On my online workbook this week: Joyf'ly

Dear

This week's inspiration is a bonus bit of creativity once all the gift wrapping is done.

My tip for you this week is about preserving the Magnolia leaves.

As foliage dries it shrinks and shrivels. Simply creating the tree with fresh leaves can work. It will probably, maybe work. But you also stand a chance of the leaves shriveling in ways you didn't intend and now leaving gaps in the design that are impossible to fill without damaging the design. Or that it will discolour. Using dried leaves that are perfectly and predictably preserved from the start means the design will look exactly how you want it and your efforts can be enjoyed for the entire season.

You can treat the leaves with glycerin to preserve them (set the leaves in a glycerin and water mixture for three days) or place the stem in shallow water and allow the stem to air dry naturally. By the time the water has evaporated the leaves will be dry. Another option is to hang the leaves upside down which is best if you want to design with the top side of the leaves. More about this in my book page 125

I opted for the middle option because I wanted to use the gorgeous (and so trendy!) velvet underside of the leaves and I also wanted the leaves to twist and contort. I love the windblown look the twisted dried leaves create when placed on top of the twigs. It looks like a snowy, light filled forest.

It makes designing slightly harder because you have to compensate for the uneven and brittle leaves to ensure it sits firmly on the support twig. Work from the largest leaf at the bottom to the smallest at the tip.

Cut the stems away (see the picture above) so that you have a flat surface to position the leaves all around the support twig. Wrap the Magnolia leaf around the support twig at the top so that the leaf can elegantly twist and drape in a natural way (see the picture below)

Then, when the twig is covered, do not cut the stems of the last leaves but let them point up to create the tip of the tree.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine