If you want to know what is happening at the Farm this Christmas follow the blog Garden Walk Garden Talk. I am the blog owner and a Farm worker during the Christmas season.

I take loads of photos and you may just see you or your tree on a post. I photograph the animals too. It is fun family reading and you can also see the Farm through the seasons if you check previous posts. If you or your kids want to be internet stars just find me at the Farm. I would be happy to post your holiday cheer.

Also see my home decorated in 2009 with Erway trees. Both inside and out, all the plants and trees come from Erway Farms. See last years Christmas tree all decked out and see how I use holly and garlands too.

Below is a post on how we make wreaths at Erway's Christmas Tree Adventure. See if I made yours!
These links will take you to posts either at the Farm or using Erway trees and greens around the home.

To see how we make Kissing Balls visit the post at gardenwalkgardentalk.com

Also, Green Apples, another blog, has a post on the Deer at the farm. See some nice photos of the big bucks and dainty does.

Wreath Making Fun at the Farm

What I have been up to these past weeks is making wreaths, swags, kissing balls and garland. When you buy a wreath at Erway’s Christmas Tree Adventure, you get a hand-made wreath by me most likely, using whatever greens and ornament you might choose to fit your inside or outside decor.

I go out into the field and gather my selection for the wreath I intend to make if it is to be one of my choosing like this one today. I clipped pine and Grand Fir to add to the Frasier Fir base. The Frasier Fir, Blue Spruce, and holly are brought to me by Santa’s Helpers.

If I add dried hydrangea or boxwood, like the pine and Grand Fir, I pick and cut them myself. I like choosing my own greens. I get to wander around finding new live and dried sprigs to add. I love to be creative.

A Pile of Accent Cuttings

Next, I set up the wreath ring into the clamping machine, in this case a small 12 inch ring. This sized ring will make an eighteen to twenty-four inch wreath. Small wreaths can be up to 30 inches in some cases, depending on what I add to the mix. That was the case with this wreath and why it was priced at $30.00.

The Wreath Ring

I have my Felco clippers at the ready along with floral wire and small wire cutters. I also have needle nose pliers handy as well for attaching the hanger.

For this wreath, I used wire to secure the decorative beads together in a bunch. They are all individual as you will see below.  Floral wire is needed for when I use it for adding pine cones, too.

My  First Layering

I start my design, in this case, layering Grand Fir over the Frasier, then adding white pine sprigs for texture.

Adding the Pretties

Once I have the greens securely between the prongs, I add an ornament or ribbon loops if I choose. These seem to be a favorite. I found I can clamp many different things into the wreath.

Here I used white, pearlized, wired beads; wired to the pine sprig. We were out of red, so white it is. You can not see the clamping prongs until I close them up. They are hidden in amongst the greens.

The next set can be seen clearly. I will clip the pine sprig shorter, like the other greens shown here, so it is not sicking out of the wreath and the wreath lays flatly against your door. Too much bulk makes for a sloppy and lumpy wreath.

I throw in pine cones too on some wreaths. That is another big seller.  Boxwood is a favorite too. After all the components are in between the prongs, I step on the pedal, which brings the two prongs together very tightly like is shown above.

Moving On

I move onto the second set of beads after I complete a section without the beads. This  alternating saves on materials but makes a nice spacing as well.

Rounding the Ring, 18 Minutes In

It is repetitive until the wreath is completed. I alternate groupings for adding the beads.

Oh, My Backside is Showing

Then I flip it over to make a hanger. When I make the hanger for the wreath, I use the needle nose pliers to pinch the ends securely to the ring frame. Now we have a hanger.

Setting the Hook, Gotcha Now

I flip the wreath over again and lay it out on the floor. I found when I can step back away from it, I can trim it much more nicely if need be. I usually trim the center, so the hole is opened.

Almost Done, the Floor is Cold

Next I add a bow, if needed, in this case not, and price the wreath for sale. I take it out to hang on the tree pyramid. I designed these a few years ago. I even figured out how to place the wreaths to maximize the 4′ x 8′ plywood. I made a little model.

Buy Me Please

This was one design which is one I really liked. But it was more difficult and time consuming to construct for the workers. So it was thrown in the rejection heap. I want someone to build it so here it is…

Wreath Stands By Donna, I see the price increased since I designed these four years ago, opps!

I made it slotted for easy disassembly and storage. The holes were so the wind would not take it down. The pegs held the wreaths. Corner brackets (not all shown) held it secure and stakes anchored it in the ground.

The image above is how the tree pyramid was finally built. The little cylinders are the smallest wreaths, if made to the size of the 12 inch ring.

If you include medium and large wreaths, which we do, then only six wreaths fit per pyramid side. The stand is 4′ x 8′ per side.

Detail

Above is a close up so that you can see how all the stems and wires are concealed in the wreath I made today. That is important not to see wires and the ring.

This step is done when I lay in the greens. This wreath, from gathering greens to hanging it for sale, took about 25 minutes. I make over a hundred wreaths a season, twelve or so in a six-hour day, and I have a machine for the clamping the prongs tight. This is invaluable.  But it is completely handmade. If you want to bend the prongs yourself, it can be done, but it will never be as secure as using the machine

Here is a four-foot wreath made with cedar accents, Frasier Fir, holly, and pine.

Big Wreath

A close up of the four-foot wreath. They should not have put this wreath over the pillar. When it is taken down, it will straighten back out, but I personally think it should have been hung normally for a better display.  It is a really pretty wreath.

Detail on Big Wreath

The detail of the cedar and holly accents.

Holly Wreath

Holly wreaths are very popular. I dressed this one a bit with curled ribbon and red berries. I do like the berries!

Detail of the Holly Wreath

Plain Jane

And I make plain ones for those creative souls. We add the ribbon because these wreaths are the ones that usually go to the cemeteries. They are $20.00 which is very reasonable for a full, fresh Grand Fir wreath. Hope you enjoyed seeing how your wreaths are made!