Sea and Garden Wreath - Shells and Blooms
When I was a teenager I used to spend summers in St. Augustine, FL with my grandparents. I would go to town at least once a week to visit the quaint shops. Among these boutiques was a small place that sold astoundingly beautiful wreaths that mixed shells and dried flowers. I would stand transfixed for the longest time, loving the marriage between the materials. Although it probably had something to do with the beach breeze, the incredible fragrance of dried lavender and the ambiance of the sea, I know that little shop, filled with floral-sea romance, had a big influence on my becoming a florist . So here is my tribute to that little shop by the ocean.
This beautiful wreath is where "sea meets garden". When I was making this, with flowers from my mother's garden, I had butterflies in my stomach I was so excited. I honestly think it was one of the prettiest wreaths I've ever made (and that's saying a lot as I have made hundreds).
This is a large wreath but easy to scale down. Use dried flowers (instead of fresh) if you want it to last! You can make this a day ahead for a party with fresh flowers. Just spray it with water and wrap a plastic bag around it and put it in the fridge. It will stay fresh for about 24 hours.
Materials list: One large grapevine wreath
Assortment of shells of different sizes and shapes and a few starfish
Flowers - For fresh, cut what you have in the garden or buy flowers in small to medium sizes at the flower shop.
For the dried flowers you will need: dried larkspur or lavender and an assortment of colors including german statice.
Florist wire
Glue sticks (this uses a lot of glue) and a good glue gun (setting should have "high")
This is a large wreath but easy to scale down. Use dried flowers (instead of fresh) if you want it to last! You can make this a day ahead for a party with fresh flowers. Just spray it with water and wrap a plastic bag around it and put it in the fridge. It will stay fresh for about 24 hours.
Materials list: One large grapevine wreath
Assortment of shells of different sizes and shapes and a few starfish
Flowers - For fresh, cut what you have in the garden or buy flowers in small to medium sizes at the flower shop.
For the dried flowers you will need: dried larkspur or lavender and an assortment of colors including german statice.
Florist wire
Glue sticks (this uses a lot of glue) and a good glue gun (setting should have "high")
Add Spanish moss to the grapevine with hot glue.
Tip: Moss and dried flowers must be pressed down into the glue for it to hold well, make sure and use a glue stick for that job...it saves fingers! Glue down small bunches of German statice approx. 4 inches apart around the entire wreath.
Glue down the Shells.
Heavy shells need a LOT of glue, you can't skimp here! If they are extra heavy you will need to wire them on by wrapping the wire around the shell, twist at base of shell and then wire onto the wreath. Add the flowers.
For fresh flowers you can cut them short and add florists tubes to the end to make them more long lasting. But you can also just wire them in or stick them amongst the moss (they won't last as long, perhaps 3 to 4 hours depending on the temperature). For a more permanent wreath, add drieds with glue to the moss. Please send me a picture of your finished wreath and I will put it on the site! Hope your wreath is gorgeous! And please remember to check out any ads you find interesting as it helps support this free DIY site! Thanks, and lots of...... |
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