Every so often, our local community center sponsors free craft classes. I've never really paid attention to flyers advertising these classes until one day, when I visited my neighbor, she showed me the finished product from a wreath-making class she attended. It looked like something you could buy from a fancy flower shop for several hundred yen. I vowed to sign up for the next free class, even if it means strapping my baby on to me as I work.
Soon enough, there was a flyer for a wreath-making class. The class was completely free, and all necessary materials will be provided. The only things we were asked to bring were a pair of scissors, and an apron (although one doesn't really need the apron if you wear something you don't mind getting a bit dirty).
With my 8-month old baby strapped on to me and my 8-year old son tagging along, we went to the community center. Each place setting was neatly laid out with the materials.
The instructor began by explaining that the dried lemongrass, which was very fragrant, and the globe amaranth flowers were grown right there in the community center's plots by community members. If there was no pandemic, we would be sipping warm cups of lemongrass tea as we worked. We learned that globe amaranth appears to be different shades of red depending on when it is harvested. Early autumn, the flowers are more an orange shade. Towards late autumn, they are of a deeper shade of red, perfect for a winter wreath.
She demonstrated how to weave lemongrass in and out of the base to our liking. Then we can stick the dried globe amaranth flowers wherever we see fit. The wreath can be accented with real beechnuts, pine cones, and eucalyptus fruit (the stuff that looks like a bell). What is amazing is that other than the super glue and some thin wires, all materials used can be found in nature.
I proudly brought home my wreath and displayed it in our vestibule, bringing a little bit of color to sustain us through the drab winter.
