Natural holiday decor, part 1

Yesterday, I got together with several friends to make decorative holiday decor items using natural materials from our gardens. We made wreaths, centerpieces, candle arrangements, gifts and so on.

If you’ve been following my blog for a long time, you know that I bring up this topic each year. That’s because it is my hope you will get inspired to do something along these lines as well.

      

This time, a friend of mine, who has a nursery business, hosted the gathering. She went to a wholesaler to pick up small plants and decorative containers at a low cost. Each of us brought cuttings of different types of plants from our gardens. They included pine, cedar, fir and spruce prunings. Some had branches with berries on them (Beautyberry, Hawthorne, Mountain Ash, etc.). There was Salal and sheet moss from the coast, and red-twig Dogwood branches and pinecones. All of these natural materials were for us to share with each other.

Carol, our hostess, made a crockpot full of chili and had coffee, tea and cider for us to enjoy. The rest of us brought soup, salads, scones, homemade bread, cookies and other yummy foods. I mean, after all, food should play an important role in the gathering, right? Carol also had Christmas music playing in the background to put us in the mood.

Each of us also brought supplies for holiday decor projects we specifically had in mind. They included ribbons, ornaments, seedpods, wreath forms, floral wire, pruners, baskets and other containers.

My friends were camera-shy, which I completely respect, but I did take photos of various projects in the works. Everything turned out so beautifully. You would think they were items you’d purchase (for big bucks, I might add) at a store. But everything was handmade by the group. Each item was quite simple to make. Our shared lunch was delicious and we all had an absolutely delightful visit with each other!

Because I took several photos, I’m dividing them up between two posts. Be sure to look at the post above this one. I hope this inspires you to make holiday items for your home or to give as gifts!

Also, if you want to see more, go to my “Videos” menu on this website. Choose “Holidays” for an index of the videos available. Each will go directly to my YouTube channel.