One of our accomplished decorators is of French heritage, and received a request for a wreath with a Provence theme. This same customer, last season, asked for a Downton Abbey wreath, so we know she gives a lot of thought to her holiday design motif each year. The wreath features dried sunflowers and lavender, along with a fruit print ribbon. Club members felt the sun was shining just looking at the finished product.
For the past two years we have featured pictures of holiday wreaths created during Wreath Week by The Garden Club of the Back Bay’s members, and this year we continue the tradition. A different wreath will be described from now through New Year’s Day. Wreath of the Day has become a very popular web site feature, and our readership increases during December – we believe the pictures are responsible for the uptick. We begin with a classic – “Plaid Bow, Outdoor Wreath, Designer’s Choice Accents.” What makes this an outdoor wreath? The use of holly, which would dry up pretty quickly if hung indoors. The addition of sprigs of umbrella pine add more texture, and the baby’s breath lightens the entire look.
For this year’s final wreath of the day, and to celebrate the impending return of the series to PBS, we present The Downton Abbey wreath, complete with peacock feathers. The customer asked for a Downton Abbey wreath, and we think the Crawleys would approve.
On New Year’s Eve, what better choice for Wreath of the Day than the wreath below, ordered by our Delivery Chair for her Marlborough Street door, which is in full sunlight. She asked for sparkle, and the designer added sparkle, but emphasized the chartreuse green in the bow rather than the hot pink or purple, so the final look is actually more traditional than one might have expected, given the unusual ribbon. Note the jingle bells nestled under the bow.
For this large indoor wreath, our Wreath Project co-chair chose a filmy red lace patterned ribbon, which had a romantic, almost Valentine’s Day look, and asked one of her favorite decorators to just go wild with it. In her mind, she pictured dried roses, perhaps baby’s breath, a Victorian touch of this or that, but she promised not to peek at the wreath until it was done, since nothing is more annoying than having someone hover while you make design decisions. The designer had been toying with using the fabulous red feathers for days, and now she had her opportunity. The little white accents are pearls, the magnolia leaves and white pine augmented the already substantial bow, and silver squiggly things added to the drama. Needless to say, the wreath is a total triumph and may be one of the Club members’ favorites of the season.
Many of us keep our wreaths hung long after the holiday season has ended, and if the wreath’s coloration is not traditional, no one would guess when the wreath was first hung. The ribbon here is a cross between pink, gold, and copper, depending on the angle and the light. It paired with burgundy quite successfully in the first example, and another designer used the same ribbon in a matched pair with copper accents, and the effect is totally different.
No, you actually won’t find candy canes on this wreath, but the ribbon is so cheerful it calls to mind candy canes swizzled in hot chocolate by a roaring fire. In a ski lodge. In Aspen, while we’re fantasizing. Many of you may be off in the mountains this post-Christmas week, so we wish you a relaxing trip.
One of our most generous and loyal members has ordered wreaths with red bows and all natural accents for years. She buys them for herself, her family, friends, and also orders for her condominium. For the past few seasons she has come to the workshop on Monday and picked out her ribbon. For the indoor wreath to hang in her unit, she decided to go with a white and gold theme. The decorator was cautious – knowing the customer’s dislike of “overly embellished” wreaths, she struck a very happy balance, and the touches of gold in a few of the pine cones and sweet gum balls carry the gold in the ribbon throughout the wreath in a very successful manner.
Copper has become exceedingly popular as a bow and accent color, but the trick is to give copper sparkle, or it will read “dead brown” from a distance. This cheerful wreath mixes artificial trimmings with white pine and natural cones to highlight a spectacular bronze and copper bow.
We celebrate Christmas Day with a classic red, green and white wreath – may your day be merry and bright!
