With the fall and winter holidays upon us, it’s natural to seek community with our friends, families and neighbors. And as we come up for air after a string of local and national tragedies, the need to connect is stronger than ever.
This week’s project is a welcome sign to show that your home, and your heart, are open to visitors. Sprigs of fragrant rosemary spell out the word “Shalom,” for a sign that would be perfect displayed on a front door, a fireplace mantel or a dining area. It’s a heartfelt way to greet your guests this Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Shabbat, or any time of year.
What you’ll need:
Paper
Pen
Coiled wire
Masking tape
Florist paddle wire
Rosemary sprigs
1. Write the word “Shalom” on a large piece of paper or newspaper. This will be your template to make the sign. Hint: the larger your lettering, the easier it is to create.
2. Following your handwritten template, bend the coiled wire to spell out “Shalom.” Coiled wire, which you can find at crafts stores like Michaels, is a thick wire that is wrapped with hemp. As you work with the wire, it will want to move around, so tape the letters down with masking tape as you form.
3. Reinforce areas where the wire overlaps with some paddle wire. Paddle wire, which as the name suggests is basically wire on a paddle, can also be found at the crafts store. Cut a small piece of the wire, and wrap it tightly around the coiled wire at all the intersection points of the letters. You can remove the masking tape at this point.
4. Position sprigs of rosemary along the coiled wire beginning at the “S,” and secure the sprigs with paddle wire. The advantage of using paddle wire is that, as you cover the letters with rosemary, you can keep wrapping the paddle wire around it without having to cut off and tie smaller pieces of wire. It’s continuous. Proceed until the entire word is written in rosemary.
Jonathan Fong is the author of “Flowers That Wow” and “Parties That Wow,” and host of “Style With a Smile” on YouTube. You can see more of his do-it-yourself projects at jonathanfongstyle.com.
