Weave some seasonal flora into your Christmas decor with this flowers-on-tulle wreath hoop by artist Olga Prinku. Words Sonya Patel Ellis Photos Andrew Montgomery <\/p>

At first glance, Olga Prinku\u2019s hooped artworks appear to be composed using traditional embroidery threads. On closer inspection it\u2019s evident that most of the \u2018stitches\u2019 are in fact exquisite arrangements of dried and preserved flowers, foliage, berries and seedheads<\/a> woven into a background of tulle (think ballet tutus and bridal veils).<\/p>

How to make large baubles from the garden<\/a><\/li>
Make your own garden Christmas lights<\/a><\/li>
Make your own floral Christmas advent calender<\/a><\/li>
Make your own Christmas wrapping<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>
Looking closely and finding patterns in nature is one of the driving forces of Olga\u2019s work. Having inadvertently invented her unique flowers-on-tulle technique several years ago \u2013 while making a festive wreath<\/a> out of foraged flowers and an old garden riddle (sieve) \u2013 her craft has now expanded to include a range of beautiful designs.<\/p>
\u00a9 Andrew Montgomery<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Searching for materials has definitely brought her closer to wildlife<\/a> and the seasons, including a burgeoning interest in plant families and lifecycles. In winter<\/a>, Olga\u2019s palette is all about \u201cthe white of snow and the reds and dark greens of the festive season\u201d as shown in her festive wreath hoop below, a nuanced version of the flowers, plants and colours of traditional wreaths but made using just a handful of materials.<\/p>
How to make a festive flowers-on-tulle wreath hoop<\/h2>
$\"Festive$
\u00a9 Andrew Montgomery<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Olga\u2019s hoop creation is large enough to be hung on a door or window as you might a wreath.<\/p>
Materials<\/h3>
Buy miniature rosehips<\/a> fresh or use larger foraged ones. Snippets of foraged coniferous Thuja, Leyland cypress (x Hesperotropsis leylandii<\/em>) or yew (Taxus baccata<\/em>) are perfect for feathery green branches. The white petals of shop-bought, rosy-purple everlasting (Rhodanthe manglesii<\/em>), winged everlasting (Ammobium alatum<\/em>) or pearly everlasting (Anaphalis <\/em>spp.) catch the eye.<\/p>
When foraging for botanical specimens, such as rosehips, firethorn berries, haws, ivy<\/a> and conifers, remember to leave some for the birds<\/a>.<\/p>
$\"Festive$
\u00a9 Andrew Montgomery<\/figcaption><\/figure>
For drying your foraged materials, they can be hung upside down, left to dry in vases, or carefully placed in boxes of silica granules.<\/p>
Olga\u2019s stand-out tool for creating her flowers-on-tulle is a pair of 12cm curved micro tweezers for pulling stalks through the holes in the net and precise positioning.<\/p>
Step one<\/h3>
Stretch 40cm of tulle on to a 30cm embroidery hoop. Loosely tighten the screw.<\/p>
Step two<\/h3>
Secure a 15cm embroidery hoop in the centre. Tighten the screws of the small hoop first and then the large hoop\u2019s screws, so that the tulle is taut.<\/p>
Step three<\/h3>
Embroider with delicate branches of miniature rosehips, foraged conifer foliage and highlights of white flowers using weaving and glueing to create a varied naturalistic effect.<\/p>
Find more inspiration in Olga\u2019s book Dried Flower Embroidery<\/em> (Quadrille, \u00a315) and at prinku.com<\/a>. You can also find many of the dried flowers mentioned and Olga\u2019s DIY hoop kits at driedandfloral.com<\/a><\/p>
Read our guide to making your own willow Christmas decorations<\/a>.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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How to make a festive flowers-on-tulle wreath hoop<\/h2>\u00a9 Andrew Montgomery<\/figcaption><\/figure>Olga\u2019s hoop creation is large enough to be hung on a door or window as you might a wreath.<\/p>

Step one<\/h3>Stretch 40cm of tulle on to a 30cm embroidery hoop. Loosely tighten the screw.<\/p>

Step two<\/h3>Secure a 15cm embroidery hoop in the centre. Tighten the screws of the small hoop first and then the large hoop\u2019s screws, so that the tulle is taut.<\/p>

Step three<\/h3>Embroider with delicate branches of miniature rosehips, foraged conifer foliage and highlights of white flowers using weaving and glueing to create a varied naturalistic effect.<\/p>

Step one<\/h3>
Stretch 40cm of tulle on to a 30cm embroidery hoop. Loosely tighten the screw.<\/p>

Step two<\/h3>
Secure a 15cm embroidery hoop in the centre. Tighten the screws of the small hoop first and then the large hoop\u2019s screws, so that the tulle is taut.<\/p>