X'mas Hall Decoration part 3: Big n Bold Christmas Wreath

Finally, we reach the final tutorial for the indoor decoration. This time it's the classic wreath put at the backside of the St. Peter's Cathedral multi function hall. Specifically, it hung on the balustrade of the mezannine. As usual, since it's hanging 5 meters above the ground, the wreath size must be large enough to be seen from below, and lots of shiny christmas balls were used, too... Big and Bold !!

Before we proceed to the step by step tutorial, let us firstly thank to the team of Mrs. Mie Man, Ling Ling, Fang Chen etc. for making this gorgeous wreath...and now as usual the stuff we need are :

- artificial evergreen garland dia. 15 centimeter

- 1 gold color christmas ball dia. 15 centimeter

- lots of shiny gold and red color christmas balls, in different sizes

- some pine cones

- some gold colour artificial poinsettia flowers (medium size)

- some gold star decoration

- a 10 cm wide red wired ribbon

- green floral wire

To start to, we must form the basic wreath first. Fold and twist the artificial garland to form round shape, approx 80 centimeter in diameter. Next attach the red wired ribbon on the very top of the wreath by using wire, then attach the large gold ball on top of the ribbon. After that attach the remaining smaller balls, pine cones and star decoration around the wreath. Make it look like they're scattered all around. And that's it!!! Hang it on the wall or door that you've set...

This two tone red and gold coloured wreath is the classic one that will never be out of date. The shining balls scattered all around the wreath gives an elegant and expensive look... Do try it !

By the way do not hesitate to email us if you have some questions about the tutorial !!!

X'mas Hall Decoration part 2: Christmas Flower Centerpiece (indoor)

Continuing from part one, we will discuss the flower centerpiece for this hall. It was taken from the previous wedding on Saturday, 24th Dec. After the wedding over, the flower decoration was taken out from the altar to be replaced with the decoration that show christmas spirit for the Christmas Eve tonight. It took half a day to make it but was only used about an hour for the wedding. So, rather than being got rid of it would be better if being used to decor inside the hall and at the corridor, right?. The creator for this lovely centerpiece is Mrs. Melani and her team from Margriet, well done ladies !!

Seeing the picture, the centerpiece consists of flowers such as casablancas (white & fuhcia), roses (white, pink, dark red), hortentias and the foliage needed is ivy, ruscus and monstera (medium size)

X'mas Hall Decoration part 1 : Wooden Christmas Tree Decor

Now...after reading previous post about the outdoor christmas decor, you must be wandering about indoor decor. Well, wait no more cause we'll be posting a 3 part tutorial on it !! Yaaayyy!!

The setting is inside the multi-function hall of St.Peter's Cathedral. As you can see from the picture above, the hall had a mini stage at the corner, a wooden christmas tree decor, a floral centerpiece in the middle front taken from the previous day's wedding and which not seen in the picture here is a big wreath hanging on the back wall of the hall. That's the reason for the 3-part posts since we'll show you tutorials for all of them! And no, there's no 'fripperies' like paper garland hanging from wall to wall since it's just take too much time (and money) to make and clean them afterwards...

Okay, so back to the part 1 now, we'll be doing the wooden christmas tree decor first. The wooden tree here was lent by Mrs. Mie Man ( Thank you!!) so if you're making it from scratch it will be the hardest and most labourious part. From the picture, you can see that the tree itself actually consists of 3 parts. Each part was made from 2 pieces of plywood and shaped like half pine tree. They were painted light green. Each plywood piece is approx 2 meter tall and the radius around 80 centimeter. Then the two pieces were put together by using two butterfly hinges so the angle of the parts can be adjusted.

After that, prepare a simple square stage that measure around 2 x 2 meters and 40 centimeters in height. Cover the stage with green coloured satin fabric. Next part is assembling the 3 parts together to form a round tree. After that, the flower arrangements are put between the plywood pieces. The flower arrangements for this stage are using red gerberas and white lilies, asters and gladiol.

Well, I hope this will inspire you to do something different for your christmas party decoration, a bit labourious and of course more pricey but the end result is really stunning, right? We'll see you again on part 2 of the tutorial!!!!

X'mas Decor Step by Step: Christmas Garland for Hall (part 2)

After receiving a few emails from you asking for another christmas outdoor decor, I've decided to post a slight variation on my previous outdoor decor tutorial. Not much different, but still cute, and guess what we'll be using....?

Bellss!!! Margriet had bought a few of this golden coloured plastic bells, but without the sticks inside that will make them ring. In short, what you'll need :

- 1 gold colour plastic bell (bottom diameter 30 cm)

- artificial garland dia. 15 cm

- 1 gold colour ball ( dia.15 cm)

- glitter gold leaves decoration

- wire and nails

Same as before, put the nails on both sides and midlle of the door sill. Attach the garland first, than hang the bell in the middle. Next attach the glitter gold leaves and the gold ball slightly above the bell. Finish it with red colour ribbons on top.

Voila!! this is the side picture of the garland decor...Have Fun !!!

