Christmas Wreaths 2025

My 2025 Christmas wreaths were some of the best I’ve created. As I look back, I look back with pride. Over a two week period I taught 40 people. Which is an awful lot of pine needles and work for one person running a flower business from their kitchen during schools hours.

I have spent the last five years building my business. Five years ago I started selling dried wreaths at a local shop, that winter I made twenty which felt a huge step. In 2024 I taught 28 people which felt a lot. Teaching 40 people through a mix of workshops felt monumental! But, it did bring out a lot of insecurities within me. Personally, I don’t thrive in a competitive environment and where I live there are a lot of wreath workshops at Christmas time (obvs). A few of my regulars went elsewhere which stung a bit. No shade to them but it did leave me questioning what I was doing wrong.

Pricing properly is something I always have to work on. My workshops were at the top end of the market but I offer a really personal service. I wanted to challenge myself to charge what I’m worth. Each workshop is a carefully curated mix of materials. Not only do I plan and grow so much of what I use. I also really consider every ribbon and orange slice’s potential that I buy in, it is a collection that I design. It’s really important that I stick to the values of Lotts and Lots, if I can’t grow it, I make sure I support other British farmers buy buying in British foliage. Using British grown and seasonal foliage has to be part of my offering but it came at a price. Despite it all feeling really uncomfortable I have no regrets. The wreaths I made and were made at workshops were such good quality. Every single was a wonderful celebration of the season.

Hand making every moss wreath base with the intention of it being used again was worth every splinter and cut. The bases are created to be reused throughout the seasons and not just Christmas. No-one else was offering that service. Maybe it isn’t important to many, to me it is. To those that came to my workshops, I could see they really valued that aspect of the process too.

When it came to ‘big’ workshops a year of teaching Quickies really helped juggle many people. My natural desire when it comes to teaching is to share lots of details. Making sure everyone leaves knowing something. With bigger groups, it’s all about translating knowledge quickly and keeping interest. I had to switch tactics a few times, reading the room to work around people’s keenness to get started. Once we found our pace, I was able to offer a personal service which is so important to me. Learning to relax into everyone doing their own thing. In teaching bigger groups, this year I taught groups of 14/15 at Market West and at Essex Wildlife Trust, Langdon Hills. I have been able to open up new opportunities for future workshops, which I’m really looking forward too.

As I’ve already touched on, I have to buy in the bulk of my pine. The downside of not having pine forest close by. I chose to buy  mixed foliage boxes with addition of Scottish Noble Pine, everyone loves the blue tinged needles. It was all lovely but was feeling a bit same-y. For my extra’s I found the following plants really handy and hard working. They all brought so much life to every single wreath base. I’ll be growing and saving a lot more in 2026.

The best foliage and flowers to grow for wreath making;

Bay – this lasts for ages but also dries really well

Eucalyptus – find a friend with a big tree! I don’t love eucalyptus in arrangements but in wreaths its great. It also dries well and can be reused for years.

Holly -for Christmas

Ivy – See Holly, I don’t add mine in until mid-December as not all varieties last the month.

Rosehips – Better for personal use but always so pretty

Hydrangeas – Cut these in August to keep the colour. I separate the flower head bunches and wire them to use within each wreath.

Gypsophila – Not a favourite of mine to use but they do create a ‘snowy’ effect when used lightly. I think I’ll add some to the allotment this year.

Sweet Annie – These can been sown and grown late Spring. They don’t tend to flower until late Autumn but give the most amazing scent and will last for years.

Strawflowers – For pops of jewel like colour. Deep pink is always a favourite.

Statice – Go for the soft colours or you’ll end up with purple or yellow which no-on likes. Once established these can flower for a few years somewhere sheltered.

Going forward, I’ll definitely still teach wreath workshops. I value and treasure the relationships I’m building with other businesses. It was lovely and encouraging to see people return to make wreaths at Market West as part of their Christmas traditions.

At home, I’ll run one small workshop, maybe?  Ideally I’d prefer to host private groups of friends, with people coming to find me with dates that work for them. We’ll see, I’m putting it here so I can look back in September and remember my wreath feelings!

I’ll finish this post with a some feedback from a private workshop I hosted…

You deserved this.

A moment to be present.

A moment to switch off.

A moment to create something beautiful.

You’re wreaths are stunning…and so are you.

Hope to see you in 2026!