Jennifer Fernandez of Fern Interiors shared with us some great tips on how to decorate for the holidays using fresh greenery from our yards.
Preparing the live greenery
1. Gather greenery from your yard using clippers and a garbage bag. Some foliage ideas include: Branches from your Christmas tree, Magnolia, Holly, Nandina, Acuba, Boxwood, Ivy, and Rosemary (Jennifer also mentioned Oak Leaf Hydrangea for Thanksgiving).
2. Place your greenery in water for at least a day (either a bathtub or child’s swimming pool). Add a few drops of Clorox to reduce bacteria from growing.
3. Before you put the greenery in the Oasis (see next step), trim stems so that plants absorb water better.
Preparing the decorating space
1. For a mantle, cover the wood with plastic wrap to protect the wood from sap and water.
2. To create a base for the greenery, use floral Oasis in a container. Floral Oasis is stiff foam that absorbs water and holds the plants in place. Soak the Oasis in a sink by setting the foam blocks on top of the water and letting them soak up the water. Do not submerge the foam as it will create air bubbles in the foam (takes approx 20 minutes). Keep the Oasis wet as it is no longer usable when it dries.
3. Put wet Floral Oasis in a container (Jennifer used silverware liners as they fit on the narrow mantle). It can be held in place with floral tape, designed to stick when wet.
Creating the decoration
1. Create a base by using your large foliage first, and then add more delicate stems, flowers, ribbons, ornaments, etc.
2. Scale, proportion, and balance can be achieved by grouping like items, using odd numbers of items (i.e. one bow, three large magnolia bunches, 5 ornaments).
3. Green Glo Floral Spray gives the foliage a nice sheen. Do not spry dried leaves or blooms, only spray the greenery.
Creating a bow
1. Jennifer recommended starting with wired ribbon. You will also need floral wire, clippers, and wired floral picks (sticks with wire at one end).
2. Check out this article for picture instructions on doing a multi-loop decorative bow: http://sewing.about.com/od/bowsandribbonshowtos/ss/bow.htm
3. In addition to the steps in the article above, Jennifer recommended attaching the wired pick by wrapping the wire around the center of the bow (on top of the floral wire already there). With the pick in place you can put the bow in a floral arrangement, wreath, tree, etc.
Other ideas
· Jennifer put together a lovely table setting. Some of the details included pine and ornaments on the chandelier, boxes wrapped in holiday paper, and spring of pine under red ribbon for a napkin ring.
· Another fun grouping includes these large vases with fresh cut fruit (holiday suggestions: citrus and cranberries), water, and floating candles.
· Jennifer also created a lovely wreath for the front door.
· This is a three tiered dessert tray with ornaments, simple and lovely!
Where to buy
1. Wired ribbon and floating candles: Michaels (I’ve also noticed that Sam’s Club has a nice selection of ribbon for a reasonable price).
2. Oasis, floral tape, floral wire, floral wire picks, Green Glo: Walmart
If all else fails…
Contact Jennifer! Her number is 704-576-3770 and her email is ferninteriors@gmail.com. She is a great resource not only for holiday decorating, but for interior design as well. Thank you Jennifer for an awesome evening and happy decorating!
If you have other suggestions or ideas, find a great deal that you want to share, or just want to make a comment, select "comment" and share with the group!
Other pictures from the evening
No comments:
Post a Comment