February Newsletter

Twigs and Sprigs, an Appreciation Post

Spalted walnut vases from two halves of the same log

While the Northeastern U.S. landscape in Spring, Summer and Fall is vibrant with its unique palettes of colors, the Winter here is predominately brown. When the colors of the other seasons fade, it provides an opportunity to look at dried grasses, seed heads and branch twigs for the lines and forms they create, either on their own or apart from the leaves and flowers they once held.  

Cherry and painted oak and maple with dried arrangements

I wanted to make wooden vases early in my turning work. After acquiring my lathe, the first accessory that I bought was a chuck to hold the drill bits that would allow me to bore their center holes. And because wooden vases can’t hold water without an insert, I started making simple arrangements with dried botanicals.  

Two of the first vases that I ever made in cherry wood

One of the perks of working with these materials is that they don’t require maintenance, and can last a long time. However, their biggest downside is how delicate they are. With seed heads designed to fall off the stalk, and the brittleness of dry twigs, selling these through the mail - or even at markets - has been a real challenge.  

Yew puck vase with crape myrtle twig

My best advice is to make your own and I have some tips on what to look for and how to put together collected elements.

Azalea twigs and sapele puck vase

For twigs, I usually find them on the ground or from trimming the dead undergrowth of bushes. I like species that have a lot of branching at short intervals, such as Japanese Maple or Azalea. I also enjoy Hemlock for their texture and their tiny pinecones. In general, I look for twigs that seem to imply gesture or movement. When mixing elements in the same arrangement, it can be nice to couple these with a more rigid element, such as this pheasant feather.

Oak vase with Japanese maple twigs and pheasant feather

When I go for walks on a local trail, I grab goldenrod, and other weeds that have gone to seed. Putting these arrangements together appeals to my scavenger nature, and it’s an opportunity to bring in the outside in and celebrate it.

Cherry and ash vases with found weeds

Another decorative function of dried branches is to act as mini trees to hold ornaments that can be changed out to fit the season or holiday.

Rhododendron twig with maple ornaments and with a basswood pear in an ash wood vase

I’m currently busy making more wooden vases. My tall vases now come with a removable glass vial that can be used with dried or fresh blooms just in time for spring.

Cherry wood vase with fresh cut azalea

I’ll be selling them at the Bartlett Arboretum for their Arbor Earth Day Festival on April 23rd. In the meantime, if there’s something you see here that you’d like to have, reach out!