Is there anything more beautiful and seasonally appropriate than trees & light? Religious notions aside, winter is a time we all need a little lift. So here's a FREE way to make something gorgeous and get you in touch with the beauty of nature this winter.
What you Need to make a Gorgeous, Massive, California Native Christmas Wreath
- Buy or Make a Frame: You can weave your own (well it's more like braiding!) out of grape vine or weeping willow whips if you can find them. Or pick one up online or at a large craft store.
- Garden or kitchen twine - something compostable - to tie things together (unless you're a master weaver!).
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Harvest Accents & Branches: Before your gardener gets there with the pruners, go outside and look for evergreen branches or blossoms, grasses or berries already drying on the stalk or vine. You’re going to need a good 5-10 large-ish evergreen branches to make something big (or just go minimal with a frame and asymmetrical berry accent). Red and white accents will pop the most on the greens
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Evergreens: classics: pines, firs, cedars, redwoods, etc. fragrant moderns: bay or bay laurel, pepper trees, olive, eucalyptus, boxwood clippings
Ideas for Accents: holly or toyon berry clusters (pyracanthas don’t hold), wild buckwheat (easy to find on the side of most freeways), dried grasses, Manzanita or Strawberry Tree blossom branches, Dried buckwheat branches or Pepper Tree Clusters (if you're in a hart part of the state).
How to Make a Modern Wildly Beautiful Holiday Wreath
It takes patience, I'm not gonna lie, but the turn our is well worth the project! And there is nothing more refreshing for the sense than getting buried in a pile of ultra-fragrant holiday greens. I get the feeling it's good for the immune system too, with all the resins and saps rubbing up against you.
To get started...
- Work surface: Clear off a large table or hang a heavy duty hook on the wall. Make sure you have a pair of garden sheers for snipping handy and don't mind making a big ol' mess wherever you are.
- Ambiance: Put on some cozy or creative music that helps you relax
- Start weaving: place greens mostly going in the same direction, in and out of a few layers or wire or of your woven branch frame, tucking and pulling until you have a 1st layer.
- Accent 1: Once you've got a 1st layer you can place a large accent or 2 to get a feel for the final arrangement. Either interspersing things in triangular shaped patterns or bulking them all to one side tends to set off the form.
- Greens 2: Now fill-in more fully with greens throughout, tucking and weaving from the backside (it's sort of like sowing, but with less stitches). You should be able to tuck your branch ends into the weave. If you like things extra tidy, don't be shy, trim.
- Final Touches: Now it's time to start adding all the goodies. Adjust your accents as much as you like until it feels just right!
Check out our 1 minute video tutorial
Click here (or image below)
Want to shop our collection of live floral wreaths? click here. Every one is made from native California greens (with up to %10 non-native accents) just take a look to get inspiration.
