My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

'Tis the Season

My article and do-it-yourself wedding design projects in the winter issue of
DIY Weddings Magazine
and Christmas Flower Trends 2012: A Contemporary Christmas inspired by Classic Christmas lyrics


Can't decide on a theme for your December wedding? That is understandable because December, more so than the other months, is filled with contrasts. We draw our inspiration from minimalist winterscapes that reminds you of "The Snow Queen's Castle," to tinsel filled trees in "Santa's Village." These contrasts can be overwhelming when you feel you have to choose the one, instead of the other. Black or white, hot or cold, sweet or sour. Enough such decisions can leave you feeling disappointed because you had to compromise. There is an alternative, and it lies in the study of contrasts.

Tis the Season Floral Art  Design

There is a spectrum of possibilities along the line between direct contrasts.

Don't choose between hot or cold. Opt for hot and cold. Scorching hot tea can cool by quite a few degrees before it flips over into its ice tea contrast. The secret is to experiment and find a balance where the decision is right, as opposed to a compromise.

In the study of design contrasts, you start at one end of the spectrum, and slowly make design changes until you reach the other end of the spectrum. Once done, you will immediately know where the balance is right for you.

Six twig lanterns

Start with "Winter Wonderland" and its natural romance of a winter landscape, bare twigs, sparkling white snow, icy blue and minimal fuss.One step at a time, transition all the way to a "Traditional Christmas" a joyful celebration: red, green and gold, decorated Christmas trees, twinkling lights, stockings and maximum fuss.

Let me explain with 6 Rustic-Twig, Light-Your-Way Lanterns:

Rustic Winter

Rustic Winter.

Capture the romance of winter with frosted and toned down details. The warmth of a tiny candle glitters through the twig lantern, emphasizing the magic of glittering, snowy-white design details.

Ring of hearts

Ring of Hearts.

Toned down and elegant, with just a hint of a wreath, without actually being a wreath design.

Baby its cold outside

Baby its cold

A romantic theme that is tactile and luxurious. Downy white feathers add perceived warmth and comforting winter texture to the winter-white design.

Dashing through the snow

Dashing

The addition of a tiny jingle silver bell keepsake creates a nostalgic, almost vintage design that reminds of winters past.

Joy!

Joy

It is all about the magic of the Season. Something that makes you smile. The baubles are definitely Christmassy and the way they are placed in the design reminds of plump winter-berries, discovered on snow covered twigs.

Candy cane lane

Candy.

It is just plain quirky and has loads of personality. Informal, casual and all out Christmassy. Still with a romantic twist.

Each time I added another suggestion of Christmas without being obvious. My designs gradually moved from the more formal Winter Wonderland to an all-out Whimsical Christmas. All you need to do is decide where on this line is your balance.

Title from "Deck the Halls" a classic Welsh New Years and winter carol (Nos Galan) dating back to the sixteenth century, with English Christmas lyrics written in 1866 by Thomas Oliphant

DIY Wedding Magazine Article.

Thank you DIY Wedding Magazine for inviting me to be part of your beautiful winter issue

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

4 December 2012 Twig Lanterns

Wire short twigs around wire rings to create rustic flameless tea-light lanterns

4 December 2012 Moss and Wire Baubles

Roll bits of moss and wire to make neat little baubles

14 January 2011 Ripping Flax

Flax can be ripped into fibres creating long and versatile strips

22 September 2012 Skeleton Leaves

Remove the pulp from leaves so that only the vain framework remain

15 December 2011 Sugar Frosted flowers, fruit or foliage

Egg white and sugar creates a natural frost effect

26 June 2012 Berry dye for sisal fibers

Soak sisal fibres in strawberry and black berry juice to stain it purple

18 January 2012 Butterfly hairclip claws to hold twigs in place while glue dries

Butterfly hair clips are the perfect little claws to help you hold tiny items in place while you wait for glue to dry

26 July 2011 Wire Tendrils

Curl the wire at irregular intervals to create a natural wire tendril similar to that of a passion fruit plant

16 May 2012 Stringing pearls

Long blades of thin grass or ripped flax are ideal for stringing decorative beads

5 May 2011 Wire baubles

Make baubles from wire

7 December 2011 Encouraging Moss and Lichen to grow on a design

This time of year is best for starting a moss garden. It needs to be cool and wet. Lichen and moss becomes dormant when it is too hot and dry.

26 April 2011 Natural stem hook to hang plant material from

Side stems of branches can be used as hooks to hang floral material in a design.

11 February 2015 Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with

Favourite Flowers

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid

Senecio Rowleanus

String of Beads, String of Pearls

Ceropegia woodii

Rosary vine, Chain of Hearts, Collar of hearts and String of hearts

Phormium

Flax, New Zealand flax

Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"

Curly Willow, Chinese Willow, Tortured Willow, Globe Willow, Dragon's Claw, Hankow Willow

Related Designs

2 December 2015 Stacking the odds in your favour

Cover a wire frame for a winter kissing bough.

6 July 2016 The oh no factor

My article and Floral Monogram Seating Plan designs featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

28 December 2016 A Jingle Cotton Christmas

Cover a wreath frame with bark and cotton for a textured Christmas wreath design

14 June 2017 Things are looking up!

My article and Bamboo Lantern design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

6 December 2017 While I sing of beauty's treasure

Glue the most delicate twig table top Christmas tree

27 December 2017 Can it be?

Craft a pine tube to display a soft and snow filled winter scene

12 December 2018 Availability of plant material shows in your design style

The last design I did for my book launch demonstration looking at aspects that influences my effortless style of designing... this week: often when we see a design element...

24 November 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most... Glowing-est Patina Christmas of all!

This is the first of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. We will explore how to patina Copper and use it to...

15 November 2023 Freeze… just for a moment!

Not quite winter but also a bit late for autumn design that is somewhere between sparkle and flying leaves.