NOTHING SAYS CHRISTMAS LIKE...

Making your own unique Yuletide wreath is not only creatively satisfying and sustainable, it can also hold wonderful festive memories year after year.

Synonymous with Yuletide, festive wreaths date back to the 16th century, when excess cuttings from Christmas trees were repurposed to create wreaths. While traditionally crafted from evergreen trees, modern wreath making now embraces a variety of materials, foliage and greenery. When making your own wreath, start by looking at the shape, says florist Beck Keep from Keep & Gather. “If it’s irregular, decide which way you would like to orientate it to best suit your design and materials. Flowers and foliages all have a natural line, don’t try to fight this.” To create a striking and stylish wreath, sometimes less is best. “The urge to use lots of large focal pieces can be hard to resist but using less actually makes your focals more of a statement,” she says. With a sustainable mindset, there are plenty of ways to hold onto the traditional ‘repurposing’ approach when making your wreath. “I self-dry florals from my garden, such as hydrangeas and hellebores, or flowers I have bought at the markets,” says Keep. “I also use treasures I find on the ground during walks around my neighbourhood. This gives added joy to my wreath as it brings back the memories I have of finding or drying each piece.”