a fresh take
HERE & NOW skills KITTED OUT Attendees at Martha DeFlorio’s Detroit workshop arrive to find supplies (including cedar, berries and eucalyptus pods) bundled like gifts to unwrap at each seat.
A FRESH TAKE
“Wreaths can connect us to nature, especially when our everyday lives are too busy to fully enjoy the seasons.”
So long, crumpled plastic bow. It’s time to update a common Christmas wreath with natural elements and artful, floristapproved design.
—MARTHA DEFLORIO
W R I T E R Mary Beaumont P H OTO G R A P H E R EE Berger
Take one step into Martha DeFlorio’s home, and breathe in. You’d expect a floral
designer’s space to burst with blooms, but what’s that intoxicating scent? Turns out, it’s a handmade wreath. “There is something magical about hanging a wreath of cedar and juniper berry in your foyer, with a super fragrant scent to welcome you home,” Martha says. Her business, Made Floral, has beautified Detroit since 2014 and is the reason shoppers leave Shinola toting bouquets—Martha runs a flower stand inside the watchmaker’s Midtown storefront. But showpiece holiday wreaths aren’t just the domain of designers anymore. Petal pros like Martha have begun offering a contemporary spin on holiday wreath workshops, with fresh-cut supplies, inventive venues and stylish results. Martha collaborates with local businesses to host social floral-design events, including one wreath workshop in a photographer’s airy studio (pictured) and another at vintage outpost Eldorado General Store in trendy Corktown. The location may change, but Martha’s goal is always simple: to inspire participants to create something lovely. Martha says wreath-making is great
ORANGE CRUSH In this creation from Detroit’s Made Floral, a grapevine base anchors tendrils of honey bracelet greenery, plus cuttings of persimmon, thistle, silver brunia and eucalyptus nuts.
for workshops because it’s forgiving and accessible to all skill levels: “You can experiment with core design principles—balance, proportion, attention to texture and color—in a way that’s not overly technical.” Plus, you can take that heady fragrance home with you. To join a Made Floral workshop, follow @madefloral on Instagram for details. And be prepared to move quickly—past wreath events sold out within 48 hours.
RIGHT ROUND Martha says wreaths can look polished even if they aren’t symmetrical. Just place items with the overall design in mind.
AROUND THE MIDWEST
WORKSHOP IT
SPRUCE FLOWERS AND HOME
OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS
SHELLY SARVER DESIGNS
Scent is key here— cedar, eucalyptus, pine and more (sprucemn.com).
Horticulturalists provide materials from the local botanic garden (olbrich.org).
Add flowers and other adornments; enjoy goodies like mulled cider (shelly sarverdesigns.com).
MINNEAPOLIS; NOVEMBER 11, 25; DECEMBER 2, 9, 16
MADISON, WI; NOVEMBER 30
20
21
MWL NOV.DEC 2017
MWL NOV.DEC 2017
PELLA, IA; DECEMBER 1–2
THE BLOOM ACADEMY
KANSAS CITY, MO; DECEMBER 16
Enjoy brunch and crafting in Midtown’s light-filled Market Studio (thebloom academy.com).
HERE & NOW skills
A STUDY IN CONTRASTS A simple wreath spotlights tone and texture— here, wispy cypress, leafy boxwood, dusty juniper. Assemble your own, or simply add contrasting sprigs to dress up a standard-issue pine wreath. For buying guide, see page 80.
STILL LIFE Design a
statement evergreen wreath.
1 Source greenery from a local florist, tree farm or even your own yard. Wearing work gloves, use garden clippers to cut stems on a diagonal into uniform lengths (6–12 inches long, based on wreath size). Gently crush ends with a hammer, then soak in tepid water for a few hours.
2 Lay wreath form on a flat work surface. (We used a 36-inch ring. Crafts stores sell some sizes; find a wide selection at mainewreathco.com.) 3 Arrange a bundle of greenery on the form, with larger pieces on the bottom layer and smaller pieces on top. Wrap 22-gauge crafts wire around the bundle and frame; snip wire and tuck in ends. 4 Repeat step 3, arranging each greenery bundle to cover the previous wire wrap. Add cuttings until you’ve covered the frame. 5 Stand the wreath up (or hang it), and use additional cuttings to fill in any sparse spots.
DECK THE WALLS
Find instructions for 50 wreath projects at midwestliving.com/wreaths.
22 MWL NOV.DEC 2017
WE USED PONDEROSA PINE WESTERN CEDAR INCENSE CEDAR JUNIPER BOXWOOD BLUE SPRUCE CYPRESS ‘CAROLINA SAPPHIRE’
Keeping Your Greens Green Treat a new wreath once with homemade antidesiccant spray to help cuttings retain moisture. In a spray bottle, mix 1 drop pine oil with 1 quart water; use to mist greens. Then spritz fresh wreaths with plain water every few days to help them last.
