Believe it or not, you may have almost everything you need to create a fabulous holiday wreath right in your own backyard. Owner of That Girl’s Flowers, Nellie Ashmore, loves to encourage people to look around their lawns for fresh options rather than faux.
“I choose clippings like pine, boxwood, arborvitae, cedar, holly berries and pine cones,” Nellie says. “They will last throughout the season, so there really is no reason to use artificial unless you don’t want to create a new wreath every year,” she adds.
If you’re new to wreath-making or just want to spend quality time with friends, Nellie will be teaching an ART BAR workshop on Dec. 7 at 2:30 p.m. in Deerfield Township. Workshops are usually held at the Snyder House at Cottell Park or local breweries and businesses around Mason and Deerfield.
“The ART BAR programs have opened up so many learning opportunities for people within the community, including this workshop with Nellie Ashmore. These workshops show people that they are very capable of creating a work of art," says Meredith Raffel, executive director of The Arts Alliance.
Nellie runs That Girl’s Flowers out of her parents’ Clarksville, Ohio, farm where she grew up. Her flowers are certified organic and available from June through October. She also makes dried floral wreaths, offers flowers by the bucket and sells fresh flower bouquets through the farm store, Pipkin's Market in Blue Ash and Dorothy Lane Markets around Dayton.
For this year’s wreath-making event, Nellie will be making traditional wreaths like the larger style shown here. She also shared tips with us for making a modern ring wreath.
To get more information about The Arts Alliance events, please visit The-Arts-Alliance.org and for more information about Nellie’s flower offerings, visit ThatGirlsFlowers.com.
Supplies: Wreath frames or hoops, floral wire, clippers and wire cutters. A wreath hanger or ribbon.
The Wreath: Greenery and accents like pine cones, holly berries, dried fruit and a bow.
Traditional Wreath Tips
-
For a full-size wreath, you will need a large armful of greenery.
-
Create small bunches of greenery and lay on the frame. Secure the bunches to the frame by wrapping around the greenery and frame with floral wire. Continue to layer on top of your previous bunches, making sure the wire is covered up by each section.
-
Play with your wreath to find the best angles and placement for accents.
Modern Ring Wreath Tips
-
For a modern ring wreath, you will need a large handful of greens.
-
Don’t cover the whole ring. Simply center accents between two greenery sections. The greenery can be as layered or kept simple and sparse.
-
Ring wreaths are versatile and can be hung or displayed at different angles.
