She turns vines into
' ByßethHemmlnger
Staff Correspondent
NEWVILLE Tis the season for
wreaths that beam with good
cheer. And Becky Francis,
DUlsburg, is a producer of such
good cheer. She makes gorgeous
wreaths from wild grapevines.
Four years ago Becky began
making the wreaths after a mere
suggestion from her sister.
Becky remarked, “After 1 made
several wreaths, from my own
wild grape arbor, I couldn’t stop
making them. It was a real treat to.
transform the vines into a
beautiful decoration for my
home.”
She begins her wreath niiaking in
the spring. She finds live vines and
marks them for when she returns
m the fall to begin production. She
returns to her marked locations a
month or two after the grape
season is over in August.
She added, “Waiting until late
September or early October helps
eliminate much of the shrinking
that takes place after the wreath is
made."
Beck is self-taught and has
developed her own technique
during the last four years. She
explains her technique, "I pull the
wild vines apart and begin making
the wreath by weaving and
wrapping the vines around a piece
of circular shaped vine ”
' She builds the wreath in
diameter and thickness by adding
more vmes and weaving and
wrapping. The wreaths are built
gradually and are not held
together by string; they are held
together by the interweaving of all
the vmes.
This wreathmaker adds her
individual taste to the decorations
by leavmg the black tendrils
remain on the reddish brown vmes.
“The tendrils are natures
decoraitions,” commented Becky.
Becky has a unique workroom
for her work. It is the outdoors. She
makes the wreaths where she has
found the vmes-in the mountains,
along fence rows or m the woods.
She remarked, “It would be
troublesome carting the vmes
home and 1 enjoy working out
doors.”
After her first season of
wreathmakmg, Becky said her
house was wall to wall wreaths.
Her 81-year-old neighbor
suggested that she peddle the
wreaths at boutiques and gift shops
special
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wreaths
around the area; and she did just
that.
Before venturing out to the
retailers, Becky realized that the
grapevine wreaths were virtually
unknown on the market. She said,
“I was confident in my product and
felt 1 wouldn’t have much trouble
m marketing them.”
Her premonition came true; the
wreaths were accepted without
reservation at several boutiques
and gift shops. Also, as word of
mouth spread the news of Becky’s
unique vine wreaths, customer
orders became a major part of her
business. To date, the largest
custoqier order wreath she has
made has been 25’ ’ in diameter.
Becky feels that the wreath’s
versatility has played a major part
m their growing popularity. She
remarked, “My imagination runs
wild when 1 mvision the wreath
and all the different and unusual
ways they can be decorated.” She
noted that homemakers can add
peacock feathers, bittersweet,
ribbons, lace, dried flowers, or
anything that appeals to the in
dividual.
“The wreaths can be used inside
or out or as a centerpiece with a
candle. The possibilities are en
dless,” she remarked
Becky added that the wreaths
can be recycled. After years and
years of wear and tear the wreaths
can be used as firestarters. Becky
laughed, “Several of my less-than
perfect wreaths have found their
way immediately to the wood
stove.”
Becky discovered from her 81-
year-old neighbor that the
grapevine wreath is not a new and
innovative idea of the 1980 s, but
was made in the 18th and 19th
century as a holiday decoration.
(Turn to Page .832)
SERVING THE FARMERS
FOR 108 YEARS
HAMBURG SAVINGS
FDIC a"*
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Hamburg, PA Phone:
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Replastering, roofs
permanent pipe &
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Oxygen Limiting Silos
above and below ground
manure storage
Jamesway Unloaders
Barn Equipment
Write or Call
Rd 2 Box 267-D
Newviile, PA 17241
717-423-6791
717-776-7533
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 5,1981—831
Wreathmaker Becky Francis, Dillsburg, ladens her arms
with wreaths in preparation for a day of peddling her com
modity from shop to shop. The grapevine wreaths, once an
Early American holiday decoration, has been revived by
craftwomen like Becky, and has become a popular item in
many boutiques and gift shops.
'4L
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AT NEW HOLLAND SALES STABLES, INC.
New Holland, PA
If you need I cow or a truck load, we have from
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Mostly fresh and close springing holstems
Cows from local farmers and our regular ship
pers include Marvin Eshleman, Glenn Fite, Kelly
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H D Matz, and Jerry Miller
SALE STARTS - 12:00 SHARP
Also Every Wednesday,
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All Dairy £ Heifers must be
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For arrangements for special sales or
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farm, contact:
Abram Diffenbach, Mgr.
717-3544341
OR
\ Norman Kolb
717-397-5538
Berks club
(Continued from Page B 30)
and Elaine Heffner, 16, Fleetwood,
secretary.
Additional members who
completed their year’s work in the
1981 Sheep & Lamb Club are:
Marianne Yanos, Douglasville;
Glenn Yanos, Oouglassville;
Jacelyn Miller, Hamburg; Andy
Haas, DouglasSville; Christine
Dietrich, Hamburg; Tom Horn
berger, Birds boro; Greg Weitzel,
Sinking Spring; Heath Fisher,
Robesonia; Todd Bube,
Robesoma; Steve Ernst, Sinking'
Spring; Tony Crisafulh, Mohr
sville; Seth & Ty Remp, Sinking
Spring; Scott and Todd Kohler,
Sinking Spring; Randy & Roy
Suthff, Mohrsville; Brian
Fleming, Robesonia; and Ricky &
Wendy Rachor, Barto.