American Power and Gas all Natural

Since The team here at American Power and Gas are such supporters of preserving the environment, we thought we would share some natural decoration ideas with you all! Here a an all natural wreath that you can make yourself by utilizing nature. This wreath is an elegant piece that can be used during the holiday season, and the piece requires no lights or energy. People tend to travel to a nearby park to get the twigs, leaves, carnations etc. that they want to add to the wreath. Use your imagination when creating, and you can do this with your kids too! This project is something for the whole family and the environment.

“A wreath for the door”

“Start with young, bendy shoots, and add whatever decorations you fancy. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Making your own wreath is pleasingly simple and hugely satisfying. The trick is not to end up making a mountain of them because once you’ve made the first one down it’s hard not to get addicted and think every door needs one” (Fowler, 2014)

You will need

“Secateurs

String/raffia/twine/florist wire

A spool of cotton” (Fowler,2014)

Method

1. “First, make a base. The best rings are made from willow or dogwood, but any supple young growth that can be woven together and held with string will do. You’ll need three to five supple shoots, each around a meterin length.
2. Using your knee, bend the shoots to start to form a circle. You shouldn’t need string with willow or dogwood, just wrap the shoot around itself.
3. Then, moving round slightly from where you started, tuck the next shoot in, wrapping it round as you go for strength. Add more shoots as you see fit, but don’t pull the wreath too tight or you won’t be able to tuck the decorations in.
4. Once you’ve got a suitably sized ring, go to your garden or along a hedgerow and pick out anything that pleases you to use as decoration. Dried flowers, seedheads, rosemary, sage, bay leaves and other sweet-smelling evergreen herbs work well. You could use rosehips, holly berries, crab apples, some go for cinnamon quills or chillies, or you could do something fancy with dried citrus peel” (Fowler, 2014).

The Fun Part

1. Build up the greenery – holly, ivy, pine needles etc – and then add the flowers/fruit/seedheads, poking the stems into your woven wooden wreath base. Imagine a clock face – 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock – as a guide and then build up from there. Either agree that less is more, or throw all the rules out and freestyle – but be bold and generous. Nothing looks sadder than a thin Christmas wreath on a door.
2. You’ll need to hang up your wreath with raffia, a ribbon bow or a hidden wire loop at the back. Just remember it needs to be strong enough to take the door swinging back and forth” (Alys Fowler, 2014)

Keep In Touch With American Power and Gas

Stay Tuned With American Power and Gas, we have so much more to share with you! Green energy is growing, we have shared so much info on upcoming events for companies that are making moves towards more sustainable practices. We are waiting to see what the world does as a result of global awareness on the lack of resources we have to use on this planet. Next year is going to be amazing, but this year is not over yet! We are going to end this year out with a bang and we want to share every moment with you! Follow us on Facebook, Subscribe to our blog, or just keep showing up and making your own personal strides towards a better world.

Work Cited : Acknowledgements

Thank you Alys Fowler for this naturally beautiful wreath option!

Fowler, Alys. “Make your own Christmas: a door wreath, a vase of sprigs and garlands.” A Wreath for the Door. The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 13 Dec. 2014, www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/dec/13/make-own-christmas-wreath-vase-garland.