Home for the Holidays

There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays

Imagine having a floral stylist not only design your holiday home inside and out but also share tips and tricks so you can do it yourself in the future. It was a dream come true for me when Reuben Mark Stewart taught me how to forage, then style my home in an imaginative, natural, woodsy, festive celebration. Following Reuben’s lead, I now have confidence in creating my own DIY arrangements. Step into my home to see the results and enjoy a step-by-step fireplace mantel styling guide. Then get inspired to bring the outside - in to create your very own whimsical holiday display to magically showcase there’s no place like home for the holidays.

A Foraging We Will Go…

The first thing you need to know when you spend a windy December morning foraging with Reuben Mark Stewart, is that you really need to bundle up (a lesson I learned after the fact). Our morning trek to Reuben’s favourite winter foraging havens, along the Saint John River and in various wooded areas, proved to be a hike that required sure footing and many layers of warm apparel. I will be prepared next time, but I embraced every minute of this adventure, to gather evergreen boughs, branches, vines, berries and dried blossoms that would be used to style my home for for the holidays. A foraging we will go…

Forage Floral Stylist

Reuben is an extraordinary forage floral stylist. Every arrangement he creates begins with a journey to his favourite gathering spots for blooms and wild flora. Much of what he does, highlights the Maritimes landscape, as he brings the outdoors - in with his natural, whimsical arrangements. He also incorporates flowers, too, sourcing them locally and supplementing with imported focal flowers from Canadian distributors. Gathering nature’s bounty changes every season and Reuben’s destinations to find them also changes according to what is in bloom.

Forage On

When I first met Reuben at an Art, Flowers & Tea event at Gallery on Queen (see link at bottom), I knew immediately he was a natural at what he does. The bouquets he was creating were artful masterpieces and I also knew I had to learn more and hopefully work with him again. Fast forward to me standing in the snow (in minus way-too-cold), taking photographs of Reuben skillfully handling his pruning shears in a winter wonderland, collecting all he needed to style my home top-to-bottom, inside and out for the holidays. I think my excitement kept me somewhat warmer than I dressed for. Reuben has a great eye when foraging and he finds those diamonds in the rough when searching for what might work well. Me, not so much… then. I was distracted by all that was happening around me. “Hey Reuben, do you think those are bunny tracks?,” I joked. “Probably,” he nodded, “I saw a hare last time I was out foraging.” he added. “Well, look close, I think he was hopping so fast that he got his ears into it too,” I laughed. Reuben just smiled and foraged on.

It’s Probably Just a Deer…

A massive flock of geese took us by surprise honking noisily overhead and in unison we watched them all land on the far side of the river. “Wow! I bet you see a lot of awesome sights when out foraging?!” I half-asked, half-stated and Reuben nodded, and smiled again. At our next foraging location, after questioning Reuben about the various animal tracks I was seeing in the snow, a loud ‘crack’ was heard in the nearby woods (sounding much like a stepped on branch). Reuben looked up at me and smirked at my expression, then shared that he indeed heard it, too. “I don’t think there are any bears around here,” he added nonchalantly - after I speechlessly pointed to massive tracks in the snow. He seemed amused at me, and kept foraging. I scampered closely behind him, keeping an eye on the nearby woods simultaneously. All the while, Reuben was totally in his element, relaxed and seemingly at one with nature and I was… trying to… but instead was a bit unsettled, feeling like we were not alone and maybe we were being watched. Reuben smiled, and reassured me, “It’s probably just a deer.”

Tender Loving Care

Reuben gathered all he needed from the woods to style my home. Now, we just needed to make one more quick stop to pick up a poinsettia at a local florist. Now, it was my turn to smile as I watched Reuben exit the shop, forfeiting his own warmth, to further protect the paper-wrapped poinsettia from the elements. He cradled the plant like a newborn baby, swaddled softly in his scarf, then held closely to his chest, then on his lap as he sat down in the car. He had precious cargo. That, I learned, is how Reuben handles everything he touches when he is creating his masterpieces - with tender loving care.

