Subdued

A 5mm aluminum wire was placed on a wooden base. On this, 2 mm aluminum wire was placed and coarsely kneaded into a Christmas tree model using the crush technique. Around this are cut pieces of the Calocephalus plant, or silver bush, wrapped with silver wire. The plants are super dry which also makes this little tree very long lasting! Two beautiful Kalanchoe leaves complete the look - here the art of omission applies.

Xmas twist

Within the gold-colored ring - formerly a kind of tray
with a mirror - a silver bush (Calocephalus) cut into pieces was first placed. Through this, all the materials were inserted. The whole thing was placed on a vase so that the cut flowers were all in water: Clematis (including C. Amazing Kibo), Chrysanthemum, Scabiosa, Zantedeschia, Rudbeckia and Phalaenopsis. Finally, Christmas baubles and Echeveria
succulents were glued on top.

Bowl bouquet

This bowl-shaped frame bouquet was made from black 1.4 mm pokes using the chicken wire technique. Then long garlands were made from the shoots of fruit trees and copper-colored bouillon wire. Make sure that these short pieces of branch are well dried, so that they do not shrink, before wrapping them. Guzmania flowers, Gloriosa, Talinum 'Long John', Scabiosa, spray roses and chrysanthemums were incorporated!

'Materials that are pure are always my preference'

Master florist Diny Blom has had her Blomatelier in the heart of Gouda for 33 years. As a grower and florist's daughter, she grew up on the edge of the forests of the Zuid Veluwe. 'Nature always captures my imagination and is always a source of inspiration. I still remember the large barrel of Icelandic moss in the corridor of the nursery - and my father's secret of adding some salt for bright color. But also the stumps and
pine cones that came from the forest.'

'Materials that are pure are always my preference. My
grower-friends in Boskoop have great Pinus species in addition to beautiful Cryptomeria. They also save old roots for me. And the Ilex grower keeps crooked and bent branches especially for me. I always drive away from there super happy again with wonderful materials!'

"The trend I see is a growing appreciation for nature and simplicity, with soft colors like powder pink, gold, ivory, green and white but also red, orange, hard pink.

'Anything that exudes warmth and coziness'

In September, Chantal Post took gold at the Belgian championships. 'It was quite a tough competition. As Stefan van Berlo's assistant, I had already participated in the European Championships in Poland which is really comparable to the Belgian championships in terms of style: challenging, exciting and full of positive stress.'

'What I like most about a competition like this is the whole creative process - from the genesis of the idea to the full elaboration. I have learned an enormous amount from my own experiments and from the coaching I enjoyed in preparation. Exchanging ideas and experience with internationally renowned florists is incredibly enriching where you get a new and broader vision of the floral world. An opportunity to enrich my own style, develop myself further and delve even deeper into floral design - which now makes me even more passionate about my craft!'

'Christmas means family time. Outside it is cold and dark, and then it is important to bring coziness and warmth into the house. Christmas is also a time of traditions - which have only become more important after Covid. Red and green are more 'in' than ever. As well as gold, copper and natural materials:
anything that radiates warmth and coziness.'

'A little exoticism should not be missing'

Sören Van Laer won the First Mastery Competition of Belgium in September, allowing him to now call himself First Florist of Belgium. 'It is quite an honor to be the first to bear the title of First Florist of Belgium. This title is a real crowning glory of our profession as florists. To be a good florist you not only have to master floral techniques, you also have to be creative, be able to organize and plan well and have business talent
have. Together with my partner Aymeric Chaouche and supported by the team, we have worked hard to achieve this title. I am proud of my team. Together, we will continue to strive to put Belgium on the map in terms of floral art.

In the run-up to Christmas, Atelier Sören Van Laer
invariably organizes a Christmas Open Door. 'Feasting and festive decorating is in our DNA. We love pure natural materials like pine branches, pine cones, pine needles, berries. Classic shapes like wreaths and stars are part of the Christmas tradition, but I also like to experiment with other shapes. Glitter and lights add a festive touch to these creations. A little exoticism should not be missing either. Special
orchids or other exotic flowers and materials.'