Anyone made a garland from ivy (real)?

[CatMandu]

I would love to have an ivy garland wending it's way up the stairs, but have never done one before. Any top tips, idea's etc? will it last until christmas or droop?

Ivy lasts really well but I don't normally put mine up until a week before Christmass and I do have the coldest house in Christendom!

I have it snaking up at the base of the spindles rather than near the bannister rail, otherwise it gets mangled by small hands.

I'm just making tes, will be back later...

Get twice as much ivy as you think you'll need, and lots of florists wire (easy to bend but rigid enough to hold the shape you give it) to wrap around the ivy stems to hold it all in place in an attractive way and attach it securely(it'll droop if you don't use wire). When I did it it didn't last very long, but someone has since suggested using florists foamy stuff (the stuff that soaks up loads of water) discreetly hidden on the ends of the ivy stems so you can water it to make it last longer.

Yes, MarmadukeScarlet - that's what I was thinking running along the lower part in line with your feet rather than along the handrail. I was going to use some sort of garden wire to tie them up and have bought some sparkly berries that I thought I could add in somewhere. Just a bit worried about doing it. I live in the wilds so can easily get holly/ivy.

Ivy's fab, you'll find it kind of does what you want it to.
it's a lot easier than you might think, honest!

yy wire lengths together, s'easy honest.

No berries on holly or ivy this year round my way, so sparkly berries will be needed.

Disclaimer - I will not be doing this until Xmas eve, am minding til then and trip hazards and someone else' dcs do not mix

Covered (green) garden wire is much cheaper than florists wire, and perfectly suitable.

Peel long lengths from up a tree/wall and fix together in bunches - tis quite skinny and bald when you only have one strand!

I have been known to cheat a bit and thicken it out with (sounds grim) but matt finish fake pine like tinsel. It is like dark green non shiny tinsel, once you get about 4 strands of ivy onto it hardly show at all. I have tall stairs and a large galleried landing, the local woods would be bald if I didn't cheat a little!

I wire in the odd bundle of ivy berries, as there are loads round here.

I also buy Ikea gingerbread heart cookies tie them with red ribbon (gingham usually ) and hang these from the underside of the bannister between the spindles - every other one. They make the house smell wonderful and are only about 50p for 10. I saw this first at my Danish friends house and I loved it.

Just reviving this as I really really want to make one of these myself and love the cookie idea.