A Natural Teacher

Reuben is respectful, meticulous, thoughtful, and genuine. He is also a natural teacher and a zen master. I learned so much as he patiently walked me through every aspect of what he does. He has given small group workshops from time-to-time, and I told him repeatedly, he should do more of it. He has so much to share, and he is truly gifted at imparting his knowledge to others. Once back at my house, I was mesmerized watching Reuben’s creative styling artistry come to life. I loved everything Reuben festively-styled in my home. I could not be happier with the results. Take a peek before then enjoy a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) tutorial that Reuben shared with me and I now want to share with you. He makes it everything so easy and with his step-by-step guidance, I now stye my own home for every season, often bringing the outside in. I even forage for everything myself, although I have never quite gotten over the feeling that I am not alone when in the woods, and for that reason I do not linger too long in any one place. That being said, I hope one day, I will feel more comfortable and some of that calm and zen Reuben exudes - will rub off, too. Perhaps, I tell myself - it will come with more time spent in the woods. I will be forever grateful for Reuben’s teachings. He has been the wind under my wings of my DIY holdiay decor. I often send him photographs of what I have created and like the master teacher he is, he is a proud of my accomplishments, and shares my enthusiasm.

DIY Mantel

Enjoy these Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mantel instructions, so you too can bring the outside - in to make a beautiful mantelscape any time of year. I incorporate forsythia or apple blossom branches in the spring, garden gatherings in the summer and fall leaves and forest findings in the autumn. You can expand and simplify these directions below however you want. However, Christmas time is when it really shines. The lush greenery, whimsical branches, and festive touches Reuben added when he first taught me, made me decide to not to put a tree up in our living room. However, since it is a favourite family tradition, I decided our tree will go up again but it will find its place downstairs in our family room instead, as my new living room mantel display deserves to be the sole focal point in that room. I am here to say - if I can do it - so can you. So, enjoy this easy-to-follow, step-by-step DIY guide that you, too, can follow to recreate your own show-stopping mantel. Please let me know if this inspired you and share your creations with Reuben and me. Find us both on Instagram and Facebook.

Optional: If you have a narrow ledge mantel, start with a long slim container(s) to securely hold natural elements. Reuben had two chicken feeders that were ideal. This is not necessary but is a great support to ground the display.

Step 1: Add candles/vases/feature items you wish to highlight.

Step 2: Incorporate bottles/glassware (3/4 filled with water) to give heavier branches a weighted vessel to hold them upright and to maintain some moisture in branches.

Step 3: Clip tips of branches to cut any scabs that may have formed since foraging to allow water to enter. Trim branches to desired height, and place in bottles, varying the heights for interest. Be creative, break the rules ~ just go with what you feel looks good.

Step 4: Add greenery ~ let the fir fly (see what I did there?). Add spruce, pine, cedar, holly, moss, etc.

Step 5: Add detail bits (pinecones, berries, sumac, etc.) again, whatever you managed to forage.

Step 6: Add mini-lights, and any additional personal touches, then set timer on lights (if applicable), and light candles (monitoring when you do so) & enjoy your stylized mantel! You did it! Take it all in!

Reuben Mark Stewart

I cannot say enough about the creative artistry of Reuben Mark Stewart. He has the skill set of a New York Fashion Week floral designer. Did I mention he has this on his resume? Well, he does! Reuben has created unique floral installations for weddings, special events, art galleries, and restaurants, and he has hosted pop-up shops for festive wreaths, and for teaching floral arrangements. He has worked in Australia, as well as New York, and he currently resides in Montreal. Reuben is a freelance floral styler and photographer, and he often works with Marc Sardi for special events & weddings. You will also be happy to hear that Reuben also teaches now, giving workshops sharing his creative floral styling tips. The world is a better place because Reuben makes it more beautiful with his talents and creative gifts. I feel honoured I knew him when… Follow Reuben on Instagram for ongoing inspiration, then also check out the first event I met Reuben at by clicking on the Art, Flowers & Tea at Gallery on Queen link below. Happy Foraging everyone!

Art, Flowers & Tea at

Gallery on Queen

This post was sponsored by Reuben Mark Stewart; however, all thoughts & opinions are my own. Follow Maritimes Maven on FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest & Threads. Be the first to receive my latest articles by clicking on the ‘subscribe’ link at the top of this page. PIease share articles you love with your social media community. There’s No Place Like Home.