Authors John Gillespie & Christina Symons join us today with a festive winter project from their book, Everyday Eden: 100+ Fun, Green Garden Projects for the Whole Family to Enjoy (Harbour Publishing). 
Swish Swag
Who doesn’t have a pair of old skates lying around the basement gathering dust? You can transform them into this charming vintage skate swag in just a few simple steps.
Put those babies back into use as charming holiday décor for your door. Embellish your skates with holly and other holiday greens from the garden, some fancy ribbon and a candy cane or two. You may also want to use bells, seed pods, holiday ornaments, mini gourds or small tree fruits.
Materials
- Pair of skates (vintage secondhand skates are also readily available at thrift stores)
- Heavy-duty or double-ply garden twine
- Assortment of greens from the garden
- Two jars that fit inside the skates
- Ribbon, pinecones and other decorations like bells, seed pods,
- holiday ornaments, mini gourds or
- small tree fruits
Clean the skates and replace the laces with heavy-duty or double-ply garden twine.
Find two small jars that will fit inside the skates. They will keep your greens in place and also hold water (optional) to keep them fresh.
Select an assortment of greens from the garden (holly, cedar, salal, etc.) and tie into two neat bundles. Place the bundles in the jars and trim the ends until you have a pleasing display.
Decorate your skate swag with more ribbon, pinecones, and ornaments and then hang it in place on your front door or potting shed.
Be sure to grab a copy of Everyday Eden: 100+ Fun, Green Garden Projects for the Whole Family to Enjoy. The book is filled with projects using inexpensive, often recycled, materials and easy techniques. This lively collection of garden projects and practices will delight beginner and experienced green thumbs alike.
What a great idea. I do see these at thrift stores. I have never purchased them even though I love t way they look. You also gave me an idea for a character in my 1940s vintage novel The Girl in the Jitterbug Dress. I was kind of stuck, but I think they need to go skating! Woo Hoo! Thanks for the holiday idea and the writing idea :) Happy Christmas!
Putting the mason jar in the skate is SO clever! I actually just saw a pair of skates at the thrift shop and did a double-take. Maybe I’ll go back and pick them up!
(p.s. yes, this means that I’m one of the few Canadians who can’t skate! Eep!)
Very cute! I actually own that book & their other one – Sow Simple. Great ideas! And I am also a Canadian who cannot ice skate! I tried!
Joanne, you are not the only one. My husband can’t skate either! And yes, they are great books.
As a former figure skater, I really love this. I think it would be popular if you promoted it to figure skating clubs and at figure skating competitions.
great idea!