DIY Balmoral, Cockade, and Plant Badge

[creagdhubh]

You have to use a french style beret the normal military ones wont work. The way they are made is different and the french style is much larger. A marching band uniform supply is a good source for these.

The ribbon color is determined by the LIVERY colors of your clan's chief.

I have used real plant badges and do prefer them but in the sweltering Alabama heat they just dont seem to last very long before they wilt.

I understand. I order fresh white heather from a company in Scotland, the same that supplies the annual Clan Macpherson gathering in Badenoch, and once I have put together several sprays, with green florist's tape, I place them into a protective container and put them into the refrigerator - they tend to last for quite a long time in cool, dry place. I am sure fresh holly would do just the same. Just an idea, mate.

Cheers,

[Harold Cannon]

Thats a great idea. Thank You!!!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Kyle, I have tried just about every method known to man to preserve a sprig of holly, and none of them work... holly just dries out very quickly. I am currently investigating silk holly leaves, and if they look good, I'll report back.
Cheers mate!
Scott

[Harold Cannon]

Also I know this sounds stupid but you can even find some nice holly on christmas decorations.

[creagdhubh]

Kyle, I have tried just about every method known to man to preserve a sprig of holly, and none of them work... holly just dries out very quickly. I am currently investigating silk holly leaves, and if they look good, I'll report back.
Cheers mate!
Scott

Aye, white heather dries out fairly quickly too. And the wee, white flowering buds tend to fall off easily once they are too dry. Prior to wearing, I sometimes will spray the heather with unscented hairspray, to "fix" the flowering buds to their sprig - this method works quite well. I have seen silk versions of white and purple heather, but they look too "fake" for my taste. That would be wonderful if you could get silk holly leaves that look good! Let us all know!

Slainte,

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Also I know this sounds stupid but you can even find some nice holly on christmas decorations.

I don't think it sounds stupid... the problem is, that around Christmas time, I'm usually too busy to remember to look for holly...

[Santa Kona]

That is strange? We don't have any problems with Holly at the North Pole.

[Harold Cannon]

That's just too funny!