This video shows the process of creating this incredible hand-built, self-rotating Christmas tree featuring a twinkling village scene.

Jill Drake, a 48-year-old from Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, challenged herself to make something a little different for Christmas. Her creative side took over after she came up with the idea:

“It was the September school holidays so I knew I had a couple of weeks to build it. Once I started and saw how beautiful it was looking, I got a bit excited and ended up working all weekend to finish it.”

She laughed: “It took about 36 hours in total!”.

Jill is a Teacher’s Aide, working with children with learning difficulties. She had a dream to see a white Christmas, but health issues changed her travel plans. Her Christmas tree idea came after her time spent in recovery:

“We were supposed to fly to Canada for our very first white Christmas. Nine days before our flight, I was rushed to hospital with a large cancerous tumour in my kidney and scheduled for an emergency nephrectomy.”

“Whilst I was in recovery, I kept thinking about what I could do to make Christmas a happy and beautiful time. We usually have somewhere between four and eight Christmas trees throughout the house but I wanted something different and amazing for my village.”

“I didn’t get to see my white Christmas, so I decided to make it in my own home instead!”