I THOUGHT I HAD A GREAT IDEA BY CUTTING SOME GRAPEVINE FROM OUR PROPERTY AND MAKING MY ELDERLY CLIENTS(I`M A HOME HEALTH CARE WORKER)SOME PRETTY CHRISTMAS WREATHS TO HAND ON THEIR FRONT DOORS.WELL THAT STUFF BREAKS WHEN YOU TRY TO FORM IT IN A WREATH.IS THERE A METHOD?OR A PROCESS.? IF SO,HOW DO I MAKE IT LOOK LIKE ITS BEEN COATED IN ACRYLIC OR WHATEVER IT IS(TO MAKE IT LOOK SHINEY OR WAXED,LIKE OUR KITCHEN FLOORS I GUESS).I FEEL LIKE SUCH AN IDIOT!!!HELP
[img]images/smiley_icons/oh yes.gif[/img] Yes Girl!! What you want is a big container that holds water!! Put your vine in the water and let soak for awhile, not sure how long, just keep checking it!! This will make it easier to work with!! once you have formed it, you will want to let it dry!! I would use a clear spray to seal it, if you want the high gloss sheen than thats what you will by!!
[img]images/smiley_icons/oh yes.gif[/img] Well how about your bath tub??!! Cut it down some.
You are looking for a clear spray finish!! Varnish clear spray!! They will know when you are at the hardware or any paint shop!!But ask for High Gloss!!
Next year before the vine gets too dry form it then!! You can do it when it's green, but it will shrink some,but at least it will be in the formed shape you want and will be easy to tighten up!! But for this year you are going to have to soak it.
[img]images/smiley_icons/lol1.gif[/img] No problem Girl!!
Like I said its a messy job!! You work with it wet, and let it dry once formed!
Your can form it in a bucket or around something round and tie it off every so often as you go!! It may take 2 people to do this!! It's not so easy, but it is do able!!
I was just talking to my sister and she said she does her's while it's green and lets it dry!! She like the leaves on it!!
How about some nice twig swags!! That's an easy one!! Just cut to length about 2ft long and tie together in center and decorate!! [img]images/smiley_icons/oh yes.gif[/img]
I HAVE A POOL IN MY BACK YARD.I PUT THOSE COTTON PICKIN` THINGS IN A LAWN BAG AND POLKED HOLES IN IT SO THEY COULD SOAK.I JUST WENT TO GET THEM AND THEY WERE VERY PLIABLE.YOU CAN SHAPE THEM JUST ABOUT ANY WAY YOU WANT TO!!!!NOW...........
HOW DO I COMPLETELY SPRAY THEM(WITH THAT GLOSS STUFF) AFTER THEY ARE FORMED..OR SHOULD I HAVE DONE THAT BEFORE?THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN WET THEN.
BEAR WITH ME JUST A LITTLE LONGER GIRL,I`M GETTING THERE,LOL
<font size="3"><font color="red">I have a sister in law that lives in Missouri and she just goes and pulles it out of the trees and creates her wreaths as she goes. I have one that she hand wrapped and it is pretty.
She has even done some really big ones too!
I think the trick is if you are trying to make some small ones then to soak it, but for a larger one let the grapevine make the shape it wants and then you work with it. They don't have to be perfectly round.
Where about in Texas are you?? I'm right in the middle....Abilene to be exact!!
When I worked in floral design, I created a lot of "free form" grapevine designs. We had a greenhouse type room to work in, but you can do the same thing outside. Just spray your grapevine down with the hose after you cut them down. Make sure that they are saturated well. This will make it pliable enough to work with. You can wrap florist's wire with brown floral tape to wire the grapevines together. I also used a pencil or something comparable to create the little "spirals" that you see on grapevines. Hope this helps. [img]images/smiley_icons/smile.gif[/img]
FORMING GRAPEVINE? 
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