X'mas Decor Step by Step: Spiral Plant Rack for Hall Entrance (outdoor)

Hello again everyone! Still dizzy for the preparation for the upcoming new year, so this tutorial will be an easy (and fast) one. No decor made from scratch here since we will be using a pre-made plant rack and simple potted plants. But don't be deceived, cause the result will look like a pro.

Enough babbling, for this poinsettia plant rack, youwill need :

- 1 Pre-made spiral iron plant rack, height approx. 1,5 meter and can hold around 9 pots on it but only 5 holes will be filled with potted plants.

- 5 pots pointsettia plants. Choose the bright-red large poinsettia plants that look like velvet

- approx 5-6 m artificial evergreen leaves garland with dia. 15 cm. At least you need 2.5x from length of the curve of the spiral. The longer the garland the better because you need it to cover the unused holes.

- some floral wire

The steps are so simple, first you need to attach the garland onto the top of the rack by using wire. Then simply swirl the garland following the curves of the spiral and secured it at the bottom with another wire.

Last, put the potted poinsettia plants in the pot holes. You only need 5 holes here, the rest should be covered with the evergreen garland. Do it as neatly as possible. In christmas this year, the pointsettia plants used are the top quality ones (maybe imported ones?) for IDR 50.000 per pot !! Wheew, just count the total price....However, the imported ones do have bigger flowerheads and the color is brighter.

And Voila !!! This plant rack decor will look stunning either on the entrance or inside of your house. If you can't find pointsettia plants you can substitute with other flowers plants, just use the ones with lots of flowerheads on them, so it will look like flower arrangements..Have fun trying !!!

Note: The location is still at St. Peter Cathedral and there are 2 decor like this. Each was put at the left and right side of the entrance door of the hall. Both were made by Mrs. Mie Man and her team.

X'mas Decor Step by Step: Christmas Garland for Hall (part 1)

Well... I know Christmas day is over, still lots of Christmas Parties will be held until January so I hope this post will help you decor your house or hall. Location for this post is at St.Peter's Cathedral function hall decoration for christmas this year. Firstly we would like to thank to the coordinator of decorator's team from Margriet, Mrs. Mie Man and the team are Mrs. Ling Ling, Mrs. Fang Chen etc. Good job, ladies!! The decor are elegant....

For this entrance garland decor, we need :

- Artificial garland (dia.15 cm)

- 3 large decor balls ( dia.20 cm)

- Lots of small decor balls (dia.10 cm)

- Red wired ribbon ( dia.10 cm)

- Gold colour leaves and star decoration

- Nails

- Floral wire

Okay, now lets start the step by step tutorial. First put 3 nails on both sides and middle part of the door sill. Next attach the garland to the nails using wire, make a loop at the middle (detail no 1). After that, attach the balls(detail no 2). Here we're using two colours (red and gold) decor balls. Next put on the gold leaf decoration (detail no 3) and last, attach the red ribbon.

For the sides, assembled the small decor balls using floral wire then attached them to the garland. To keep the decor look elegant, one tone pink coloured balls are used but with diferent textures and motifs. I personally like the pink transparent ones with gliterry swirls on top, so cuuuteeee....

And last but not least attach the gold star decoration along the garland and we're done!!!

So here's the finished garland look like.Simple, elegant and can be seen from afar.By the way, this time the decor are put outside the entrance hall so a few things to be considered :

1. The christmas arrangement must be large enough to be seen from afar. If you put it on your front door, the guest must see the decor clearly at least 2.5 meters from the door. So, for outdoor decor, SIZE DOES MATTER :)

2. Use decor that can withstand the weather. Typically in rainy tropical weather like here in Bandung, use decor that won't be ruined when wet.

3. Maintenance. The garland here are put on the door sill using stair, so it will be difficult (not to mention tiring) to maintain if you're using fresh flower which had to be watered continously. On the other hand, artificial decor once finished don't need maintenance until you put it off.

Christmas 2011: Nativity Scene at St.Peter Church

Howdy Everyone!!!!

A Very Merry Christmas to You All!!!

It's been a very WET (no, not white) Christmas here in Bandung due to frequent rain almost everyday. And that's why the nativity scene at St.Peter's Cathedral was protected with tent, at least until the 25th. And if you wonder what's the design for the cave this year, here it is....

Right there on the front is the angel's piggy bank, surrounded by rose flowers which me and mom painstakingly arranged (more stories about this later), pointsetia and silver grass. All the statues belong to the church, these are the sheperds ..

The horse and cows....

And finally all of them including The Holy Family ( of course!) and the three kings assembled together. Usually the three kings are assembled later on th 28th, alas all the workmen are on vacation since the 24th so they all assembled on the 23rd.

The stage was surrounded by red & white pointsetia plants and silver grass in pots, evergreen leaves aaand...SWEET STUFF!!!! Yep, there's various fruits such as apples, mangosteens and rambutans hanging, plus jelly candies, chocolates and spekulaas cookies..Yummy...

If Y'all wondering how this cave are made, there will be more blog post on this, so be patient okay...