Kissing Ball at the Folk School 2010
I was hoping to do my annual greening of Christmas this week, but the rain has put my plans on hold for now.
Swags, wreaths, and vase arrangements are most often the things I make for Christmas, but in the past I have made kissing balls.
Many years ago Blind Pig reader B. Ruth shared her method of making a kissing ball with a potato.
Here is her instructions:
“I use pine, cedar, magnolia, balsam, etc. for making door decorations, etc. Last Christmas I made a potato bough for a hostess gift. Just wrap a piece of wire around a large potato with a loop for hanging..sharpen the ends of your greenery, I added a few sprigs of mistletoe and holly, poke them in the potato filling in bare spots, attach a bow…and you have it. The potato keeps the greens fresh through the holidays. It was a great success with the hostess…except all the gals there wanted me to make them one…LOL
My Dad and Mom said when they were children in NC that ground pine/cedar was used to make most greenery for the home as well as other natural pine, balsam and fir.”
The first time I used B. Ruth’s method I used a small potato because I knew I didn’t have much time and thought that might make the process go a little faster.
I wrapped wire around a potato forming a hanger as B.Ruth directed and then I set about putting holes in it with a metal skewer.
I cut a few branches of white pine and a few branches of what we call jack pine, but mostly I used the pile of spruce trimmings The Deer Hunter had cut off our Christmas tree when he was putting it up.
Once I had several pieces stuck in the potato I started making the holes just before I inserted the next piece of greenery.
At about this point in the project I was getting a little bit worried. I thought this ain’t nothing but a mess! I felt like I was making a crazy haired potato head, but I knew B.Ruth doesn’t fool around when it comes to creating so I persevered.
Once I had the potato covered I knew it was going to be the perfect Christmas kissing ball. I had a red ribbon that came with a pair of pajamas the girls got at The Pressley’s Christmas Dinner. I looped the ribbon through the metal hanger B.Ruth instructed me to make—so smart to make it first! I would have tried adding it at the end and been in a real mess.
Tipper
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Tipper you are so sweet! You give us good ideas and lots of inspiration all along the way. I’ve done a little bit of greening around the house but now I have another project on my wish list. I love your kissing ball! Just don’t let Matt keep moving it around all over the house! Your lips might get chapped! LOL! Enjoy! Love to all, Merry Christmas, and may the Good Lord bless you all and keep you all safe!
That’s a good idea using the potato. We never did that but my brother in law would shoot up in trees for mistletoe. It was always too high to reach!
I have never heard of a kissing ball. Daddy would catch us under the mistletoe every year and give us sugs. We do all kinds of things with greens, but the kissing ball is new to me. I will have to try this! I might even start a new tradition thanks to you! Love and prayers to all.
At first Tipper, I thought you were gonna give us a recipe. lol
I have never heard of using a potato in this way, but sounds like a great idea. I like using things I already have on hand when making crafts.
I love it ! It’s Beautiful ! And I bet it smells wonderful ! So clever !
What a great idea! I have never heard of it but I would love to try it..
I was a professional florist for 45 years.
That potato trick is one of the most clever ideas I’ve ever heard of!
thanks for the picture. i was at the folk school christmas of 2010—as well as every year for a decade—and i never even saw it! amazing what one can miss.
That is a green craft that I have not heard of before today. My family did not do the greening of Christmas. We only had deciduous trees surrounding our home.
I’ve never heard of a kissing ball. It and the method in which it is made is very interesting!
I am another one that has never heard of a kissing ball.
I had never heard of a kissing ball. The trick of keeping greenery fresh though is very smart. I have some spots that would be good locations. I have it in mind to make a greenery wreath using a wreath form. We have two hollies that are just covered in berries this year. There are also more in the woods this year than last. We had mistletoe a year or so ago but it is gone now. It comes and goes it seems, even while it continues in the same tree it may move around. Do you have galax on Stamey Creek? It is really pretty, whether the shiny green first-year leaves or the purple/bronze colored old ones. Doesn’t grow here. Wish it did.
Never heard of a kissing ball before. I love it!
Another way to use a potato. Love it!
We use a lot of smilax, when we can find it. Several years ago, we had spent Thanksgiving at the beach. Coming home Milly stops the car just outside of Greeleyville, SC. “Get out and get that smilax!” I did and it looked wonderful.
John, I hope you also stopped when passing through Salters at Cooper’s Country Store and bought you some old time style country ham. They cure their own hams and have them hanging up in wire enclosed section in the back of the old 2 story store. I have never tried their BBQ. The store is located on Hwy 521.
I’m another one who has never heard of this tradition. I love it & the clever way of using a potato to keep the greenery fresh for a longer time. The one from the Folk School is very lovely. Merry Christmas & prayers for Granny!
That potato kissing ball sounds interesting. I like the pic of the kissing ball at school. So lovely.
Jeanie
Love this!
Don’t think I’ll be making a kissing potato ball but it does sound interesting!
When the rain stops I’ll be doing good to gather magnolia leaves for greenery and take Christmas flowers to cemetery! The weather has been a deterrent in my schedule!!
Everyone have a great day. Jesus is the reason for the season.
I miss B.Ruth. Am I the only subscriber left that looked forward to her comments every day?
I have never heard of this before . Looks lovely.
Tipper,
That is a great ideal. It is a great way to use Mistletoe. I may have to try that next year. Sayward and myself are just getting over COVID and it’s raining here today in Blount County, Tennessee. God bless. Stayed up late last night to welcome our new great granddaughter into the world. She was born in Hawaii to our military grandson. We are praying that he gets to move closer home this coming year.
I think the kissing ball is the neatest item I’ve had the pleasure to gander this Christmas season and yours is pretty spectacular! I honestly was thinking it was plastic and perfect, but then I knew better cause Tipper is a “natural” lady. She doesn’t “do” plastic! I’d like to know who exactly has kissed under those balls? I was born in early September 1967 so I’m guessing daddy had no money at Christmas in 1966 and somehow ended up with mother under a kissing ball whispering sweet nuthins and the rest as they say is history! PLEASE use great caution if hanging a kissing ball this or any year! Lol It May lead to other issues later. Lol and God bless us all especially those rascals under a kissing ball! Amen!
So fun! I’ve never heard of this before!
That’s so cool! I’ve never heard of that before!
I love this idea. I have a “Kissing Bell” from the 40s that my Grandma used but it’s so fragile. Think I’ll do the potato idea instead. What fun!
I have never heard of a kissing ball. It is so pretty. This may be a good project to make with two of my granddaughters when they come to visit tomorrow. They would mostly enjoy going out and collecting the greenery to use. It will be like a treasure hunt. Thanks for the great idea.