When is a wreath not a wreath?

 

I couldn't be pushed or cajoled into buying or making wreaths this year for my two front doors.  On one door I hung some glittery numbers on a ribbon that represent my house number.  On the other is a jingly bell thing that I found on sale at Michael's. 

 

I did spend some time looking on the net for ideas or possible purchases and I came across these from a place called POLLEN in Atlanta. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep.  Professionally made.  Prices range from $145 to $250. 

 

My ex-husband brought me some of the most gorgeous heavily berried holly I've ever seen.  After I completed the task of creating sprays for our family graves, I twigged up two of the biggest branches and tied them off with a fantastic bow I also found on sale at Michael's and hung it in my open carport. 

 

 

 The point being, not only does what we hang not have to be round, sometimes it might even be an investment which is what it would be for me to spend over a hundred dollars on something that can't be saved 'til next year.  No offense to the folks in Atlanta. 

A sense of humor is a necessary adjunct to this page!

 

~SAMI

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little more here and there..

Some of us are just putting on the finishing touches and finding there is a spot -  that door or wall that needs something more. 

How about creating a little wreath?  Here are a few we found that look simple enough to create with a few acquired materials and a glue gun and florist wire.  Most of us have a stash of ribbon if that is required.

Magnolia leaves, curly twigs and little oranges.  Woodsy and elegant.  It depends on resources as to how one might accomplish this one.  A local florist has the curly twigs and a neighbor has a magnolia tree.  I particularly like the prickly cupid's arrow.   If you can find a japonica it will provide beautiful thorny sticks.  One near my house is even nicely lichened.

This appears to be long branches from a january jasmine or a forsythia.  With the sporadic warm weather we've had here, there are things with buds.  I find an interesting contrast here.  It feels modern yet the wreath and accessories are country.  The photo is a bit dark but the walls are a close variation on the 2013 color of the year - emerald.  This photo and the one before are from Martha Stewart's blog pages.

Just delightful!  That appears to be a roll of upholstery webbing under one trophy.  The wreath is simply cedar and cones on a wrapped wire circle.   Old silver pieces and a couple of red ornaments make it merry and bright.  I like 'touches' of Christmas. 

Ah Victoria!  It's hard to tell a lot about the composition of this wreath but I think the teacup in the center is a novel idea.  Are you having a Christmas tea?  This photo and the one before are from http://www.commonground-do.com/

For some reason this year I'm enjoying sharing pretty packages.

This one came from a Pinterest page but I could not determine the origin.  It's a little Victorian but a bit naughty, don't you think?

I have three more days to finish up my cups and ribbons.   I collect Victorian souvenir cups and I use them more at Christmas.  A vignette might include a cup with a handful of old fashioned peppermint sticks or a sprig of holly with a red ribbon tied onto the handle.  Bottle brush trees handsome up beautifully when stuck into a pretty white one.  In the bigger house, the cups were always set out for the teddy bear's tea party and each member of the bear family had his own collection of ribbons.  We miss the bigger house at Christmas.  We all miss something or someone, though, don't we?