Ice Bowl
The incredible beauty of flowers, fruit, berries, and leaves trapped in translucent ice makes an ice bowl one of the most arresting, yet practical Christmas decorations. Serve ice creams, sorbets, fruit salads, or an ice-cold punch in it, or anything that will benefit from the chilling effect of this unusual bowl. Choose non-toxic plant material that will fit into the 3/4" (2 cm) of ice that forms the bowl. Berries look particularly good and, because the bowl can be made well ahead of Christmas, you can take advantage of the autumn crop of mountain ash, cottoneaster, and viburnum fruits. Roses, freesias, lily petals, ferns, geranium leaves, herbs, and even the humble cabbage can be pressed into use. Slices of limes, tangerines, and kiwi and star fruits also look stunning.
Materials
3 1/4 " (8.5 cm) - tall glass jar
6 1/2" x 3 1/2 " - (16 x 9 cm) glass bowl
Matching - 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" (21 x 11 cm) glass bowl
clear tape
non-toxic - plant material; Fern frond, Honeysuckle, Cranesbill, Mallow, Loosestrife, Aster, cabbage's leaves, roses and berries
straight floral - wire
Instructions
- Stack the jar and the bowls. Pour water between the 2 bowls until the water comes to 1/2 inches (1 cm) below the rims. Fill the jar with water to keep the rims level. Hold in place with tape.
- Select plant material for decorating the ice bowl. I have chosen mountain ash berries, decorative cabbage leaves, miniature amaryllis flowers, sprigs of cypress, and small red roses.
- Slip the leaves and flowers into the water between the 2 bowls, prodding them into place with straight floral wire. Wedge the larger leaves toward the bases of the bowls and gently squeeze the flowers between the sides. Freeze overnight.
- Remove the tape and jar, and pour cold water into the smaller bowl. Dip the outer bowl into cold water. (Warm water may cause the ice to crack.) the bowls will gradually come away fro the ice. Place on a plate.