~ WILLOW WREATH ~

I thought I would show you my homemade willow wreath,made with willow branches from my garden.
I watched a programme on the t.v last year,although I can't remember which one ( terrible memory )how to make wreaths ,welll as soon as they said willow ,I set about cutting some branches straight away.
Basically this is what I did;
 I used some wire to make the shape that I wanted,which I thought a not so large circle for my first attempt,  would be good.
So I made a circle with the wire, I USED A DINNER PLATE AS A TEMPLATE.
Made sure that the willow branches were around the same width, and then stripped of a thin layer of bark from the branches apparently the lady on the telly said this made the branches more pliable.
The next stage was just inter twining the willow in and out of the wire shape, and securing the twigs with more wire,and to keep doing this till your happy  voila !!!
Seeing as this was the first one I made,I didn't make it too big or wide but I'm so pleased how it turned out ,I cant wait to make the next one ....

What I forgot to mention the crafty lady on the telly did say that after leaving the wreath somewhere warm and dry for a few months,that you could cut off your wire frame and it should keep it's shape,this step was a worry but luckily she was right ONE LOVELY WILLOW WREATH ...keep it plain, or I chose to sew some linen hearts on to mine,what do you THINK ??
                                                                  XX  Manda XX