I’ve loved Christmas wreaths for as long as I can remember, and every year I make my own using fresh evergreen branches and a mix of seasonal foliage. A good friend of mine lives in a magnificent centuries-old canal house in Amsterdam. A few years ago, he hosted a large Christmas party but decided he didn’t want a Christmas tree that year. Instead, he was looking for something different. That’s when I suggested making enormous wreaths, almost one metre in diameter. “Great idea,” he said. “Let’s each make one and enjoy a creative afternoon together.”

I promised to bring the wreath bases and all the greenery. Experience has taught me that whenever you think you’ve collected enough evergreen branches, you’ll probably need at least twice as much. My car was packed to the brim with pine branches, foliage, Christmas baubles and just about everything else I thought we might need. So the three of us got to work, with a nice glass of wine to keep us company. Making such a large wreath is quite a challenge, especially if you’re not yet familiar with the technique. By the end of the afternoon I’d finished most of the wreaths myself, but the result was absolutely spectacular. Three giant wreaths, filled with hundreds of tiny lights, decorated the windows of the historic canal house. Everyone who passed by couldn’t help but stop and admire them.

With the simple step-by-step guide below, you can make your own wreath at home. It’s wonderfully relaxing and incredibly satisfying. The only downside is that your hands will get covered in sticky tree resin, which can be difficult to remove. Here’s my grandmother’s tip: rub a little butter over your hands and the resin will come off much more easily.

I love decorating my wreaths with Christmas baubles, placing most of them near the top. I like the decorations to resemble a blanket of snow. After all, snow falls from above, so that’s where I concentrate the ornaments. Another fun idea is to decorate your wreath with our little Christmas cars. It’s guaranteed to be a conversation starter!

Have a Nicolicious Christmas,
Nico Tijsen