Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
a Yay! You
- 14 April 2021
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![a Yay! You flower arrangement by Christine de Beer a Yay! You flower arrangement by Christine de Beer](/images/2021/04/a-yay-you-flower-arrangement-by-christine-de-beer-p.jpg?inside=600x600)
There’s so much going on (and recently a flower shortage sprinkled on top of it all) it can easily feel like making something pretty is swimming against the stream.
![Buttercup and pussy willow flower arrangement Buttercup and pussy willow flower arrangement](/images/2021/04/buttercup-and-pussy-willow-flower-arrangement-p.jpg?inside=600x600)
How to remain inspired and keep improving your craft?
![Fuzzy pussy willow caterpillar Fuzzy pussy willow caterpillar](/images/2021/04/fuzzy-pussy-willow-caterpillar-p.jpg?inside=600x600)
Be kind.
![Adding personality to your flower arrangements Adding personality to your flower arrangements](/images/2021/04/adding-personality-to-your-flower-arrangements-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
My strategy is to give myself a break.
![Sustainable Spring floral design using minimal flowers Sustainable Spring floral design using minimal flowers](/images/2021/04/sustainable-spring-floral-design-using-minimal-flowers-p.jpg?inside=600x600)
When things get tough I take a step back and see it as my time to revisit my absolute favourite ideas to find how I can make it just a little bit better.
![Contrast in flower arrangements Contrast in flower arrangements](/images/2021/04/contrast-in-flower-arrangements-p.jpg?inside=600x600)
This way I am halfway there even before I begin to design!
![Using a kenzan in contemporary zero waste no floral foam flower arrangements Using a kenzan in contemporary zero waste no floral foam flower arrangements](/images/2021/04/using-a-kenzan-in-contemporary-zero-waste-no-floral-foam-flower-arrangements-p.jpg?inside=600x600)
It is absolutely possible to keep your creative enthusiasm alive because you are inspired by the things you naturally gravitate to and already love to create.
![Original flower arranging tutorials Original flower arranging tutorials](/images/2021/04/original-flower-arranging-tutorials-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
And there it is… before you know it you’ve made something pretty with what you’ve got left… yay YOU!
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Tutorials
As in… Pussy willow catkins caterpillar… that is super fuzzy.
Temporarily adhere a traditional Ikebana Kenzan or pincushion to a shallow container.
It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
Curl the wire at irregular intervals to create a natural wire tendril similar to that of a passion fruit plant
Weave grasshoppers or butterflies (or fireflies) from palm leaves
Craft a pretty little critter by threading dried blossoms onto a wire.
Made from dried cherry twigs and a skeleton leaf.
My Chameleon is mono-botanical. Made from coiled grass
Build up a design in a shallow container by stacking it by threading the plant material into the teeth of a pin cushion in three levels.
Related Designs
Beautiful blossoms don’t NEED much to make it into a lovely design. But the start of Spring might just inspire you to add a bit much… just because it makes you happy.
It deserves a bowl all of it's own... right? I am (of course!) talking about these spectacular little sweet peas called King Tut. Not much else is needed. But add a cute little...
Take a handful of grass... but then add just enough design to make it interesting.
Using a traditional Ikabana Kenzan to place flowers in a shallow container
A twig and stick design with sweet dumpling pumpkins and rosary vine (Ceropegia woodii). I also made a cherry twig and skeleton leaf Stick Insect
The only thing I needed to make these avocado green arums perfect was a small admirer...
Loop a grass veil over a lily stem to create a minimalist summer design.
Dutch floral designer Pim van den Akker, from Flower Factor invited me to participate in a FloraHolland initiative promoting the versatility of Freesias entitled ...
Freestyle Freesia design video for Flower Factor
Cut stems of Gladiolus to place in a radiating summer design.