods or sprigs of lavender, rosemary or eucalyptus and slide them into place. You can secure them with wire or glue. 

Love and happy holidays, Emma

Photos by Jocelyn Noel