Is it even really Christmas without a little crafting? Create your own dried citrus garland with our decor DIY. We created these delightful garlands for our holiday photoshoot and wanted to share how you could make one too! Read on to create your own garland.
Clockwise: Little Women (2019), a snapshot of our Christmas tree, Fanny and Alexander, a final image from our photoshoot.
DIY Dried Citrus Garland
You will also need:
STEP 1:
Heat oven to 200 degrees.
Slice your citrus into thin even slices about 1/4".
Pat some of the moisture out with paper towels and let them dry out on a the same towel for 30 minutes or so.
STEP 2:
After drying for a half hour, place the orange slices single layer on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and place on the top rack. Try to leave a little space between the oranges, the closer the orange slices are to each other the more likely they will burn.
Bake for 4-6 hours (depending on the size of your orange slices) until completely dry. Flip the slices every 45 min or so to help them stay flat and dry evenly.
If some are drying out faster those can be removed. Keep an eye on them more towards the end, once they get closer to being fully dried out check every 15 to 30 minutes depending on how closely placed the slices are.
STEP 3:
Let them cool completely at room temperature and store in airtight container or ziplock bag. If properly stored they can last up to two years!
STEP 4:
Once the slices are cooled, you can poke holes into the dried orange slices with a sewing needle and thread to string together as garland or to create individual ornaments.
Have fun with it!
Get creative by stringing the slices together with fun yarn or red baker’s twine. If you want a more subtle look, a light color thread or even fishing wire works. We also added star anise to our garland to add a shift in scale and texture, and a wonderful holiday scent.
While you do your Christmas crafting, we have a little playlist for you! We compiled a few winter and Christmas songs that feature at least one animal in the lyrics. Enjoy the HOWLidays with this playlist!
When looking for the perfect interior to shoot our fall and particularly Thanksgiving collection, we came across the Upstate Stone House in Catskill, NY. Interior designer Adam J. Clark renovated and restored this 1760's stone house (complete with historical marker!) to an inviting and antique filled escape.
All photos by Will Ellis
We especially loved shooting in the kitchen of the Upstate Stone House. " This was never on the list of things to do when undertaking the restoration of the home. It was a fine working kitchen. Sure enough, once the idea gets in my mind there’s no turning back." says Adam. "The goal was to achieve a cozy tavern feel with just the right amount of elegance and femininity."
"Reusing reclaimed and salvaged material is so important for me." - Adam
The beautiful vintage pieces he's acquired throughout the house, the distressed wood cabinets, side tables, oxidized mirrors and art create depth and add a warmth unique to his 1700's home.
See all of his renovation process and before and after photos on his Instagram @upstatestonehouse or rent it on Airbnb for your own upstate retreat!