December 4, 2024
The countdown to Christmas is on. That means dusting off the boxes labelled ‘Christmas decorations’ from the cupboards to set up the tree, the Nativity scene and all the accessories that will make your home breathe a real Christmas spirit for the next few weeks. But what about the Christmas wreath? That’s what we take care of from PORCELANOSA.
Sally Hambleton has been working among flowers for over 20 years, creating unique combinations. Her trajectory and her own style for mixing different textures and colours are her main hallmark. In her exclusive workshop, located in Madrid, she works – with exquisite care – with each flower. For this occasion, the florist is in an enviable space, in a Porcelanosa kitchen (Gamadecor) functional and wide space from which she shows us her gift in the making of a Christmas wreath.
With the help of Hambleton, we reveal all the secrets so that this year you won’t be able to resist and triumph with a Christmas wreath that will give a warm and elegant touch to your home.
– Porcelanosa: What trends have you followed this year in terms of colours, flowers and plants for the Christmas season?
Sally Hambleton (SH): I don’t follow any trends. Christmas is such a short time that I repeat the same style for the wreath every year. I never get tired of it. Besides, I love the season so much that I want to enjoy the process every year. My Christmas is very classic, with red and green in all its manifestations: fresh flowers, fruits, pine cones, greens, glass balls, velvet and plaid ribbons, cinnamon, dried oranges, etc. My style is a fusion of Anglo-Saxon and Spanish traditions that I love.
– Q: What elements have you used for the Porcelanosa Christmas wreath?
SH: In the wreath I have prepared for Porcelanosa, we have used hydrangeas, pinsapo, eucalyptus, rose hip, branches with pine cones, lemons, cinnamon and a large velvet ribbon. An authentic and traditional Christmas wreath, which despite the passing of the years, has not lost an ounce of elegance and personality.
– Q: Can you tell us about the best way to transport or preserve flowers until the moment they are to be used?
SH: Flowers need two very important things to last as long as possible: water and a cool temperature (between 7 and 10 °C). As soon as you receive them at home, if they do not come in water, give them a fresh cut of 2 or 3 cm, diagonally, and immediately put them in water. Every day, check the water level in the vase – some flowers drink more than others – and top up with fresh water as needed.
– Q: In which room of the house do you think is the best place to prepare the Christmas wreath?
SH: Without a doubt, the kitchen. A resistant and wide worktop is the most comfortable to manipulate all the pieces and elements that we have used. The granite model Altissima Baobab, by XTONE -the worktop and island model in the kitchen where I made the Christmas wreath for Porcelanosa- has a sophisticated and elegant aesthetic. The natural stone stands up very well to the hustle and bustle of materials, scissors and wires, without the surface suffering or being affected.
– Q: What tools do you think are indispensable for working with flowers?
SH: A pair of carbon steel scissors, which also cut wire, will be most useful. In addition, a spool of wire and forks for holding and clamping the different elements will be essential.
– Q: What do we need to consider before we get started?
SH: First of all, we should consider the style of the wreath: traditional, minimalist, natural or if it will have golden details. Next, we will determine the size of the wreath. Based on this, we will buy the materials we need. Although it may seem obvious, it is important to know that the bigger the wreath, the easier it will be to make. And of course, before getting down to work, the best thing to do is to have all the material that will be used throughout the process ready on the worktop and within reach. Having defined the place where the Christmas wreath will be placed will help to maintain harmony in the decoration of the environment.
– Q: How to give a unique touch to the Christmas wreath?
SH: The pieces that can be used to decorate a wreath are infinite. The secret is to be able to tie them well with the wire – you have to bear in mind that the wreath will be hanging and it is important that they do not fall off – and that they are not too heavy. From glass Christmas balls, to seeds and dried flowers, fabric ribbons, etc. The decorative possibilities for a wreath are endless. It all depends on the taste and creativity of each person.
– Q: What can we do to preserve it, how should we store it so that next year it will be intact, or at least still retain its charm?
SH: The fresh fir wreath that I have prepared for Porcelanosa dries quite well, and some people use it from one year to the next. And it is important to store it in a cardboard box – not a plastic box – so that it can breathe. Personally, I prefer to make mine fresh every year, with my daughter and my mother. It is a family tradition, and with this unmissable date, our Christmas plans begin. Actually, making the Christmas wreath at home together keeps the three generations together.
Now, take pen and paper to write down everything you need and what steps you have to follow to make your Christmas wreath just like the Porcelanosa one.
Necessary elements:
– Straw base
– Scissors
– Velvet ribbon
– Wire spool
– Pitchforks
– Assorted conifers: Spanish fir, thuja, cypress, etc.
– Fresh hydrangeas
– Rose hips
– Dried rosehips with pine cones
– Eucalyptus
– Toppings: pine cones, cinnamon sticks, dehydrated lemons or oranges, etc.
Step by step:
1- Tie the wire tightly to the straw base, and leave the spool in the centre. For the moment, do not cut the wire.
2- Divide all the greens into 12/15 cm pieces and make bunches of all the different varieties of greens.
3- Attach the bunches to the straw wreath, tightening the wire and passing it over the stems two or three times to ensure that it is secure. Repeat the action, covering the stems of the previous bunch with the next bunch until the whole wreath is covered. Then cut the wire and close it.
4- Decide on the position of the ribbon – so as not to fill it with decoration – and fill the rest of the wreath with hydrangeas, eucalyptus branches and rose hips.
5- Finish decorating with the pine cones, lemons and cinnamon or the accessories you like best for your Christmas wreath.
6- Finally, place the ribbon and hang the wreath in the desired place.
With the inspiration and artistry of Sally Hambleton and Porcelanosa, creating your own Christmas wreath will be a unique and special experience. Whether you follow the classic Hambleton style or customise it according to your own taste, you will have a charming decorative element to welcome the Christmas season.
And with the right care, you can keep it for weeks or even reuse it next year. Make this unique and endearing experience a family tradition and start the festive season with an activity that will fill your home with warmth and Christmas spirit. Let your creativity run wild and get to work!
The space where the video was recorded is the Emotions E4.90 Ferreo Mate/ E7.90 Roble Árido kitchen (Porcelanosa Kitchens-Gamadecor) with the island and the table covered in XTONE’s Altissima Baobab granite, which can be backlit.
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