Rowan Berry Wreath

How about these antique candle holders? They are my newest find from our Italy trip to Puglia. 

This beautiful Rowan Berry Wreath is a celebration of nature’s bounty, carefully foraged from the wild during the crisp days of November. The vibrant red berries, framed by their delicate autumn leaves, make for a stunning and natural decoration that brings warmth and color to the home as the seasons shift. Rowan berries, known for their striking appearance, have long been cherished for both their beauty and their practical uses. Beyond adorning wreaths, these berries can be transformed into delicious homemade goods like jam and tea, offering a delightful taste of the season. Whether displayed on your door or hung inside, this wreath serves as a reminder of nature’s generosity, adding both festive charm and a touch of rustic elegance to your November decor. I feel this wreath is a natural stepping stone to start thinking about the festive season.

I collected fallen twigs from trees to make the base of the wreath. The key is use bendable twigs that easily form a circle. I bend them around into a circle and tie them together with florist wire. You can make this as thick or thin as you wish. 

Wreath base

You need bendable young branches or thick florist wire to create the base. If you can forage young branches that bend easily, collect a bunch and bend them into a circle. Secure the circle with florist wire that is twisted around the branches so it stays in place.

If you do not have branches- you can simple twist thick florist wire into a circle and repeat this process a few times so it create strength into the base.

Materials Needed:

1. Florist wire or a sturdy wire frame

2. Pruners or scissors

3. Foraged goods; rowan berries and green branches

green branches from an evergreen bush from our garden

Make the Wreath

Step 1: Gather Your Materials Collect a variety of foraged goods from your garden, local park, or nearby woods. Look for items like evergreen branches, twigs, pinecones, dried flowers, and berries. Ensure they are in good condition and free of pests. This wreath needs twigs for the base, rowan berries and green branches.

Step 2: Prepare the Base: If you're using a wire frame, shape it into a circle or any desired wreath shape. If you don't have a wire frame, you can create a base by bending a sturdy wire into a circular shape. Ensure the base is strong enough to hold the weight of the foraged materials. You can also make the base from bendable twigs, like I did.

make small bouquets that are attached to the base

wrap the bouquet with florist wire around the base. repeat process

Step 3: Create Small Bouquets- Take small bunches of foraged goods, in this case a rowan berry twig and some grenery. Arrange them in a way that looks pleasing to you. They can either be wild or more structured. Hold the bundle together that will then be attached the base.

Step 4: Secure with Florist Wire- Use florist wire to tightly bind the ends of the bouquet. Wrap the wire around the stems a few times and twist the ends together to secure the bundle.

Step 5: Attach to the Base- Place the secured bouquet on the wire frame and use additional florist wire to attach it securely. Wrap the wire around the stems and the base, ensuring it's tight and stable.

Step 6: Repeat the Process- Continue creating small bouquets and attaching them to the base. Overlap each bouquet with the previous one to ensure full coverage and a lush appearance. Vary the types of foraged goods to add texture and interest to your wreath. You can be creative here, by making the bouquet wild and effortless or create a more full and manicured look.

Step 7: Fill Gaps As you work- fill in any gaps or sparse areas by adding smaller pieces of greenery or other foraged items. This will give your wreath a more polished and cohesive look.

Easy DIY Christmas Garland

DIY Foraged Christmas Garland Tutorial with Chicken Wire Base

Materials Needed:

1. Chicken wire

2. Wire cutters

3. Protective gloves

4. Foraged branches (evergreen, pine, cedar, holly, eucalyptus, etc.)

5. Pruners or scissors

6. Water spray bottle

   Step 1: Gather Materials: Collect all the materials you'll need for your foraged Christmas garland.

Step 2: Prepare the Chicken Wire Base: using wire cutters, cut a length of chicken wire according to the desired size of your garland. Form it into a long cylinder, connecting the ends to create a continuous shape. Make sure to wear protective gloves to avoid any scratches from the wire.

Step 3: Shape the Garland Base: manipulate the chicken wire cylinder into the desired shape, whether it's a traditional swag, a circular wreath, or a straight garland. The chicken wire will hold the branches securely in place. I slightly crunched the wire together to make the wire holes smaller.

