WINTER . make a simple rosemary wreath

the Christmas decor is all packed away! whew.
now i'm enjoying a slow, calm 'ease into the new year' approach: simple changes, adjustments, and routines that give my creative mind space to wander (and wonder!) without stressing out as i keep up with my responsibilities. 

the simple rosemary wreath project that i am sharing today is something that can made in just minutes and with very little effort. (i don't know about you, but i LOVE easy DIY projects!) let me show you how easy and simply charming this project is - and how you can make it even if you don't have an herb garden.

continue reading for tutorial...

i have a monstrous culinary rosemary plant in my small herb garden. you can see it in the photo above - that was taken about five years ago, and it has grown taller than the scarecrow shown next to it! i trim it all year 'round and give branches away to the neighbors who love to cook. (last fall, i chopped over half of it away, as some of those branches were drying out and dying.... but i threw them into the backyard firepit, and you wouldn't believe the scent of that fire on a cool evening!) the branches that remained are proliferate with leaves all year long, so using them indoors is an easy way to enjoy them.

if you don't have a rosemary plant, you can still make a wreath - either purchase a small rosemary plant (the six inch pot size) from a local nursery or shop, and snip off a few branches. they grow back fast! OR you can buy a small bundle of rosemary branches at your local farmer's market or in the produce aisle at your local grocer - they'll work for making tiny wreaths. 

rosemary wreath tutorial

materials:
rosemary branches . green garden twine (or floral wire) 
scissors . ribbon for hanging the wreath


method:
shown above: small wreaths can be made with one rosemary branch. 
larger wreaths require attaching branches together, then bending into a circle.
below, each step of the process:


small:
cut a piece of twine (or wire) @3" long.

tie the twine to the end of one branch of rosemary.

bend the branch carefully into a circle, with one end overlapping the end with the twine.

tie the twine in a knot around the spot where both ends of the sprig connect, to hold them in place.

cut off the excess twine.

tie a piece of ribbon to the wreath if you wish to hang it.


large: 
connect two or more sprigs with a piece of twine, tying them end to end.

bend the end of the last sprig in a circle to meet the end of the first sprig, then tie them together.

cut all of the excess twine.

add a ribbon for hanging the wreath if you wish.

the large wreath shown above is made up of two layers of two branches... i made two wreaths using two branches for each wreath, then tied them together so they would appear thicker.

keeping it fresh:
mist your wreath with a fine spray of water every other day to keep it from drying out too much in the indoor heat. you can opt to soak it in water to give it more moisture - remember to remove the ribbon before you soak the wreath, and be careful to shake off excess water and pat the wreath dry with a towel before re-hanging it as part of your decor.


wondering where to hang it?

on a cabinet door, on a doorknob, on a peg rack, from a funky old hook on a wall, tuck the ribbon into a book on a shelf letting the wreath hang down the spine, or on a garden gate like the one that hangs on my studio wall!

other ways to display a rosemary wreath:


* place the wreath around the neck of a glass bottle of olive oil or dried rosemary leaves that you are giving as a gift, or use it as a tie-on to embellish a gift bag or wrapped package. this bottle is full of rosemary-infused olive oil in our kitchen!


* lay it beneath a birds' nest displayed in a bowl - or beneath a trinket bowl.

* place the wreath on a tray, plate, or board, and sit a clear glass vase inside the wreath. fill with a candle or flowers or natural elements gathered on walks.

* fit the wreath around a pillar candle or at the base of a taper candle holder as a 'bobeche' - just be sure it sits well below the flame. 

* place small wreaths around the base of faux candles on a chandelier, or use them as napkin rings around ironed linen napkins in a winter table setting.

when your wreath dries out, don't throw it away!

the dried branches can be tossed into the fire pit or fireplace for a fragrant winter fire, or stored in a bottle on their own (or combined with salt) and used as seasoning in upcoming winter menus. they can also be added to oil, soap, and candles to bring a spicy, fresh fragrance to multiple areas of your home this winter.

coming up later this month, i'll have another project that includes rosemary. it's being published in a home decor magazine's spring issue, releasing in late January! 

creatively, deb

winter,winter to spring decor,DIY,diy decorating,garden style,decorating,diydecorating,home decor,natural elements,inspired by nature,simple solutions,new year,