Christmas Wreath Making Workshop
I recently visited the house of Ethnobotanist and plants woman, Michelle Griffiths, who over the next few weeks and months will be walking the pathways and parks of Cornwall foraging for flower heads, leaves, pine cones and seed pods to create the most wonderful festive wreaths. The ceiling of her cottage will soon become home to masses of local foliage. Michelle told me she first ties the plants to beams in the kitchen above the range to dry and then they are moved to the warmth of the lounge where they hang from the ceiling beams above the wood burner. There's not a room in the house that is left empty during this really busy collecting season. Michelle's love of plants, collecting and foraging started when worked at Heligan Gardens in Cornwall. I bought a wreath from Michelle about four years ago and, each year at Christmas time, unwrap it from its summer home in the loft and place it on our door - it has lasted all that time! Our new linen Christmas Collection this year features, classical winter foliage. Traditionally used at Christmas time they were believed to have magical properties and signify the changing of season and coming of Spring. I love filling the house with twists of holly, ivy, twinkly lights and a sprig of mistletoe. The fresh smell of cut greenery is one that seems uniquely reserved for this special time of year and we have been really lucky to get Michelle to run a workshop for us, here at Mount Edgcumbe, on Saturday 17th November. During the workshop, she will be teaching us how to achieve a beautifully shaped wreath using wound clematis branches as our frame and starting point. Each piece of the wreath will be wired in place creating a long lasting, and beautiful addition to your festive decorations. Ribbons, fairy lights and sparkly bits will also be available to add to your wreath. Over the coming months, do look out for any additional foliage and found objects that you'd like to include in your wreath - Michelle will show you how to do this during the workshop.
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