Shifting Seasons + All caps. Exclamation points. Emoji + Botanical Ice Luminary.
This weekend, the skies were the bluest shade of blue. Winter’s shifting. We’ve left the darkest month of winter and are now moving to the blue skied days of winter. A friend recently asked me if I thought that seasons had a particular pull in Sweden in a text and I wanted to write back, “Yes” in all caps. Multiple exclamation points. Emojis; I’ve been trying hard to resist all caps, emoji and multiple exclamation points but, this yes feels so amplified. It’s been an exaggerated beautiful around here and I have a hard time finding the words. (Side note: call it a resolution: I’m trying to write in full words, no “shouting” caps or punctuation. I think it’s harder to do thank you think. Right? … ) There is a pull in the seasons here in Sweden. We’re definitely in Midwinter. There’s a new energy. There’s a new light. When I open the doors during the weekend, there’s a soundtrack in our neighbourhood of kids sledding from a nearby hill and a steady stream of mumbled conversation as people pass our house — walking, talking, moving with sleds, skates and skies. I think it’s impossible to resist.
One of our winter traditions, as well is to make ice luminaries .Today, join me to make, Botanical Ice Luminaries.
Through the years, these have varied from sprigs of foliage gathered in nature walks to planned berry hearts. Since flowers are currently center front in my work, these luminaries are the perfect place for the cast off leaves that aren’t being used in my current art work but, there are endless possiblities.
Botanical Ice Luminaries
- Pan (Aluminium is best)
- Flowers or foliage
- Tea lights
To do:
- Place everything into your pan
- Add water.
- Freeze outside or in the freezer.
- Want to see this in action? VIDEO here
I’d love to see what you do. Share them with me on Instagram or Facebook
Note:
- If you’re making these with young kids or want to have these outside, unattended and don’t like to use live flames: freeze tea lights but: once frozen, remove the inner candles and insert LED tea lights into the metal rings!
- If you haven’t made the ice lanterns that you can see in the background, these are our favourites. Link HERE to the how to.
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I hope your January is off to a great start. With Valentine’s Day in a month, check you a few ice options that we’ve made through the year here: HERE. Thanks so much for joining today and I look forward to meeting you again. If you follow along with me on Instagram then you’ve seem my love to the season. If not and you’d like to see more Swedish Winter, click here for a peak.
As always, Willowday Wishes,
Gina
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