Making a Wreath

I made a new wreath for my door and I am quite pleased with the results. I used a newer product called "Poly Resin Deco Mesh". It's a plastic type of mesh-like fabric that comes in all sorts of colours and styles. I found some reasonably priced rolls at my local green house that also specializes in greenery for the holiday season.

Using a 50 per cent off coupon for Michael's, I bought a wire wreath form and some floral wire.



You start by bunching the mesh and tying to the wire wreath with the floral wire. Billow the mesh and tie another bunch to the wire wreath making sure it is very close to the first tie. This makes a nice tight billow of fabric. As you go around the wreath try to make sure the billows are consistent so the wreath looks even.



I also bought some Christmas balls and tied them together with wire. I placed these throughout the wreath.



The store also sold pre-made ones for $30 or more, but mine only cost $12 because I did it myself. There are some Youtube videos put out by the companies that make the product and I found these visual tutorials very helpful.

Pressure Canning Workshop

A few weekends ago I attended at Pressure Canning Workshop at my favourite organic farm, Everdale. I found out that I am totally screwed in the canning department. While I had fun and could see myself attempting some concoctions at home to compliment my water-bath canning and freezing preservation techniques, I am not sure I can participate.

Meet my nemisis:


A glass top range that came with the house. I never had any particular liking to glass top but would take it if it was here. This is not good. Not if I want to pressure can. I learned that glass tops are not sturdy enough to handle the weight of the canner and filled jars. Pooh!

I could purchase a hot plate, but I am afriad even that would damage my glass top or counter tops. The instructor suggested I use a concret garden stone to place the hot plate on but again I am worried about my countertops.

Had I known I would have saved our oven/range from the old house (instead of selling it) and stored it in the garage for use when I am pressure canning. Hindsight is always 20/20. So this project must go on the back burner (ha!) until I can figure out an alternative.

In the meantime I have this lovely soup as a reminder of my class. It looks almost too good to eat...almost.