This weekend I ran a couple of Christmas wreath making workshops. It’s a very popular activity
and we could have filled the sessions several times over. I buy in a couple of bundles of craft willow and cut some hazel
from the hedgerows. To decorate the wreaths I gather a few baskets of greenery,
coloured stems, herbs and seedheads from around the gardens at the museum.
Everybody gets to make and take home two wreaths, one of
which they decorate.
The speedy workers also get to make stars out of the apple
prunings from the orchard.
The sessions always start in a great twitter of nervous
excitement and self doubt - proclamations are made of impending failure and
lack of talent. But with a few simple techniques and a bit of support, calm
concentration descends. Okay - so not everybody’s work would necessarily make it to
the front cover of ‘Homes and Gardens’, but I have never done this session without
everybody being delighted with what they’ve made. They leave with a spring in
their step and an armful of Christmassy loveliness.
It confirms that thing we all know; that reconnecting people
with their craft skills and giving them space to play and create is very
powerful. It doesn't matter what you make/bake/build - it's the doing that's good for the soul.
What a nice sentiment! Oh, and your wreaths are really pretty, too!
ReplyDeleteNot a Martha Stewart bauble in sight - don't think they've made it across the pond yet!
DeleteLovely wreaths. I just bought one from a friend who makes them from willow she grows on her allotment. Cheating, I know, but I'm not really the crafty type! xxx
ReplyDeleteBut you're really creative - and supporting your local independent producers!
DeleteSo lovely, and so nice that everyone can make something that they can be proud of with your help. It must be a lovely way to spend your time. xx
ReplyDeleteIt is something I really enjoy doing - sure beats digging over the veg beds!
DeleteI wish I could've learnt how to make a wreath with you Bernice. Yours is beautiful. I am yet to put up a single dec. We have a lot of work going on round here at the moment. Total chaos and dust. Lots of dust. EVERYWHERE! I'm truly doubting even the Christmas tree is going to get a look-in this year. I hope you're well. x
ReplyDeleteWell I'm doing it again this weekend if you fancy popping over! I really feel for you with the building chaos -we're mostly past the dust stage, just got lots of decorating to do. Hope you manage to clear a little space for some Christmas jollity x
DeleteLove your wreath, and I agree, I like nature better than tizz! And I like your star too. I have two stars made from the prunings form the peach trees. Have a wonderful Festive Season.
ReplyDeleteThose lovely straight twigs are just asking to be made into stars, aren't they? I bet your peach trees are fabulous - we can only really grow them as fans against a nice south facing wall here - and even then you still have to treat them a bit like precious princesses. Merry (summery) Christmas to you too - Bernice x
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