Winter & Summer:Double Hanging Butterfly Wreath

This is not the decoration I originally envisaged. The idea evolved as I thought about The Butterfly House concept whilst walking through a November woodland.

Each day uncovers more of the sculptural qualities of the trees and shrubs as their leaves fall. Winter is also the time when mosses and lichens take centre stage in providing the vivid greens of the woodland, along with holly, ivy and a smattering of conifers.

My eye has also been caught recently, not only by the majestically twining wild honeysuckle but the sturdy hawthorn, so easily overlooked. Its plump berries, a brilliant red just a couple of months ago, are now few. Those that remain are shrivelled but have turned a deep blackberry purple. The occasionally clinging leaves are gently yellowing. This combination, along with the silver grey stems, many with a coating of lichen, is understated but entrancing.

I often find that walking stimulates the imagination and by the time I left the wood the idea had formed. The decoration now aims to contrast the carefully man-made and managed summer of the butterfly house, with nature’s tangled and untamed winter beauty.

The inner circle represents a butterfly house: warm soft, rich and harmonious. The outer circle symbolises a wild winter woodland: cool, austere, sparse and chaotic.

I always intended to make a double wreath, with a smaller circle within the larger. This remains. However the design has taken me in its own direction and I have had great fun following. This is result: a three dimensional double wreath, designed to be hung from the celling or a bracket, so that it moves gently with the air currents within the room.

To learn more, watch the short video of the finished wreath and take a look at the step by step guide to how I made this piece.

If you are inspired to create something similar, you will find everything used here, except the glue and the hanging cord, in the Dormouse Wood shop.