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Each year just before the frost, my mom invites my sister-in-law and I to attack her herb and flower gardens. We gather up things to make beautiful herb and floral wreaths. If you have seen these wreaths hanging for sale at craft shows and shops, you realize how expensive they can be, but we make our own for no cost at all, other than a little florists wire.
The items that you will need to make your wreath are, of course the flowers and herbs, a sharp pair of scissors to cut the plants, a frame on which to build your wreath (these can either be a purchased wire frame, or can be made by bending a coat hanger into the desired shape), florists wire and a small pair of wire cutters to cut the wire.
We first spend some time gathering the herbs and flowers that we are going to use in our wreaths and separate them into piles on the floor of my dad’s workshop. Any herbs or herbal flowers will work, as well as sunflowers, globe amaranth, yarrow, statice, strawflowers, or anything that you have growing in your flower beds. Although the petals may fade and fall, the center of the flower will remain, leaving an interesting form, as with the sunflowers. Be sure to gather your items after the dew is off the petals and leaves.
You can also make a “color scheme” type wreath using all herbs and flowers in one or two colors, or mix and match your colors and textures. Whatever you decide to go with, it will make a beautiful addition to your home decor. For example this year I made one wreath that was totally made from different colors and textures of greens, but to each bunch I either added yellow yarrow or a small sunflower. My wreath is totally green with just a few touches of yellow here and there. While my sister-in-law, used a bit of every color and texture in one of her wreaths, and it was simply gorgeous. My eldest daughter made her first wreaths ever this year, and she did her’s in greens and a variety of purple and blue flowers. I must say, for her first time she did an excellent job.
Now gather up a handful of greens and flowers, using a combination of textures. Remember that as these things dry, they will shrink in size a bit, so make sure that your bunch is rather full. Trim the ends of your bunch off even. I would recommend keeping the bunch anywhere from 5 to 6 inches in length. With your frame laying on a flat surface, take the bunch of greens in your hand, lay it slightly to the inside of the frame and wire it sturdily in place. Do not cut the wire, but just wrap in around the bunch about 1 inch from the trimmed ends.
Gather up a second bunch, making it approximately the same size as the first, trim the ends, and now lay this bunch rather towards the outside of the frame and continue wrapping the wire about 1 inch from the ends of this bunch. By zigzagging your bunches back and forth along the frame, it will give your wreath a much fuller look.
Continue with these steps, alternating one bunch to the inside of the frame, and the next bunch to the outside of the frame until the entire frame is covered with greens and flowers. Now cut off your wire.
Hold your wreath up and take a look, which do you feel is the top side? Believe it or not, most wreaths will look like they have a top and bottom. At the top, back of your wreath make a wire loop for hanging.
It is best to let your wreath lay on a flat surface for a few days, at the start of the drying process to keep the herbs and flowers from drooping as they dry. I also do not recommend hanging these in direct sunlight, as for example on a front door. The colors have a tendency to fade much quicker in full sun. I have several wreaths hanging in my home that were made several years ago, and while the colors have faded a bit, they still look beautiful.
Another suggestion for using bunches of herbs and flowers, is to make the bunch larger and longer. Wire it together and hang it upside down with a pretty bow tied over the wire. These make really cute smaller wall hangings, that can be hung just about anywhere that you would like a little added color.
Give making your own wreaths a try, not only do they look beautiful, but they smell wonderful too.
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