A FRESH TAKE
“Wreaths can connect us to nature, especially when our everyday lives are too busy to fully enjoy the seasons.”
So long, crumpled plastic bow. It’s time to update a common Christmas wreath with natural elements and artful, floristapproved design.
—MARTHA DEFLORIO
W R I T E R Mary Beaumont P H OTO G R A P H E R EE Berger
Take one step into Martha DeFlorio’s home, and breathe in. You’d expect a floral
designer’s space to burst with blooms, but what’s that intoxicating scent? Turns out, it’s a handmade wreath. “There is something magical about hanging a wreath of cedar and juniper berry in your foyer, with a super fragrant scent to welcome you home,” Martha says. Her business, Made Floral, has beautified Detroit since 2014 and is the reason shoppers leave Shinola toting bouquets—Martha runs a flower stand inside the watchmaker’s Midtown storefront. But showpiece holiday wreaths aren’t just the domain of designers anymore. Petal pros like Martha have begun offering a contemporary spin on holiday wreath workshops, with fresh-cut supplies, inventive venues and stylish results. Martha collaborates with local businesses to host social floral-design events, including one wreath workshop in a photographer’s airy studio (pictured) and another at vintage outpost Eldorado General Store in trendy Corktown. The location may change, but Martha’s goal is always simple: to inspire participants to create something lovely. Martha says wreath-making is great
ORANGE CRUSH In this creation from Detroit’s Made Floral, a grapevine base anchors tendrils of honey bracelet greenery, plus cuttings of persimmon, thistle, silver brunia and eucalyptus nuts.
for workshops because it’s forgiving and accessible to all skill levels: “You can experiment with core design principles—balance, proportion, attention to texture and color—in a way that’s not overly technical.” Plus, you can take that heady fragrance home with you. To join a Made Floral workshop, follow @madefloral on Instagram for details. And be prepared to move quickly—past wreath events sold out within 48 hours.
RIGHT ROUND Martha says wreaths can look polished even if they aren’t symmetrical. Just place items with the overall design in mind.
AROUND THE MIDWEST
WORKSHOP IT
SPRUCE FLOWERS AND HOME
OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS
SHELLY SARVER DESIGNS
Scent is key here— cedar, eucalyptus, pine and more (sprucemn.com).
Horticulturalists provide materials from the local botanic garden (olbrich.org).
Add flowers and other adornments; enjoy goodies like mulled cider (shelly sarverdesigns.com).
MINNEAPOLIS; NOVEMBER 11, 25; DECEMBER 2, 9, 16
MADISON, WI; NOVEMBER 30
20
21
MWL NOV.DEC 2017
MWL NOV.DEC 2017
PELLA, IA; DECEMBER 1–2
THE BLOOM ACADEMY
KANSAS CITY, MO; DECEMBER 16
Enjoy brunch and crafting in Midtown’s light-filled Market Studio (thebloom academy.com).
HERE & NOW skills
A STUDY IN CONTRASTS A simple wreath spotlights tone and texture— here, wispy cypress, leafy boxwood, dusty juniper. Assemble your own, or simply add contrasting sprigs to dress up a standard-issue pine wreath. For buying guide, see page 80.
STILL LIFE Design a
statement evergreen wreath.
1 Source greenery from a local florist, tree farm or even your own yard. Wearing work gloves, use garden clippers to cut stems on a diagonal into uniform lengths (6–12 inches long, based on wreath size). Gently crush ends with a hammer, then soak in tepid water for a few hours.
2 Lay wreath form on a flat work surface. (We used a 36-inch ring. Crafts stores sell some sizes; find a wide selection at mainewreathco.com.) 3 Arrange a bundle of greenery on the form, with larger pieces on the bottom layer and smaller pieces on top. Wrap 22-gauge crafts wire around the bundle and frame; snip wire and tuck in ends. 4 Repeat step 3, arranging each greenery bundle to cover the previous wire wrap. Add cuttings until you’ve covered the frame. 5 Stand the wreath up (or hang it), and use additional cuttings to fill in any sparse spots.
DECK THE WALLS
Find instructions for 50 wreath projects at midwestliving.com/wreaths.
22 MWL NOV.DEC 2017
WE USED PONDEROSA PINE WESTERN CEDAR INCENSE CEDAR JUNIPER BOXWOOD BLUE SPRUCE CYPRESS ‘CAROLINA SAPPHIRE’
Keeping Your Greens Green Treat a new wreath once with homemade antidesiccant spray to help cuttings retain moisture. In a spray bottle, mix 1 drop pine oil with 1 quart water; use to mist greens. Then spritz fresh wreaths with plain water every few days to help them last.
