Easy, Elegant Homemade Wreaths
You can craft your own beautiful, rustic wreaths with just the twist of a vine! Learn how to make these simple wreaths embellished with berries, flowers and other treasures of the natural world.
By Marlene Hurley Marshall
January 10, 2011
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From a twig chandelier to a treehouse home, “Woodland Style” is filled with dozens of do-it-yourself projects inspired by the beauty of the outdoors.
COVER: STOREY PUBLISHING
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The following is an excerpt from Woodland Style: Ideas and Projects for Bringing Foraged and Found Elements Into Your Home by Marlene Hurley Marshall (Storey Publishing, 2010). Full of home decorating ideas to admire and create, Woodland Style offers more than 150 pages of unexpected adornments made from pine cones, acorns, moss, bark, leaves, tree branches, river rocks and other earthborn trimmings. This excerpt is from Chapter 2, “Twigs, Vines and Roots.”
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The wreath dates back to ancient Greece. Being circular in shape, and thus having neither a beginning nor an end, it represented eternity and was worn by brides as a symbol of good luck and happiness. In later times, pine wreaths became popular as Christmas decorations — their scent was thought to drive evil spirits from the house. Vines are commonly used to make wreaths too. Grapevines are most typical, but you can also use honeysuckle, kudzu, sweet pea or bittersweet vines. I have used young willow branches as well. Many of these vines can also be transformed into baskets, trellises, garden furniture and fences.
Finding Vines
Pre-made grapevine wreaths can be purchased at most craft suppliers, but if you have access to woods or a vineyard, or you happen to know a backyard grape grower, you can collect the vines yourself. Grapevines should be collected after the grapes have been harvested and before the frost. Cut the vines into 2- to 3-foot lengths. Any longer and they’ll be difficult to detangle from surrounding ones and to transport home. A side benefit of cutting vines is that you’re actually helping to protect the trees and other plants that the vines climb on and eventually strangle as they tighten their hold. After you have your vines, remove the leaves but retain the tendrils, which will give the wreath an added decorative flair.
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