Day 536's garland ... finally.

I was determined to make my own garland this year, and I'm glad I stuck to it. After the lot where we bought our Christmas tree tried to charge us $3 for a bunch of discarded branches of Fraser Fir, I got a little discouraged, but Courtney suggested hitting up the big-box hardware stores. Sure enough, Wes came home from is seemingly-weekly Saturday morning trip to Lowe's with a car load of branches. And all for free, my friends! Thanks, Courtney!

I made the garland by gathering small bunches and wiring them together with floral wire. Then I added them one on top of the other (so that the next covers the wire of the first) and wired them together. Some of the heftier branches were helpful in created a "template" to attach the bunches (Courtney also suggested that).


Hanging it was a little trickier. I made two long pieces and intended to attach them to the door so that the branches went "down" both sides, if that makes sense. But, that turned out to be a little too heavy. Plan B seems to have worked better. I attached the two side pieces to nails on the door frame with twine, then made a seperate piece for the top (also attached to nails with twine).

It's a little wonky, and uneven, but I kind of like it that way! Next year though, we'll have to hang it a little farther from the door, as we are now using the side entrance exclusively to keep from shutting the garland in the door multiple times a day. Oops.

I also made that wreath! It was super-easy, and I followed the same basic guidelines, except attached the bunches to a wire wreath form. And even after the garland on the television cabinet, I've still got some branches left over! I may just have to pick up a smaller wreath form and make one for the kitchen window. Can one have enough Fraser Fir during the holidays? I think not.