Make It! Christmas Pine Cone Ball Tutorial

If you noted my surfeit of pinecones earlier in the year you will know that I was looking for things to do with them, of a Christmassy nature. I saw some big balls of pinecones being sold in the shops this year, as Christmas decorations (not for the tree though, too heavy!) and I thought that I would have a go at making one. Here is a tutorial (be gentle with me) in case anyone else would like to try it out.

First you need a load of pinecones! Seriously, pick up a good basketfull. 30? I can't quite work out how many I actually used. NB: but if you use a small size oasis ball you will need only small/medium pinecones. Try to get a few smaller ones which are useful for finishing but you shoud aim not to have too varied a size selection.

Oasis Ball
Pinecones
Tools: Snub-nosed Pliers (useful not essential) Secateurs and scissors
Ribbon, enough to go around the ball you are using with plenty left to make a loop
Florists wire
Pins

1)Tie the ribbon around the ball, knot it making sure the loose ends are roughly even. Then pin the ribbon in place around the ball with dressmaking pins, use around 4-6.

 2) Cut the florists wire into lengths - you will need the first few wires to be long enough to go around the pinecone and all the way through the ball. Wrap the wire around the wider end of the pinecone pulling it so that it slides between the bracts, then twist the ends of the wire. If you do this with pliers it is easier to get a nice secure finish.

3) Insert the wire into the ball - start by adding cones around the centre. The first cones with long wire should be put into the underside, and the long end bent over to secure it. After the first 8 or so with bent over wires you should be safe to use slightly shorter wire which just goes through most of the ball. Beware of making them too short though or they will just fall out again! Keep putting them either side of the ribbon until you have created a double line of cones all around the ball.

4) Now add cones into the central section of either side. It is better to be methodical and keep adding in circles until you just have space for a central one. It may be best at this stage to choose all remaining pinecones and  'try' them by popping them into the space without wires first, because you want a nice snug fit. Jiggle them a little as you put them in, to lock them together and avoid big ugly gaps.

5) Ta Da!! Tie up the end of the ribbon and hang the beast up. These might be pretty all glittered up too.

November!

Where does the time go? I have been completely wrapped up in the Folksy October Listings Club, which seems to have eaten a whole month and now I turn round to find the world deep into Autumn. Clocks have gone back, making every evening seem so long, but the children seem to be sleeping better which has to do with it being properly dark at bedtime. Hooray!

I have so many things planned for this month! Specifically:
1) Spray paint some old picture frames I've hoarded white to create a display of family photos
2) Make up cushions for the lounge, I bought some Brompton Road fabric which is so cool.
3) Spray paint loads of fir cones for Christmas (I can leave this but I figured I'd have a massive spray painting sesh!!)
4) Craft Fairs? I am supposed to be booked into some, but childcare is proving an issue.
5) Make a Christmas Pudding/Cake (When is Stir-Up Sunday, exactly?)
6) Knit daughters new jumpers  - again I have the materials, but the flesh is weak.
7) Make a dinosaur toy out of Pirate fabric (it's a commission, I'm getting paid for this I guess it is theoretically No 1 but I only just remembered it)

Ahhh must stop I am scaring me.

Here for soothing purposes is a photo of the fabric I mentioned above.

See the subtle background detail? It's a bit less subtle in real life! 

Fir Cone Madness - Part 2

Following the pine cone animals idea I have had another brilliant idea disclosed to me by a friend. She has given her trellis a fantastic woodland overhaul by using the cones on it. Her advice is to wire them on though as they expand/contract depending on the weather and this dislodges them after a while. I think it looks really pretty.

Pinecone Owl

After getting some great ideas from my Facebook appeal for fir cone ideas, I had to post up this cute owl that my friend sent me. I think his legs are made from pipe cleaners and his beak/tail from felt. She did some fir cone animals with her class at school but as cones are available right now, it is a good summer holiday activity. Lets face it there are suddenly more hours in the day when the children are at home all the time!!!

Fir Cone Madness

Although it seems a vaguely christmassy thing to do, DD and I have been busy this morning filling a huge bag full of fir cones. The tree on our drive has just gone mental, throwing out hundreds of the things, and just like a dutiful Roo and Tigga as we are, off we went agatherin'. Now I am trying to think of what to do with them. Ideas so far:

package as gifts for people with log fires

christmas wreaths

adding into other christmas decorations, covered in glitter

keeeping them in a big bowl (I have done this there are still a million!)

I love the things but this is ludicrous! There are more still on the ground..................