Stick Wreaths

As I mentioned in Fall Foliage Arrangements, I like to follow the code of “using what you have,” instead of always buying new stuff. My husband and I made two stick wreaths early in our marriage, when we had more time, energy, and ideas than we had money. A friend of ours from work, Paul Sharaba (computer programmer by day, light-opera singer by night), pruned his yard one fall weekend, and brought us a truckload of long, slender, flexible sticks.

Over several weeks, we formed the sticks into wreaths, holding them in place with clear fishing line. We visited a craft store for ribbons, ornaments, and artificial cones, berries, holly, and nuts; then decorated the wreaths. The smaller wreath is about a foot across with a red theme, the larger one is about three feet across with a purple theme.

Stick wreath decorated with artificial foliage from the craft store.

Over the years, the sticks have hardened into shape, and the wreaths have been reworked with new lights, ribbons, ornaments, and themes. Now you can purchase commercially-made stick wreathes at craft stores. They are very handy, economical, and have a uniform appearance. But they don't have the same charm as our stick wreathes, with their uneven shape, buds frozen in time, and wisps of fishing line.