A Christmas Heart Warmer!

If there's one Christmas tree ornament that I really like, it's the woven heart. I've seen it around lots here in Norway - they usually make it from two different sheets of paper. What was the history behind it - I wondered?

Actually - it seems these lovely ornaments originally come from Denmark. In the 1840s, the German started making, and exporting, glass balls (and after a while - other shapes and figures).

These also ended up in Denmark - and the paper hearts were developed as a homemade, Danish, alternative to the more posh glass ornaments. They were made of red and white paper, and were designed to stimulate a sense of nationality

The first recorded paper heart was actually made back in 1861, by renowned Danish author and poet H.C. Andersen.

I'm sure many of my readers outside of Scandinavia may not have heard of him (I hadn't before I moved here) - but when I mention that he's written tales such as; "The Ugly Duckling", "The Brave Tin Soldier", "The Little Mermaid", "The Emperor's New Suit" and "The Princess and the Pea" ... I'm sure you know his work at least. You can see a full, impressive, list of his work here.

If you would like to try your hand at making some classic, traditional, Scandinavian Christmas ornaments, I've added a helpful diagram below.

Try it with your favourite wallpaper or any other kind of paper that match your decor ... or don't match at all. I love those trees the best! ;)

Oh - and it doesn't have to be with only two woven strips, like below - you can have as many as you like. as long as you can just manage to weave them together :)