How to Make a Della Robia Christmas Tree

The term Della Robia refers to an object that is decorated with fruit. The object can be a ceramic platter or a wreath, but here we are going to make a Christmas tree with fresh fruit. You can use all one type of fruit, such as lemons, or you can use several varieties as we do here.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bamboo Skewers
• Plaster Of Paris
• Styrofoam Cones
• 4-inch Miniature Clay Pots
• Floral Pins
• Garden Stakes
• Mosses
• Citrus Fruits
• Cranberries
• Thick-skinned Fruits
• Paddle Wire

Making the Base

1. Soak a 4-inch clay pot in a bucket of water. This step will prevent the pot from cracking when you pour in the plaster of paris.

2. Cut a straight stick 12 to 14 inches long, or use a bamboo stake. The stick, which will support a Styrofoam cone, will be permanently embedded in the plaster. Select a stick that is 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter.

3. Cover the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot with aluminum foil, newspaper or tape. This will prevent the plaster of paris from leaking out and making a mess of your work surface.

4. Mix 2 cups plaster of paris with 2 cups water in a disposable container. Add more water as necessary until the plaster has the consistency of sour cream. (Note: This will set quickly, so have everything you need right on hand - the pot with covered drain hole and the stick.)

5. Pour the plaster into the prepared pot.

6. Place the stick into the plaster. You may need to support it until the plaster sets, usually not longer than 3 or 4 minutes.

7. Allow the plaster-filled pot to dry at least one hour.

8. Impale a Styrofoam cone on the stake.

9. Cover the Styrofoam cone with a layer of dried moss or large green leaves such as aspidistra. Secure the covering material in place with floral pins.

Adding the Fruit

10. Purchase thick-skinned fruit such as lemons, limes or pomegranates.

11. Begin by piercing the larger fruit, such as oranges or lemons, with bamboo skewers. Stake them in place around the base of the cone. You should have a ring of citrus fruit just above the rim of the pot.

12. Continue adding rows of fruit. The skewers will secure the heavy fruit to the Styrofoam cone.

13. Use smaller fruits as you work toward the top of the cone. The moss will prevent the Styrofoam from showing through the rows.

14. Use alternating colors of fruit. For example, yellow lemons on the bottom row, orange tangerines next, then green limes, and finish with orange kumquats.

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on 11/22/2005 I use craft store artificial fruit for Della Robbia projects. The finished product lasts a lot longer! I buy green craft store sticks (about double the size of cocktail stirrers), "impale" the fruit off-center but near the base, and then stick it in the foam base. It's important to not stick the fruit exactly in the center of the base; that looks too "perfect" and thus artificial. I also find that using a sprig of green stuff (pine, small berries with leaves, etc.) by wiring it to the stick with the fruit helps fill in the spaces for a more natural look.