With WHRL’s Winter Tree Festival & Auction just a month away, I’m relieved to be ahead of the game and have my first entry finished.
![Painted Maine Lobster Buoys Painted Maine Lobster Buoys](https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/buoy8.jpg)
This summer, I spent many hours on my porch painting these little wooden lobster buoys.
![buoy11 Lobster Buoy Christmas Tree](https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/buoy11.jpg)
I strung the individual buoys on string to form a garland.
![lobster buoy tree lobster buoy tree](https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/lobster-buoy-tree.jpg)
Two strands of buoy garland – a total of 32 buoys – grace this vintage style feather tree. (Thanks, Mom!)
![sea glass balls Lobster Buoy Christmas Tree](https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/sea-glass-balls.jpg)
I cut little lobsters from wood veneer paper using my new Cricut Maker 3 (my first project) and then stained them red. The lobsters are paired with “sea glass” ornaments – clear ornaments painted with translucent sea glass paint.
![buoy tree detail Lobster Buoy Christmas Tree](https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/buoy-tree-detail.jpg)
LED lights have frosted glass gems in sea glass colors glued on them.
![lights](https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/lights.jpg)
They give the tree a pretty glow.
![buoy tree topper Lobster Buoy Christmas Tree](https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/buoy-tree-topper.jpg)
I used a dried starfish from Hobby Lobby for the tree topper.
![tree base Lobster Buoy Christmas Tree](https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/tree-base.jpg)
The base is a galvanized pail that I covered with natural sisal rope.
![Lobster Buoy Christmas Tree Lobster Buoy Christmas Tree](https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/buoy-tree.jpg)
The end result is a sweet, little rustic tree (looking a tad bit lopsided from the wind) that will go up for auction the first weekend in December to benefit WHRL!