On my online workbook this week: Dangling

Dear

This week's inspiration is that point where you allow enough freedom for the design to happen… but enough controlled design for making a point.

A secret trick to keep the bark squares from tilting? Yes! I do have a tip for that. Angle each square so that you glue in as large part of the inner circle to the glass water tube as possible. 

My first tip is try not to be too hung up by it being perfectly horizontal. You are working with nature and actually accepting that there will be imperfections is how you get it perfect. Some bark squares are skew just because. Those you need to place slightly skew so that they look more straight. Be flexible and eyeball what looks best.

Then when you know the angle you need to place the bark, slip the bark over the glass and wire armature and let it spin slowly while you try to match where you have the most surface area. Ideally you should secure at least a quarter of the bark to the glass with hot glue. Hold the square in the ideal position while the glue cures. Most of the squares should look like they simply float (mostly) horizontally.

Then if you are still bothered by bark bits that dip or are too skew, slip tiny twigs or grass stems (see the picture above) between the two bark squares to prop them up into position. Conceal the obviously structural grass bit by gluing in an impossibly delicate angled grass piece over it.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine