21 May 2014

FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - Spring Wreath





The theme for this week of FLOWERS is 'Spring Wreath' and making a spring wreath was both a challenge and lots of fun. I wanted a wreath that I could hang on a door or in a window; or one that I could just lean against a wall. 

I also wanted a wreath that would last for more then a day - neither did I want to use oasis or make one using just twigs. 
I didn't make it very easy for myself as I imposed quite a few restrictions.

I had to think long and hard about what was available to buy or what I could find in my own garden - especially at this time of year when plants have a lot of fresh soft growth. I wanted something that would not whither away or drop their leaves but stay green for a while. 

What I ended up using was rosemary and box/Buxus sempervirens from my own garden - I knew both would last for a while without water. I also used a small amount of Alchemilla mollis flowers that lasts out of water for a few days.



I started off with a wire coat hanger that I shaped into a circle. Using the notch for cutting wires on my Felco secateurs I cut off the hook on the hanger. That part is up to you - some of you might like to keep the hook as it could be handy to use if you want to you hang it up. You could paint it or cover it with fabric.

I made little bunches of box and rosemary. Trim the stems to the same length and wrap florist's wire around the bottom of the stems. I then wired the bunches onto the coat hanger. Starting at the top right - overlapping the bunches to hide the ends - winding the wire around as you go along. When you have done the right side you do the same on the left. 



I used a bunch of Alchemilla mollis to hide the gap at the bottom - even though I later turned the wreath around so that the Alchemilla was near the top.


For some added interest I made two little arrangements to go with the wreath - the last of the pretty English bluebells and some lovely stock flowers.


I cut the stems of the bluebells very short and packed them tightly in a vintage enamelled container - that was once used to contain soda crystals.


In a Victorian blue and white floral patterned vase I stuck three stems of stock flowers. 


And I continued the blue theme with some other bits and pieces of knick-knacks - a large oval platter, a pretty mini cup my daughter gave me as a present and a contrasting checked blue and white fabric. 


My collaborator on FLOWERS - Titti Malmberg over on HWIT BLOGG is also posting about spring wreaths today - so make sure to go over and see what she is doing.

Here is also a link to all the previous FLOWERS that Titti and I have done.

Have a Wonderful Floral Day!

See you later in the week.

xoxo Ingrid


3 comments:

HWIT BLOGG said...

Vackert Ingrid...gillade den gröna buxbomen och bra tips där med galgen!
Riktigt härliga bilder du bjuder på, som vanligt...
Ha en fin dag!
Kram, Titti

Ruth @ Camellia Rose said...

What a cute little cup! It goes so nicely with the blue flowers. I like your wreath too and it's a great idea to make it last as long as possible!
Did you go to the Chelsea Flower Show Ingrid? I've seen lots of lovely pictures popping up online and they're making me dream of summer!
Hope you're having a nice week :)

Lisa Gordon said...

What a beautiful wreath, Ingrid, and I love it with the purple!

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