Every year I start working on an idea for the display as early as possible. I try to get started in July. The process begins by finding one item that sets off a chain reaction of inspiration. Three years ago I started with a green ornament with black felt stripes and ended with a hearth and mantle display of penguins accented with black and lime green decorations.
This year I found my inspiration at my local floral supplier. I found red ice skating ornaments topped in ivory fur cuffs. I then purchased some replica wooden sleds. I found beautiful pine cone ornaments in warm shades that sparkled with gold and rolls of luminescent antique gold netting.
I then added the cool tones to make it all come together as an outdoor tableau. Extra large fur covered snowflakes, glass icicles, snow flocked branches and long jeweled branches in deep red and mint green.
The jewels made the tree very elegant in spite of the rustic beginnings of the skates and sleds. I always use hundreds of small clear lights and I start at the top and work down. I use my largest tree decorations first. I had six large sleds and I spread them evenly around the tree, tucked in the branches. I always try to balance the weight of the decorations by using the larger items in lower half of the tree. To get a three dimensional look I put some items deep into the tree and I wired some to the very tips. I used the jewels and flocked branches last to create the effect of ice dripping from the tree and I used the same items in the top of the tree.
I used a large antique sleigh with a fur lined cape in the back of the display. A pond was created by using a mirror covered in an icing spray and framed with landscape rocks, snow and an iced pine garland. The geese were custom made at a local shop and donated to the event. I covered the entire platform in thick cotton snow and sprinkled it with iridescent snow flakes. Decorated boxes in a smaller sleigh and under the tree brought some color to the lower half of the display.
The tableau had a traditional, comfortable feel while the jewels and ice added an elegance that brought the tree into the present. I want to thank the Knoxville News Sentinel for purchasing the tree to take to their business office and I want to thank them and all the sponsors of the event for all they do for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
