A forest wreath is simpler to make than it seems, assures the founder of Prune les fleurs, Nadine Jazouli. Just look around you to find material to shape it.
The morning of our meeting, Nadine Jazouli got up early to pick a few branches of pine, larch and other conifers or perennials in her garden in the Rosemont district. These plants are found everywhere in Quebec and even in cities. Assembled before our eyes, they will take the form of a forest crown, generous and elegant, with the scents of the undergrowth.
The beauty of this festive decoration lies in the layering of tone-on-tone textures and colors and, of course, in the sharp eye of an artisan who has made many others. Making your own winter wreath, however, is easier than it seems, assures the owner and artistic director of Prune les fleurs. “The result may seem intimidating to anyone who is not a fan of DIY [do-it-yourself, or handmade], but making your own Christmas wreath is accessible to everyone. »
In the fall, when cleaning up the garden, you can already put a few beautiful plant branches aside. At this time of year, many trees still bear their berries, crabapples and dried flowers. Just keep your eyes open to find some treasures to collect sparingly in alleys, wastelands, parks and forests.
“In the same way that you put up your Christmas tree, making your wreath is a beautiful tradition to repeat as a family year after year,” suggests Nadine Jazouli, skillfully weaving a few plant branches into an ivy base, with her hands stained by resin and sap.
From mid-November, and until Christmas, she and her team of florists will assemble dozens of wreaths in an artisanal way: each one unique. “I go a lot by feeling, following the shapes of the crown,” she emphasizes, adding that her creation, made for La Presse and for which you will find the steps in the following tab, is an inspiration on which we will find it easy to improvise.
Pruning shears, ribbon and sheathed wire are the only accessories needed, along with a handmade or purchased reusable ivy wreath ($36, at Prune les fleurs). All the branches, varying in length between 20 and 40 cm, are stripped at the base to be more easily inserted through the ivy. They are then attached to the support with wire.
Pine branches cover the top and sides of the wreath and make up the backdrop for this creation. “Since I like it to be generous, I make sure to garnish all sides well,” says Nadine Jazouli.
The florist then composes small bouquets of cypress, spruce and pine which she ties with wire before adding them to the wreath, starting at the top, then filling in the inside and outside of the wreath. this one.
Cedar branches are integrated into the unit, highlighting the top of the branches, but also the underside which is paler. Touches of shine, such as larch, are added where the effect is harmonious.
Nadine Jazouli finishes with the accents: larch casserole branches harvested in spring and pine casseroles, whose base, rather than the tip, is highlighted – “because I find it prettier”. Clematis ivy, delicate and fragile, weaves its way between the vines at the very end.
To finish, a 2m long silk ribbon dyed with natural cachou acacia extract is folded on itself to create more volume and a double loop.