House dressing

Sunset, Dec, 1998 by Linda Lau Anusasananan

Festoon your mantel and tabletop with these long-lasting and easy-to-make decorations

Most of us don't have the time to create complicated flower arrangements during the holidays. So these elegant swags, which will survive the season with minimal upkeep, are just the ticket. Create a "permanent" background of candles, miniature lights, dried leaves, and long-lasting greenery, then add easy-to-change fresh flowers and foliage as accents. The stems of the flowers here are tucked into floral vials concealed in the greenery. You can change the flowers and fresh foliage as often or as seldom as you want.

Table centerpiece

MATERIALS

* A can of silver spray paint

* A box of plastic caps for Christmas lights

* Six to eight strands of 18-inch-long grapevines

* 5-gallon pot of variegated trailing ivy

* Florist's wire

* Sharp scissors

* 1 foot of 20-inch-wide silver flashing

* Roll of duct tape

* One set of battery-operated Christmas lights

* Three sprigs of white daylilies

* Four stems white dendrobium orchids

* Five white football chrysanthemums

* 12 florist's vials with pointed tips

DIRECTIONS

In a well-ventilated place, lightly dust silver spray paint over the outside of the plastic caps and let dry thoroughly.

1. LAY SEVERAL VINE STRANDS together on a table. Place potted ivy in the middle of the vine strands, and wire the strands together at both ends. With scissors, cut flashing to fit the pot; wrap it around the pot and secure it with duct tape. Twist wire around the vine strands, from one end to the other, to hold them together and help secure them to the pot. Divide the ivy so that it roughly parallels the vine strands (the ivy and the vine strands should be about the same length).

2. PLACE CAPS ON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS and weave them asymmetrically from one end of the arrangement to the other.

3. INSERT FLOWERS IN WATER-FILLED VIALS and set them into the centerpiece, putting lilies in the middle and staggering chrysanthemums and orchids down each side. Hide the battery-operated control switch in the greenery where you can easily reach it.

Note: If not constructing the arrangement on your holiday table, make it on a cardboard base, so it can be transported easily and slipped into place later.