Step 4: Trim any excess chicken wire and place the cylinder wire on top of your shelf. I also placed some parchment paper underneath the wire to protect from any scratches.

Step 5: Prepare Foraged Branches: trim the foraged branches to manageable lengths using pruners or scissors. Create bundles of branches with varied textures and colors for a visually appealing garland or simply use wild untrimmed branches as I did.

Step 6: Insert Branches into Chicken Wire: starting at the center of the wire base, poke the trimmed ends of the foraged branches into the holes of the chicken wire. Insert them at various angles to create a full and textured look. Continue adding branches along the length of the garland.

Step 7: Overlap and Mix Textures: overlap the branches to conceal the chicken wire and create a seamless appearance. Mix different types of branches to add variety and interest to your garland. Ensure that the branches are inserted securely to prevent them from falling out.

Step 8: Add Decorative Touches If desired: Add ribbons, dried clementine, baubles or any decorative items you prefer. I tried adding baby’s breath and long thin green ribbons but came to the conclusion that I liked the look more without any excess decorations.

Step 9: Spray with Water: lightly mist your foraged garland with water using a spray bottle. This helps to keep the branches hydrated and fresh, extending the lifespan of your creation. Ensure not to soak it; a gentle misting is sufficient.

I added some eucalyptus to the garland from a left over bouquet of flowers

Cherry Blossoms in May

And then all of a sudden, it was cherry blossom season…

Summer came in an instant, where the sun blessed us with its warm rays and amazing heat wave. Just last week the weather was 3 degrees and rainy and today, it is +25 degrees and clear blue skies. Our morning began under the beauty of cherry blossom trees that opened up to bloom today. The sweet aromatic smell of cherry flower and the fleeting nature of life, the short-lived trees are just as stunning, every year. The pale pink trees take over the entire park, where we enjoyed our morning coffee amongst the singing of the birds.

Wild Flowers & Peace of mind

Just be silent and listen… So many of us are overwhelmed with anxiety and worry. Sometimes we just need to sit still and listen, remember what is important in life. Maybe because being in nature is such a big part of Finnish people’s lives, as we are taught this already at a young age, it becomes part of routine even in adulthood. It is known that nature can generate different types of positive emotions, such as calmness, creativity, joy and improve concentration. I can imagine that during the pandemic, spending time outdoors has been one of the key factors enabling people to cope with the stress.

That is why I love the feeling of being at the countryside, as you are constantly surrounded with woodland and water, breathing in the fresh air and soaking in all the goodness from outdoors. You feel it in your lungs and heart. It makes me feel better emotionally and clearly contributes to my physical wellbeing. It is also known to reduce blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. So, I cannot stress enough, but to encourage you to spend time outdoors, may it be in a park, forest or by the sea to clear your mind. At this current moment in time, I feel like I have a sense of peace of mind.

Still in my linen pj’s, I’ve made myself a frothy decaf cappuccino and walked down to the lake to dip my feet in the cooling waters. It’s only morning but the weather is already warm so it is nice to start the day by soaking my toes in the water. Siena always joins me no matter where I go, and together we gazed into the horizon as the day began to awake. That first sip of morning coffee is the best feeling in the world and pressing the tangy froth against my lips, while there is silence all around me, is a cleansing sensation. I think we sat here for twenty minutes or so, just reflecting on positivity around me and listening to the sounds from nature.

Our wonderful coffee moment by the pier was followed by a walk to the forest to pick some fresh wildflowers for the day. My mother loves flowers as much as I do, so we love to have flowers around us as much as possible. You can see how the sun sparkles through the trees that has not risen completely into the sky. A stone throw away, there’s a little meadow close to our cottage, that has old apple trees, an old barn and a little field filled with different flowers. Here you find bees and butterflies scattered in the long hay and it is the place to go pick some inspiration during different seasons. It’s funny when it comes to color, I prefer most neutral tones, but when it comes to flowers, I do appreciate some color. I picked some blooms into my basket while Siena lay hidden in the hay finding the joy in simple moments like these.