MAKING FALL WREATHS

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The following project—a vine wreath with milkweedpod flowers—is excellent for first time wreath makers. It's a great conversation piece ("Is that really a wasp's nest?"), and its natural beauty blends in with almost any decor. And as you'll be gathering your own materials, the price will be more than reasonable.

Natural Vine Wreath With Milkweed-Pod Flowers

Makes one 12-inch wreath.

Supplies needed:

15 to 20 7-foot lengths of grapevine (I used grapevine but the vines mentioned are fine)
16 cooked milkweed pods (see previous instructions) Make sure these materials are dried before using:
2 large pieces of sphagnum moss
10 hemlock pinecones
15 stems of goldenrod
15 stems of green oats
15 stems of white yarrow
25 heads of Queen Anne's lace
4 small teasels
6 sensitive ferns
4 small wasp's nests
6 small fungi
4 bee-balm centers
Assorted nuts, acorns, and seeds for accent
6 yellow or orange strawflowers
10 yellow marigolds
8 orange marigolds
(The last three items I grow in my garden and silica-gel dry.)

Other Supplies:

15 strands of natural-color raffia
Hot-glue gun
8 hot-glue sticks
Hand clippers
Clear acrylic spray

Instructions for vine base:

1. Soak grapevine sections overnight.

2. Starting with one vine length, gently ease it into a circle, intertwining the ends as you would tie something, leaving both ends sticking out. (Don't clip ends until you have four or five vines wound; there will be some give in the beginning.) Take your second vine and tuck one end under the first vine (anywhere). Weave the vine over and then under the first vine until it's completely wound around. Continue weaving over and under with each vine. Take a look at your wreath as you add more, checking the shape for roundness. You may have one side looking fuller than the other—the less-full side is where you should be weaving in more vines.

3. Wind all your vines, peeling the bark off if you desire, cutting or leaving the tendrils. Trim any ends of vines sticking out.

4. Thoroughly dry your finished base either in the sun or near your heater before you decorate. (The glue won't work on a wet base.) Note: If a vine snaps or breaks while winding, don't be discouraged. Almost all of my first-time students get a snap on their first try at winding. It comes easily after a few attempts. Find another vine and try again. Some breaks don't even have to be removed from the base; they can be intertwined not to show. If all your vines are snapping, then they need more soaking.

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