Wreath Making Event with Proceeds to Dorset Cancer Care Foundation Held At Stoborough Village Hall (November 2025)

Organised by Christine Talbot, Ambassador for Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF)

"Awhile back I thought it would be such fun to hold a Wreath Making Event in the Village Hall.  My friend and I would demonstrate the required techniques for Christmas Wreath creations.

The whole idea evolved simply from my Nordic walks in the forest and my obsessive now addictive obsession with fir cones which has become annoying as it intrudes into the flow of my walk as I stoop down to gather these fascinating creations in colour and design  During my cone squirrelling I began to notice all the different foliage possibilities furthering my thoughts as an abundant supply for a wreath workshop.

My wonderful friend Pippa is a total whizz at everything and a craft genius, I shared my thoughts and together we decided this could be a very fun and popular event. We priced the event at £35 all in and after costs all proceeds would be donated to Dorset Cancer Care Foundation.  I put  posters in the local shop, the Village Hall, my treatment room and spread the word to patients, friends and neighbours alike.

Since finalising a definite date and advertising the workshop I avidly watched You Tube videos of Wreath, Swag and Garland tutorials, especially ‘Garden Answer’,  this is about an amazing super-sized family run garden centre in Colorado.  The crafts and skills are  breathtaking, the family invite the audience to view and share in all they do around the garden centre and in their magnificent homes, I am hooked, plus I learnt a variety of techniques and tips for the event.  I needed to refresh my memory as to how to form an  eight looped bow having lost my valuable instructions from the open craft workshops I attended in Minnesota in 1984, these bows are the ‘piece de resistance’ on any foliage craft.

On the day, undeterred by torrential rain and major traffic issues, eighteen eager participants arrived at the hall armed with secateurs and gloves,  some of the foliage was very spiky.  Following a brief introduction and demonstration of how to attach one’s Paddle Wire to the wreath plus the volume of foliage required for each bunch, within a short space of time beautiful, individual creations began to emerge. 

Other than a short obligatory break for cake, coffee and teas, time past in a gentle communitive social hum, with participants exclaiming throughout how wonderful and peaceful the morning was and how lovely to have the opportunity to chat to so many different people.  The end results of their labour was truly remarkable and a wonderful achievement to all, they were so chuffed and surprised with themselves as some had never made a wreath...

Today I had great pleasure in donating  £300  profit from the Wreath Workshop to Dorset Cancer Care Foundation"

Christine Talbot