DIY: God's Eye Ornaments with a Scandi Twist

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Honestly, I never imagined I’d meet a God’s eye I liked. But recently, when trying to conjure a Christmas tree star (see A Star Is Born: DIY Foraged Tree Topper), I remembered the old camp craft, and I thought maybe it’s not the object itself that lacks appeal—perhaps it’s just the rainbow yarn. And so the idea of the non-gaudy God’s eye was born.

Photography by Justine Hand.

Instructions

Above: I began with some red and black ribbon and white yarn, and then threw in a little glittery gold and silver string for extra holiday cheer.

Materials

- Natural yarn, ribbon, or twine. I used a selection of Italian Cotton Ribbon and Wrapped Cotton from Studio Carta, as well as Twine ($5.60 a roll) from Anthropologie.

- Balsa wood or popsicle sticks. Balsa wood is readily available in strips at your local hardware or art supply store.

- Scissors.

- Exacto knife, or other sharp utility knife.

Making God’s eyes is a bit like riding a bike. After a brief refresher, you’ll find you settle right back into the rhythm of it. Let’s start with the basics.

Ornament 1: The Simple God’s Eye

Step 1: Cut your balsa wood into two pieces of equal length.

Note: Although you can use popsicle sticks, I chose thinner widths of balsa wood, which seemed a better way to conjure the light snowflakes that I wanted to make.

Step 2: Place two pieces together to form an X. To secure, simply wrap your twine diagonally in each direction to create an X across the front. I do not tie my yarn to the sticks because it creates an unruly lump. Simply wrapping around in each direction several times is enough to secure the center of the God’s eye. After it’s wrapped, trim any loose ends.