.: The colors of autumn growing all around us! :.
We are taking in every last bit of autumn and so on this last day of November I would like to share with you some of the gathering and creating we have been up to in these last days before December-- inspired of course by family walks in the woods!
.:Pinecones and Bittersweet berries were gathered during our walk in the woods!:.
Pinecones were gathered in gathering baskets to join bittersweet wreaths and to incorporate into many crafting projects throughout the winter months ahead.
Bittersweet grows wild all around our home, with each walk and visit outdoors we have enjoyed gathering it up by the armful!
.: My son clips away each leaf to prepare the vines for weaving! :.
My oldest son began the wreath by clipping off each and every leaf that grew on the bittersweet vines. The leaves will dry and crumble, but the bittersweet berries will slowly open, sharing both a brilliant orange and yellow. If stored properly they will join us on our door next autumn as well!
.: These small woven vines soon turn into a full wreath! :.
We began sorting out the vines and started to weave them in and around, securing them only by twisting one vine around the next. I continued weaving each vine until the wreath became very full.
.: Pinecones wrapped with wire and secured to the bittersweet vine :.
Some of the pinecones we gathered also made their way onto the bittersweet wreath. Thin green floral wire was wrapped around the center of the pinecone, joined in the back, and then twisted onto the vines.
.: The finished wreath is a daily reminder of our time spent in the woods! :.
The completed wreath hangs next to the front door. In a few days the yellow berries begin to open and soon transform into a beautiful orange. I appreciate how the the colors of the pinecones complement the brightness of the berries and remind us of our special walks in the woods!