Christmas is a-coming and yes, we know that the geese are getting fat, and the old man no longer wants a penny but a few dollar notes in his hat. And on lives the traditions of the Christmas season: the decorations, the mistletoe, and the centrepiece of it all, the Christmas Tree, real or faux, which is the magic wand that announces that Christmas is really here.

As a lover of tradition and ceremony, I love all that is sacred and dear about the season. However, once in a while, the designer in me takes over and the reality of the expenses adds up and I have to sometimes find alternative decorations and ideas of the budget kind without going full Scrooge.

While doing a decorating project for a 70s-themed party recently there was a mirror already on the wall and the client had a box of plastic flowers left over from another project.

Readers of my column know how I feel about plastic flowers especially in a tropical island, but alas, I have finally found the perfect place for them outside of swatting flies or as dust collectors.

Using the existing mirror as my frame I stuck the flowers all over the metal frame balancing the colour scheme on either side to create a cohesive look, working with the 70s disco theme, I used the flowers to form the outline of an afro, then filled in the empty spaces with copious amounts of flowers using a single orchid as an accent, as if pinning a flower in the afro.

To give it some life and form I used a coloured pencil to draw the eyes and brows and red lipstick to paint in the lips.

An alternative to getting a similar effect without a mirror is to use chicken-coop mesh wire (with small holes) and cut into whatever shape you desire.

Push the flower stems through the holes and hold in place with fine binding wire. There is no limit to the sizes, shapes or colours that can be made. You can even cut the wire in the shape of a Christmas Tree, add lights, ornaments and hang it on the wall and place your gifts in front, on the floor.

In my books some traditions can be allowed artistic licence, and Christmas can indeed still be Christmas with the addition of personal touches, as long as you don’t mess with the sorrel, the Christmas cake, Santa coming down the chimney, the elves, the egg nog, my gifts and, for heaven’s sake, can I move from the naughty to the nice list this year?… Please!