Sunday, March 1, 2009

How to make a wreath base

I love wine and I love wreaths. Today's post combines both these passions..

We live in a wine growing area and all through winter the vines get clipped in preparation for spring.
Here an unclipped field.

And a perfectly clipped one

The clippings are left between the rows, to be collected at a later stage and then burned.

They may look like waste, but to me they are very exciting. When fresh, they are still supple enough to be bend into wreaths. I love making wreaths, it's easy, fun and it's FREE!

You start by picking a nice long thread, forming a circle.

you then weave the end above and under the circle

when the strand comes to an end, you tuck it into one of the loops. Start with a new strand by tucking the beginning into a loop as well

work in progress

You can make it as thick and big as you like, depending on it's further use. This one will be part of my easter decoration, so I kept on adding. It's not finished yet, but I'll stop by the next field when I have the time.

Beautyshot with Birkin

4 comments:

  1. I really like this! We live near a winery, too, and do you have to be a special customer to take these cuttings? Will they let any of the public do it? What time of year does the winery near you typically cut down their vines? If you get there too late, are you still able to fashion a wreath or is there a time limit on how quickly you can get to them?

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  2. Hi Heather, lucky you live near a winery, that should make things a lot easier!

    The most important thing is to use freshly cut twigs, as these are the most pliable ones. Typically the vines get trimmed anytime after they've dropped their leaves and before the sap is rising again in spring. The earlier they get cut, the better the clippings are for making wreaths.

    No special customer status required for collecting around here (as long as you don't attempt to clip the vines yourself!)The clippings are considered as waste and no one minds if you help yourself to them. But different rules apply to different places, so better check with your local farmer beforehand.

    Good luck!

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  3. Thanks a lot it has been a fantastic guide, now to make a wreath base is without a doubt simple and easy utilizing your guidance. Thanks

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  4. Glad you found it helpful, have fun making your own :-)

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