Getting festive with local foliage

• Wreath making while wine tasting
• Locally sourced foliage and accessories

Helping people realize their creative potential while building a Christmas wreath is what one small business owner strives for in her workshops.

Bailley Rose is a professional florist and the owner of Gems and Stems in Oliver. Leading into the Christmas season, she hosted a workshop on wreath making.

“We’re going to walk through step by step on how to assemble [and] design the composition of your very own holiday wreath,” Bailley Rose told Kelowna10.

Six students met at The Vibrant Vine Winery to learn how to create their own festive décor. The aroma of seasonal foliage filled the air and Christmas music played in the background.

“You can have it customized to your home, while joining a workshop with a wonderful glass of wine and maybe meeting some new people and having a fun time,” Rose explained.

She said her favourite part about doing the workshop is inspiring others to reach their creative potential, while sharing her passion for flowers.

“[It’s] really cool to see everybody’s personality and their own individuality come out in their creation,” Rose said.

“By the end of the class they are so empowered with their creation and design and that is such a wonderful feeling.”

All the natural foliage and accessories are local to the Okanagan, which is an important aspect to her business and workshop.

“You’ll actually recognize some of these leaves, maybe you’ve even got it growing in your backyard,” Rose explained.

The aim of the class is for students to feel accomplished and proud of their holiday wreath.