ARTS & CRAFTS
FOR A STANDOUT CHRISTMAS WREATH
1. Decide your ‘vibe’ before cutting! The style of wreath determines how long you need your foliage to be. Want wild and untamed? Then keep your foliage long and free flowing. Or if you would like it compact and cute, then shorter, neater pieces of foliage will achieve this look. 2. Forage your goods! There are rules for where you can forage, but you don’t need to go far. If you have a garden, there is so much you can find to use as the base, especially in the winter with longer-lasting foliage: ivy, conifer, pine, myrtle, box, holly, twigs – anything that survives once cut. 3. Give your wreath some personality! The tagline of my business is: ‘you have personality, so should your flowers’. If you love the countryside, add some dried wheat, feathers and pinecones. If you are more of a ‘traditional Christmas’ person, go for dried fruits, cinnamon sticks and berries. Or for a bit of bling, go for sparkly twigs and baubles. 4 . Finally, never underestimate the power of a good bow! Put Julia’s tips into practice at her wreath-making workshop in the Museum of Cambridge on 5, 7 and 10 December. Tickets available at eventbrite.co.uk Local florist Julia Zimmerman, from What the Fleur, shares how to create the perfect festive wreath 1. Form the back of the swag using ivy and evergreens as the base. Decide the length and trim accordingly. Wrap twine around the ends to hold it firmly in place. 2. Treat your swag like a bouquet of flowers; evenly place delicate foliage throughout the display and secure with twine. 3. F inish your swag by wrapping some ribbon around the ends, making sure to cover the twine. Place it on your doorway to enjoy throughout the festive period. For more inspiration and to explore Dobbies’ collections for Christmas 2023, go to dobbies.com Bring the outdoors in! Abbie McCann, stylist at Dobbies Garden Centres, tells us how to make a festive eco swag – a modern take on a wreath CREATE A FESTIVE ECO SWAG
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK DECEMBER 2023 65
Powered by FlippingBook