Casey Baird loves Christmas and the Yuletide spirit that comes with it.
He has spent time decorating Mercy Hospital and a number of other Durango-area businesses while he was contracted by Durango floral shop April’s Garden.
He embraced the finer details of giving Christmas bows, plus pine and spruce centerpiece decorations, a professional look. Over time, he wanted to resume such projects and teach others the artistic significance that goes with them.
The latest workshop, which will take place at noon Dec. 15 at Weminuche Woodfire Grill in Vallecito, will be the first one Baird has overseen after opening Cinder and Pine Weddings earlier this month.
“It’s basically a full-instruction class of how to cut the greens, how to place the greens and how to make their own centerpieces,” he said.
Baird has taught such workshops since 2020.
“We’ve done this a million times in the past,” Baird said.
The process is meticulous, down to the smallest details: How much to trim down the pine needles or spruce leaves, going through at least 10 steps to do things such as how to hold and grip the bows, how to make the loops and other subtleties.
Baird said the bows and centerpieces he teaches people to make are the professional-style decorations one sees in holiday shops.
“The bow-making (process) just for the centerpiece, they’ll be able to take that skill and apply that for their tree, their mantle, their doors, everything,” he said.
The deadline to register for the workshop, which costs $135, is Nov. 30. The class limit is 30 participants, and Baird said the deadline will extend if that limit is not met by Nov. 30.
For more information or to register, email cinderandpinedesign@gmail.com.
mhollinshead@durangoherald.com
