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Homemade Christmas Decorations

For a truly traditional Christmas, harkback to an era before the invention oftinsel and baubles when natural,organic materials provided thedecoration, the textures and theevocative scents. Draw inspiration formthe Elizabethans, who created a festiveambience rich with the aromas oforanges and bay, and of heady spicessuch as cinnamon and cloves. Theseingredients can be the starting point ofan elegant colour scheme, substitutingrussets and oranges for the more usualreds. Supplement the rich mood bylooking for exotic fruits and vegetableslike pomegranates, Chinese lanternsand artichokes, and highlight themwith voluptuous hunchesof blackgrapes. Use rusty metal vases, such asbrass or amber glass plates, then add ahint of gold for the Midas touch. Hereare just a few suggestions for creating atruly individual Christmas affair.

1 Soak a florist's foam brick in water. Cutit to fit a metal urn and place inside. Trima bunch of tree ivy to length and gild theberries using picture framer's gilt wax. Usethe ivy to make a full base arrangement.

2 Trim five calla lilies to length and placethem in the arrangement. Repeat withfive russet roses to complete, making surethey arc all at slightly different angles.

BROCADE PARTY FAVOURS

1 Cut two pieces of brocade, eachmeasuring 15 x 30 cm/6 a 12 in. Folddown a 5 cm/2 in hem at the top edgeof each piece and stitch the hem.

2 With right sides facing, stitch a seamaround three sides, leaving the hemmededges at the top open. Turn to the rightside, fill with a small gift and tie a 20 cm/8 in silk cord around the bag.

A charming brocade bag tied up withsilken cord is a gift enough already; it can alsocontain a small present for each guest and bedecoratively placed next to each setting.A singlerosebud adds a final delicate touch.

FLORAL URN ARRANGEMENT

1. Soak a florist's foam brick in water andset: it on a plate. Carefully push fourchurch or beeswax candles into the foam.

2. Cut the stems of a bunch of tree ivy tosize and push them into the florist's foam.Carefully gild the berries with pictureframer's gilt wax.

3. Pass a wire through the base of each ofthe Chinese lanterns (winter cherries)and then twist the ends together. Firmlypush the twisted wire ends into theflorist's foam base to fix the Chineselanterns in position.

BROCADE PARTY FLOWERS

1. Cut two pieces of brocade, each measuring 15 X 30 cm/6 X 12 in. Fold down a 5 cm/2 in. hem at the top edge of each peace and stitch the hem.

2. With the right sides facing, stitch a seam around three sides, leaving the hemmed edges at the top open. Turn to the right side, fill with a small gift and tie a 20 cm/ 8 in. silk cord around the bag.

SEASONAL GARLAND

1 First make the base. Roll a piece ofchicken wire measuring the desired lengthof the finished piece and three times thewidth into a long sausage filled withflorist's foam. Soak in water and then forminto a circle. Push tree ivy sprigs into thefoam to make a full base.

2. Pass a florist's wire through the base ofan artichoke and two dried oranges, thenfix these in position around the garland.Gild the ivy berries, the dried oranges andthe tips of the artichoke leaves usingpicture framer's gilt wax.

3. Tie cinnamon sticks into bunches oftwo or three using gold cord. Fix a wirethrough the cord and then fix this intothe garland.

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