rustic wreath

It's this time of the year again.  Here in Somerset West where I stay, in the heart of the Cape Winelands, a beautiful part of our country it's vineyard pruning time... and time for me to collect a few vine shoots to make a wreath.

My very first blog post I made a plain wreath.  But this year we will dolly it up a bit!

What you need:

• A plain vine wreath as we made in post "in the vineyard"
• burlap
• white material
• burlap tap
• a glue gun
• burlap rope

Firstly you need to fold a few flowers.  Different sizes, with the burlap tape and the white material.  Using the material fold the flowers as we did in the ribbon brooch post, but instead of using needle and thread, you can use your glue gun. Using the burlap tape follow the same technique using the glue gun.  First fold the end in and have a neat inside, then twist and turn the tape, while putting a small drop of glue every centimeter or so. And turn and twist till you have the desired size.

Next we cut the leaves. Every leave does not have to be the same shape and size, having different shapes and sizes makes it interesting by you should cut it in a leave shape with the bottom end flat.

To stick it on the wreath bring the two flat corners together and stick it down like that, to give the leave some shape.

The last part is the three loops which gives a nice rounding off to the creation.  If you have a wide burlap tape, cut it in have to make the loops.  Form three loops of the same sizesticking them together at the bottom and opening the loops at the top to make a pretty round loop.

And now to stick it all together using your glue gun...

Here you need to use a bit of imagination and laods of creative flair. :-)

Enjoy and have loads of fun making them!

festive wreath

Wreaths are one of the most popular decorations used over the Christmas period.  You’ll see them used in many different ways.  They are commonly used on the stairway, hanging on the walls and doors, or they can even be used as a centrepiece on a table.  These wreaths just cheer things up and get you into the festive spirit.  

They are easy to make and you can keep them to make something different every other year :-) 

FYI: The history behind wreaths dates back thousands of years and much of the symbolism lies with Greek mythology, Roman tradition with the present day usages being foacused on Advent and for festive decor.  

In the Greco-Roman world, wreaths were used as an adornment that could represent a person's occupation, rank, their achievements and status.  The wreath that was commonly used was the laurel wreath.  The use of this wreath arose from the Greek myth involving Apollo, Zeus' son and the god of life and light, who fell in love with the nymph Daphne.  When he pursued her she feld and asked the river god Peneus to help her, in which Peneus turned her into a laurel tree.  From that day forth, Apollo wore a wreath of laurel on his head.  This is because associated with what Apollo embodied; victory, achievement and status and would later become one of the most commonly used symbols to address achievements throughout Greece and Rome. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreath)

What you need:

a wreath (You can use the wreath we made on 22 September 2011 (http://ilovethisandthat.blogspot.com/2011/09/in-vineyard.html) or you can buy one from your local florist.)

pieces of off cut material to suit the occasion (about 2cm x 20cm) 

Take the pieces of material and just simply tie it around the wreath... untill you have the desired look.

And then hang it on the door with one of the ends of material, using a small nail or thumbnail.