What’s more Christmassy than pōhutukawa flowers? Here’s how to use them in a wreath.

Create a Christmas wreath with a Kiwi twist

To make: Create a wreath using a metal embroidery hoop as the base, or a double loop of sturdy wire. Cover the base with thin, bendy branches and sturdier greenery, overlapping as you go, and bind together with wire. When the base is completed, layer bunches of leaves and longlasting berries, by poking them into the branches on the base or hot-glueing in place. Add some po¯hutukawa blooms last. Don’t worry about keeping everything neat; wild and whimsical is just fine. An asymmetric wreath with po¯hutukawa blooms grouped to one side is effective.

We used: Polymer clay to create the ceramic garland. Use letter stamps or inscribe freehand with the pointy tip of a chopstick. Once baked, sand to smooth. Glaze to seal and, when dry, thread with ribbon and affix to garland.

The details: Sketch Requin chair $628 from Soren Liv, sorenliv.com; wreath by Georgie Malyon from Greenpoint Studios, greenpoint.co.nz; wall painted in Resene ‘Soothe’.