Book Review
This book has many examples of wreaths but does not go into detail
on how each wreath is made with the exception of 8 at the back.
However this book's strengths lie in its in-depth chapters on the
basics that anyone making wreaths should know such as How to Make
a Base and how to innovate them (30 pages), Tools and Nifty Gadgets
(10 pages), Materials (34 pages) and Design (6 pages plus the portfolio
of 8 pages).
The first chapter on How to make a Base includes step by step instructions
on how to make your own wire, foam, straw, vine, moss, herb, and
unique shaped wreath bases that I have not found in any other wreath
book to date. Each method has at least 3 or 4 black and white
photos that accompany the instructions, giving the reader a much
better idea of how to construct their own base. Included with
each method are a few alternative ideas and some great hints and
tips.
The second chapter Tools and Nifty Gadgets includes information
on floral picks, pins floral tape, glue guns, floral wire, foam,
tubes and paint and powders. While it is only 10 pages in
length, there are several helpful ideas that will benefit the beginner.
If you are an advanced wreathmaker, you will already be aware of
most of these ideas but may still find them helpful.
The next chapter covering Materials discusses the basic materials
you can have on your wreath such as fresh and dried flowers, evergreen
and greenery, berries, cones, nuts & seedpods, moss, ribbons
and bows, ribbons and streamers, silk, paper & plastic, fruits
and vegetables, kitchen goodies, trinkets and finally props.
While the book only dedicates one or two pages to each subject,
the information provided will benefit the beginner/intermediate
wreathmaker immensly. Each section reminds the reader to think outside
of the box, provides some great hints and tips, and instructions
on how to mount the materials suggested.
The final chapter on design recognises that this is probably one
of the hardest things to do when considering constructing a wreath.
This section provides some information on how to approach your wreath
making, some tips of the trade, some ideas on how to choose your
accents which can make or break your wreath and as previously mentioned,
and a portfolio of 8 wreaths, each accompanied by a materials list
and design notes.
While I owuld have liked to see step by step instructions accompanying
each wreath, I understood that the focus of this book was to instruct
the reader in the absolute basics of construction. Overall I enjoyed
this book and found some of the information quite helpful even though
I am an intermediate wreath maker. For beginners, I think
that this is one of the better books out there and should be seriously
considered when looking for books to help you get started. |
