By Emily Malloy

The Christmas season has come to a close as the last string of lights are tucked away. Sometimes a void is felt as the walls and doorways that were festive lay bare. Created beauty is not just for the holiday season, but for the entire year through. 

One of my favorite things to create is a winter wreath. The winter landscape is an endless source of inspiration as textures and muted tones rule the day.  Andrew Wyeth paintings perfectly show how varying and beautiful these months are in which nature slumbers.

While winter wreaths can have a glittery feel to convey the months of snow, I love nothing more than to echo the same soft sleepy refrain of flora in this season. I gather textures in varying shades of green and dried elements to bring that same feeling of realism captured in a romantic Wyeth landscape. 

As mentioned in last month's Christmas wreath tutorial, I love making use of a grapevine wreath base. It saves time in the design process and holds the clippings in place.

The key to creating a beautiful, natural feeling winter wreath is the creation of layers of texture, focusing upon one layer at a time. It enables you to observe the personality of each variety of greenery and will dictate the overall shape. It may feel sparse at first, however several layers will be added and the empty spaces will be filled. 

I utilized various types of eucalyptus, dried ferns, ivy stems, and a touch of baby's breath and waxflower. I love the way that each of these items dries, so it will be enjoyed beyond the current state of freshness through March. 

I love working with long ivy stems in floral arrangements and wreaths. One of my favorite things to do is create little loops by tucking each end into the grapevine base. The dimension and shape lend to its behavior as it grows in the garden, gently winding its way around to be quietly noticed. 

After a shape is formed by the layers of greens, you can tuck in any light and airy flowers, such as baby's breath or waxflower, to add one final layer of interest.

The winter wreath maintains the same warm welcome to all who enter as a festive Christmas wreath, but with a nod to the beauty and stillness of the season.