Holiday Time

Doing my "research" for this project has encouraged me to carry my camera all the time - something I know many of you already do ... or you have figured out how to take good photos with your phones and how to transfer them.  [Ok, so i haven't really tried all that hard!]

Today's lesson is fun.

All - well, most - of you can visit this wreath, too.  No matter where you live.

You will find it in your local Starbucks coffee shop.  It's some sort of artificial leaves - they feel "preserved" some how - with a few bright ornaments and a simple bow.  Somewhat classy commercialism!

This one's for Sara in LPV.

Holiday Time

Today's lesson is Tradition.

This wreath is a great example of a slightly modern twist on Colonial America.  This wreath could easily be in Colonial Williamsburg - you see many of these in Richmond and probably all over the states that trace their history to that period.  It is perfectly matched to the plank shutters.

It's a form of della robia wreath, like my Mother always made.  This one has apples, oranges and many, many berries. Mother always bought a boxwood wreath and then added kumquats and berries by sewing them to the wreath.  It was quite a production, but lovely.

 It goes beautifully with the della robia "fan" above the door, which is even more colonial.  It has the pineapple at the center, which is traditional and shows a bit more greenery.  If we were being picky - and we are not! - we would want more green showing in the wreaths.

With a wreath in both windows and the door fan, this cottage is perfectly dressed for the holidays.

Holiday Time

It's been a fun week looking for good wreaths, and I have learned a lot.

First, lots of people use a plain green artificial wreath with just a ribbon.  They are pretty, but not what I am looking for this month. 

I have nothing against artificial wreaths at all!  We keep them up way too long for fresh greenery to look really nice, so it's a choice - go natural and put it up later and take it down sooner, or go artificial and enjoy it for three months.  I joined the artificial crowd years ago.

Secondly, lots of people [apparently] give little or no thought to how the wreath looks on their door.  Contrast, folks.  You need contrast if you want it to look really nice from the street.

This wreath is a good example of the latter.  It's on a chocolate brown door.  It caught my eye as I was driving by.  When I got close enough, I could see that there is lots of red and gold that make it pop out from the brown background - even thru a glass storm door.

I am finding it difficult to get good photos, tho.  Don't feel comfortable tromping into the yards of strangers [especially with the alarm company sign right next to my objective!], and clearly my telephoto isn't powerful enough to get really good images from the sidewalk.

Today's lesson = contrast!

Holiday Time

Inside our front door you will find this wreath. 

Several years ago, i saw the idea of an indoor wreath in a magazine and loved the idea.

This is just red berries on a grapevine base, but against the white door it brings a nice pop of color to the living room.  And, i'm thinking of going with more "natural" decorations this year ... maybe.