Four glorious wreaths

Whether you're welcoming winter, hailing the holidays or ringing in the new year, wreaths help you celebrate the season and telegraph your sense of style. We asked four local designers to craft creative looks for your front door.

By Connie Nelson, Star Tribune

Last update: October 15, 2009 - 11:08 AM

Materials: Floral designer Vicky Greer started with a back-to-basics balsam wreath, added texture with a variety of greens (white pine, plain and coned cedar) and two kinds of pine cones. For a shot of color, she brought in artificial red berry stems, then tied it all together with a red corduroy ribbon.

Surprise: For a nostalgic touch, Greer wired in a pair of children's ice skates laced with red velvet ribbon.

Best tip: Use what you have -- an old sled, a pair of wooden skis, a child's toboggan -- to add whimsy.

From: Nature's Harvest, 320 Wayzata Blvd. E., Wayzata, 952-473-4687

FA LA NATURAL

Materials: For a wreath that welcomes winter, Fleur de Lis owner Robin Rivard wrapped grapevine around a metal base, then tucked in seeded eucalyptus. To create a rich, tonal color scheme, she layered in fresh magnolia leaves, pine cones and pepperberries. "I like a natural look," she said. "It transcends traditional red and green."

Surprise: Slender nandina, with its autumn-tinted leaves, adds subtle, sophisticated color.

Best tip: To deck a winter wreath for the holidays, add gold balls and copper ribbon for Christmas, sparkles for New Year's Eve.

From: Fleur de Lis, 516 Selby Av., St. Paul, 651-292-9562

www.fleurdelisfreshflowers.com

A WARM, FUZZY WELCOME

Materials: Carol Walline, the design half of the mother-daughter duo that makes up Sprigs Floral Design, crafted her swag from mix of evergreens (balsam, Scotch pine and cedar), then added red twigs and a few sprigs of oregonia for texture. For accents, she added twig balls and red flocked pine cones.

Surprise: Instead of a ribbon, Walline tied her swag with a colorful scarf for "an unexpected welcome."

Best tip: Personalize your front-door decorations with a pair of woolen mittens, a favorite toy, pieces from a collection. "It doesn't have to be a lot," she said, "just enough to add some surprise."

From: Sprigs Floral Design (a Twin Cities-based custom container company), 612-940-8550, www.sprigsfloraldesign.com

GIFTS FROM THE SEA

Materials: Designers Laurie Luehmann and Tom Brandt took a standard evergreen base and heavily layered it with magnolia leaves, dried pomegranates, pine cones, money plant seed heads, reindeer moss and real and faux berries. To give it 3-D appeal, they also tucked in birch twigs.

Surprise: For a whimsical take on tradition, they added sponge fingers, sea fans and sponge cups.

Best tip: If you like a rich look, "layer stuff in, add dimension and don't be afraid to use lots," said Luehmann. "Go ahead and glob it on."

From: Luehmann, 5005 Bryant Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-285-8467

Text By Connie Nelson • cnelson@startribune.com

HOLIDAY ON ICE

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