Carefully take off the wrapping from the bale of hay.  It does shed. You will probably want to have something under it that you can pick up and empty.  I haven’t figured out how to stop it other than not to move it around a lot.  If anyone has any suggestions, please post them in the comments.

Cut several long flower stems from the bunches of flowers. Pick a place on the bale of hay where you’d like to start.  Place the tallest stem in the hay first.  If the hay is really tight, use a small screw driver to make a hole for the stems.  Notice I’ve left a small amount of room between the stems.

Take a pick of berries and insert them in the middle of the taller flower stems.

Cut smaller stems of flowers. Start placing them around the taller stems and pick in the previous steps.  Try not to place all flowers that are alike in the same area.

Stagger the heights of the stems. Imagine that you are working in a circle.  Taller in the middle.  Then a little shorter.  Then a little shorter.  Keep doing this until you get the arrangement as full as you would like.  Remember that the stems are wire and they can be bent and shaped how you would like it.

Next, take the pick of berries and pumpkins and place them on the other end of the bale of hay.

This is what your hay bale may look like.

Now you need a ribbon.  Cut a length of ribbon that is long enough to wrap around the bale of hay like this.  Loosely tie a know to hold the ribbon in place while you are making the bow.

Making the bow can be a bit tricky and this is where you will need the floral wire. For this one, I made an 8 loop bow.  I let the roll just drop down onto the ground.  It’s just much easier for me to work with it.  Make a loop like this.

Then make another loop by pulling the ribbon straight across from the first one. It should look like the first of the pictures below.  Do this four (4) more times.  It should look something like the second picture.  Cut a piece of the floral wire and wrap tightly around the center of the bow.  Because it is wired ribbon you will be able to “fluff” it, but wait to fluff it until you actually attach it to the centerpiece.  Open the knot that you made on the ribbon wrapped around the bale and place the bow in it.  Tie the two ends together over the wired ribbon.  Make another knot and then fluff the ribbon.

Your haybale should look something like this…

To store for next year, I am going to buy a plastic container with a lid and store only this arrangement in it.  I’m not sure how the shedding would do with the rest of my fall decorations.

We’d love to see some of your fall centerpiece creations!!!  Email us some pics and we will post them in an upcoming post!  Enjoy!

Till next time,

JT Locke
The Frugal Housewife

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