Butterfly Holiday Wreath

To make this wreath you need:

• basic store-bought evergreen wreath

• faux red berry branches

• wire cutters

• light gage florists wire

• assorted colored butterflies

• red ribbon with white stitches along the edge

• floral pics

Before you start, turn your wreath over and create a wreath hanger with a loop of florist's wire (if there isn't a hanger already). 

I also removed the original bow and the pinecones from my store-bought evergreen wreath.

Step 1: I started with one large bunch of faux berries and cut the stems into 2 smaller branches. (I made my smaller branches about 10" in length)

Leave a spot at the bottom of the wreath for your bow. Working up either side of the circle, insert the berry branches into your wreath and allow them to catch in the mix of evergreens. Tie each branch in with a length of florist's wire.

Step 2: Make a bow. Turn it over and run a length of florist's wire through the bow's centre knot.

Poke the ends of the wire through the wreath and twist a knot on the wreath's reverse side to fix the bow in place. 

Trim away any excess wire with your wire cutters. 

Step 4: The butterflies I purchased where already wired. You could use them as is, but I decided to make mine more sturdy by wiring them onto a floral pic.

Working your way around the circular wreath, insert the butterfly pics every couple of inches. Vary the angle of insertion and alternate the color of the butterflies as you work your way around the wreath.

And you're done! There is nothing left to do now, but hang up your wreath and enjoy it.

Happy holidays!

Holiday Bell Wreath

Before you start, turn your wreath over and create a wreath hanger with a loop of florist's wire (if there isn't one already). 

I also removed the original bow and the pinecones from my store-bought evergreen wreath.

To make this wreath you need:

• basic store-bought evergreen wreath

• glittery eucalyptus branches

• dried magnolia branches 

• wire cutters

• light gage florists wire

• several snowy pinecones

• set of three holiday bells (I found mine at Michaels craft store)

• plaid ribbon with wired edge (craft store)

• 3-5 large red jingle bells

Step 1: I started with one large branch of glittery eucalyptus and cut the stems into several smaller branches. (I made mine 6-10" in length)

Working up either side of the circle, insert the eucalyptus into your wreath and allow them to catch in the mix of evergreens. Create a loop of florists wire to tie each branch into the wreath.

Step 2: Cut a length of wire. Loop it around the knot holding the bells together. Poke the ends of the wire through the wreath and twist a knot on the wreath's reverse side to fix the bells in place. 

(Note: The set of three bells that I purchased came with a hanger, but the rough twine holding the bells to the hanger were too long for my purposes. I cut the bells off the original hanger and reattached them together on a shorter lengths of rope.)

Step 3: Make a plaid bow. Turn it over and run a length of florist's wire through the bow's centre knot. 

Poke the ends of the wire through the wreath and twist a knot on the wreath's reverse side to fix the bow in place. Trim away any excess wire with your wire cutters. 

Step 4: Cut your Magnolia branches into 8"- 10" lengths. Insert them into the wreath on either side of the bow and allow them to catch in the tangle of evergreen bows. Add a loop of florist's wire to tie them firmly into the wreath.

Step 5: Add a few snowy pinecones in among the evergreen branches. To make the pinecones, take some white craft paint and dry brushed "snow" onto the pinecones. Allow the paint to dry. 

Cut a length of light gage florist's wire (approx. 10-12"). Wrap the florist wire around the base of your pinecone and twist a knot to close the wire around the pinecone's base. Use the wire ends to attach the pinecones to the wreath.

Step 6: Wire some large red jungle bells in amongst the branches.

You're done! Just hang up your wreath and enjoy it.

Happy holidays!

Antique Rose Holiday Wreath

To make this wreath you need:

• basic store-bought evergreen wreath

• branches of dried magnolia, cedar, sprigs of boxwood and a few glittery branches

• faux antique roses 

• faux spray of mini roses

• light gage florists wire

• ribbon for your bow

• red berry clusters

Before you start, turn your wreath over and create a wreath hanger with a loop of florist's wire (if there isn't a hanger already). 

I also removed the original bow and the pinecones from my store-bought evergreen wreath.

Step 1: Of all the wreaths I made this wreath had the greatest mix of branches. 

