December heralds my world becoming full of round things. Wreath making takes over in earnest, just around now, with orders from my local customers, and gathering supplies for my workshops.
With the advent of my new workspace, the great thing is I no longer have all the workshop supplies invading my house for the preceding six weeks, so I can still beat a path to the back door without tripping over piles of hydrangea heads, boxes of pine cones, or getting snagged by the fine fingers of silver birch twigs. These are all now corralled – and whilst they might still gang up on me to impede my route from one end of my workroom to the other, at least no-one else has to do battle with them on a daily basis.
This year I’m doing most of my workshops at external venues, and by the time my capacious vehicle is filled with mossy bases, dried flowers, feathers, spruce branches, ivy flowers and everything else, I’m relieved to find there is still just enough room for me to get in the driving seat, and for a few mince pies and the truly essential Frank Sinatra Christmas CD.
I did my first workshops last week (Guthrie and Ghani) and I’m always struck just how much people enjoy them – as both a pre-Christmas social, and as an opportunity to be creative. Even those who are somewhat tentative about getting in touch with their inner flower fairy end up with smile on their face, and a lovely wreath in their hand.
Seeing photos of the resulting handiwork shared on Instagram has left me hankering to paint my currently dark green door a pale shade of blue or grey, as this colour sets off greenery so well. Thanks to Sharon for sharing the lovely pic above, and for inspiring me to move overdue door painting much higher up my agenda. Now where can I source one of those lovely bird shaped door knockers….?
For those of you who don’t have time to make your own, I’ll have some ‘pret a porter’ wreaths at FARMA award-winning Moseley Farmers’ Market on 17th December. (I’m definitely going to be stocking the Christmas cheese library on that date.) Why not collect some other locally made goodies for your table while you’re there, and browse for last minute pressies at the accompanying Arts Market? Come and say hello!