By Emily Etheredge
Part of Julie Rockett’s love for the Christmas holiday is helping others get excited about the season.
Rockett, who lives in Thorsby, taught several holiday workshops titled “Catch the Holiday Spirit” sponsored by the Chilton County Extension Office starting in August.
“I have always loved Christmas,” Rockett said. “I want others to enjoy the holiday as well and a lot of people feel overwhelmed when decorating their homes for the holidays. I want to help them feel excited even if it is doing one thing different each year.”
Rockett has started offering holiday tips to those interested in Chilton County by helping others decorate their homes for Christmas.
“If someone needs help with the decorations they already have, I will help them,” Rockett said. “Typically, I go in and see what items each person has and then I will help them spruce things up or help them with different ideas. I take what people already have and rework it.”
Rockett typically decorates her home for Christmas the week after Thanksgiving and tries new techniques each year such as placing her Christmas tree in a different location in her home.
She will also take traditional green wreaths and add different pieces of ribbon to them to add a different theme each year.
“Changing things up doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming but can be something small and different each year,” Rockett said.
Some of Rockett’s tips include:
RIBBON WREATH
One of the small ways to spruce things up for the holiday is to take a traditional green wreath and add different pieces of ribbon to the exterior.
“Everyone has a lonely green wreath they have had sitting in the attic for years,” Rockett said. “Typically, people just take the wreath out when it comes time for Christmas and don’t do anything to the bow and just sling it up on the window.”
Rockett takes the wreath and pulls each strand out and then takes pieces of ribbon and weaves them through the wreath.
Although Rockett does use Christmas ribbon for some of her wreaths, she also uses other pieces of fabric such as burlap or ribbon with different sports teams on the front.
Another wreath option Rockett said is easy to assemble is a ribbon wreath with floral wire.
“These are so easy to make and can be great accents to your home,” Rockett said.
Rockett uses 21-inch ribbon that is typically sold in 10 yards.
Rockett said the best way to make the wreath is to place the ribbon on the floor and unravel it with your hands, scrunching the ribbon together with each roll.
At the end, place the floral wire around the center of the ribbon with several twists.
“You can add a different color ribbon to the front of the wreath to give it a contrast if you want,” Rockett said. “Fluff out the ribbon and then use the rest of your wire to hang the wreath up somewhere.”
HOLIDAY PLATTER
Another tip Rockett said for anyone planning to a host a party for the holiday is a platter made from a Christmas plate, transparent glue and a candle holder.
“These are very easy and can be great if you are having a dessert party because they can be stacked together,” Rockett said.
Rockett usually shops at stores such as Hobby Lobby, Old Time Pottery and Home Accents in Pelham throughout the year for holiday plates usually found on clearance. Rockett said non-holiday themed plates can also work.
“All you do is take the plate, glue the transparent glue to the bottom, center the candle holder and wait for the glue to dry,” Rockett said. “If you are having a dessert party, you can take the different desserts and place them on each platter, stack them on your table and you have an inexpensive way to decorate.”
For more information about Rockett’s holiday, contact Rockett at (205) 586-4379.