Wreaths Are Not Just for Christmas

While some people associate wreaths with their grandmother's Christmas decor of yore (no offense to any grandmothers reading this), I like to think of them as statement pieces that set the tone for the rest of my home. A good wreath is a beacon of creativity hanging on one's front door, offering family, friends and strangers alike a taste of what makes their host unique. Wreaths can be seasonal or timeless, and making a truly unique wreath can be inexpensive, easy and fun.

My finished hospital wreath.

My foray into wreath making began when a good friend of mine was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. I wanted to craft a gift that could hang in her hospital room during extended stays. I ran to my local craft store and picked up a blank grapevine wreath form, some jewelry wire, artificial flowers and assorted crystals. Embracing the theme of life and death, I also added some bones I'd collected on various nature walks. From there, it was a matter of wire wrapping and hot gluing the treasures I'd collected until I had created something I was sure would bring a smile to my friend's face while she was stuck in a dreary hospital room.

My finished crystal wreath hanging on my front door.

My wreath was well received, so I decided to experiment more with the world of wreath making. This time, I wanted to create something for myself. I had recently moved into a new apartment and wanted something to make the space feel like it was truly mine. I incorporated some of my favorite things, crystals, into a more minimalist design. I ordered a dozen polished agate slices and rough crystals from various online vendors and employed an extremely rudimentary wire wrapping technique using jewelry wire and small pliers. I stuck with a grapevine wreath form because it gave me lots of options for places to affix my adornments. With minimal materials and a low cost, this project gave me the opportunity to create something unique and inviting to celebrate my new home.

A wreath I made using borax-crystallized bones, feathers, and wheat.

Wreaths are a great way to celebrate the changing of the seasons. If you love riding bikes, attach something festive to a discarded bike wheel. If you're feeling spooky, breathe new life into old Halloween decorations by incorporating them into a wreath. If you're scrambling for a unique baby shower or wedding gift, try your hand at crafting something unique and meaningful your loved ones can hang on a door and enjoy for years to come. The library is full of resources to help you get started on this journey, including a book on Living Wreaths. Your only limit is your imagination!