I used fresh cedar, glittery branches, dried magnolia and some boxwood that I snipped from the garden. I made each branch about 6-10" in length (most of my branches were a little longer than those shown here).

Working from the base and moving up each side of the circle, insert the branches into your wreath and allow them to catch in the mix of evergreens. You'll notice that a left a bit of a gap at the bottom for my bow.

Create a loop of florists wire to tie each branch into the wreath. This is a little fussy and time consuming, but it will make your wreath hold together better.

Step 2: Make a bow. Turn it over and run a length of florist's wire through the bow's centre knot.

Poke the ends of the wire through the wreath and twist a knot on the wreath's reverse side to fix the bow in place. 

Step 3: Working your way around the wreath, insert the larger antique roses. Create a loop of florists wire to tie each branch into the wreath.

Step 4: Now insert the smaller clusters of white roses in between the larger roses. Again, create a loop of florists wire to tie each branch into the wreath.

Step 5: Insert a few red berry clusters in amongst the roses. (Note: I was able to find ready-to-go berry clusters wrapped in floral tape. If you can't find something similar, cut a larger branch of faux berries into smaller pieces that are about 6-8 inches long). 

You're wreath is done! There is nothing left to do now, but hang up your wreath and enjoy it.

Happy holidays!

How to make a Dried Hydrangea Wreath

This fall I decided to use some of my hydrangeas to make a dried flower wreath 

for the front hallway. 

One popular method for drying hydrangea is to put them in a jar or vase with about an inch of water. By the time the water disappears, the flowers are dry. 

Another easy way to dry them is to hang bunches of flowers to dry. Simply secure them with an elastic band and hang them in a cool, dry place that out of direct sunlight.

When I decided to make a wreath I began by drying some flowers. Then I tried to tuck the dried hydrangeas into position on a grape vine wreath. It didn't work at all! 

Dried hydrangeas are brittle and I ended up breaking most of the flowers. What a mess it made on my kitchen counter!

So I started over.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Lime'

This time I used fresh flowers. 

With the cool fall temperatures, hydrangeas are already dry and papery. Fresh stems are strong and woody making them easier to use.

I found that it was best to attach the bow first and then work around it.

Take a length of wide red ribbon and fashion a bow. 

Turn the bow over and insert a fine florist's wire through the centre knot. 

Place the bow onto the wreath and poke the wires through the grape vines to the back. Turn the wreath over and twist the ends of the wire closed.

Cut the hydrangea flowers to approximately 8-10" in length.

Remove the leaves (Sorry, I missed a couple when I was taking pictures).

It doesn't really matter where you begin to assemble your wreath. Just make sure you work in a single direction.

Take a hydrangea flower and tuck the stem in among the grape vines. I found that the maze of grape vines held the flowers really well, but if you want to make them even more secure, you could tie on some florist's wire and wrap the wreath with wire as you go.

Once you get on a roll, the wreath comes together very quickly. 

I think my finished hydrangea wreath will look great in my front hall this holiday season.

A few Highlights from the Christie Antique Show

Sometimes it is the weird stuff that catches my eye. I mean- where would you put something like this?

The day was perfect for this year's Christie Antique Classic- sunny, but not too hot. 

The shoppers were out in numbers, but most seem to limit themselves to things they can carry off the show field (unlike the Big Boy Hamburger mascot).

Here is another oddity: a bull-sized barbecue pit! Can you envisage a spot for it on your back deck? 

Shabby neutrals continue to be popular.

As does homespun-look linen furniture.

Paint it turquoise and someone is bound to buy it!

I thought this update was well done, but I question the color. The piece of furniture itself suggests master bedroom, but the color says little girl's room or maybe baby's room.

I noticed that the confused color choice left this piece unsold at the end of the day.

Here the propping, color choice and the piece of furniture all say baby's room.

One of my favourite dealers does these great little arrangements using rustic antiques and flowers.

Tea with milk and sugar any one?

Coleus and other annuals in an old toolbox.

What do you think? Do flowers make a good update for this bedpan? 

The flowers were sure pretty!

A herb "pot".

And that's it for the highlights.

Have a great weekend!