My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Earthly Angel

Over the next few weeks I will be designing for Christmas. Every Christmas we try and test and develop a few new trends to be introduced as contemporary floral design inspirations. But at the same time I find myself staring longingly at images of a good old fashioned Christmas- it still speaks the loudest to my emotions. My interpretation of Christmas 2011 will be to look back at a traditional Christmas and to give it a contemporary me twist.

Earthly Angel made from tiny twig sections

Christmas Flower Trends 2011 starts with a Floral Craft Assignment from the Floral Trends Design Group to make an Earthly Angel garden decoration

A craft design:
according to the World Association of Flower Arrangers terminology, is a handmade object (such as bags, floral pictures and collages, hats, shoes, jewellery, cakes…) that is skillfully designed using natural plant material (whether dried, processed or fresh) that predominate over all other materials used.

Earthly Angel floral art design

My design is inspired by the one-dimensional shape of a snow angel. It is a mobile that hangs from one point blowing freely in the wind.

Twig Earthly Angel floral art mobile design

Here are the two secrets to assembling a well balanced hanging sculpture: First: Let gravity do the work. Do not fight it. And Secondly: Start from the bottom of your design and work your way up. Each piece has a balance point. Find that and connect it to the piece above. (See the Tutorial below)

Earthly Angel made from twigs to hang in the garden

I included a few sleigh bells to jingle in the wind. Because the design is meant to be hung outside in the garden I wanted it to have a weathered look rather than be all shiny and new, so I treated the copper bells to get a lovely bright turquoise patina. (See tutorial below)

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

Tutorials

23 November 2011 Twig and glue Angel

Cut short sections of twigs to glue into an Angel shape

23 November 2011 Assembling a Mobile on a twig top bar

Here are the two secrets to assembling a well balanced hanging sculpture: First: Let gravity do the work. Do not fight it. And Secondly: Start from the bottom of your design...

24 November 2021 Patina Copper

The colour and the effect will vary due to application, temperature and humidity.

Related Designs

16 December 2015 Christmas Waves

Twist a Kalanchoe and Ivy vine Christmas tree mobile

11 May 2016 Pour

Glue a twig vase and melt some plastic to create a tumbling design

6 July 2016 The oh no factor

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

6 December 2017 While I sing of beauty's treasure

Glue the most delicate twig table top Christmas tree