My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Almost is still not quite

It’s already in the air

the slightest hints...

just a drop or two… of yellow, and red and rust

and tendrils

and pumpkins

but not quite... orange and brown and spice

and the smell of apples and toffee

almost …

but not quite.

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Tutorials
Twirl a ripped Phormium pumpkin pod
23 August 2017
Twirl a ripped Phormium pumpkin pod

Rip the New Zealand flax to create a delicate fiber armature
Ripping Flax
14 January 2011
Ripping Flax

Flax can be ripped into fibres creating long and versatile strips
Weaving a ring basket
4 June 2014
Weaving a ring basket

Create a wire frame and weave ripped foliage around it
Foliage doughnut corsage with a hidden Boutstix Floral Magnet
26 March 2014
Foliage doughnut corsage with a hidden Boutstix Floral Magnet

Wrap a foliage circle to9 create a base for a magnetized corsage
Messy summer floral nest
3 July 2013
Messy summer floral nest

Wrap and weave and twirl and dangle foliage to create a spiral nest
Weaving a pod shape from ripped foliage
16 May 2013
Weaving a pod shape from ripped foliage

Weave a pod shape armature
Ripped Foliage Mesh
27 February 2013
Ripped Foliage Mesh

Create a delicate mesh over the design
Ripped Grass Frame
6 November 2012
Ripped Grass Frame

Create a sheltered or veiled design by framing the outer edge of your armature (in this case thick cardboard) with long strands of grass
Mikado Reed drop shaped nest
16 May 2012
Mikado Reed drop shaped nest

A sturdy shape made by binding Mikado reeds keeps the thin strands of flax in place.
Making a parasol
19 October 2011
Making a parasol

I glued wooden slats into a frame and then wove flax string to create the floral parasol
Swing ripped foliage over a mop-head of hydrangeas to follow the natural curve
15 June 2022
Swing ripped foliage over a mop-head of hydrangeas to follow the natural curve

Gently curve ripped foliage over flowers to add a cooling movement to a minimal summer design.
Budding winter twigs with a fluffy fairy light garland
12 January 2022
Budding winter twigs with a fluffy fairy light garland

Snowfall twigs with a light glow garland for a minimal winter display
Knot a delicate hammock from ripped foliage
21 July 2021
Knot a delicate hammock from ripped foliage

Light and airy addition to a floral design to celebrate summer
Not quite a wreath, not quite a basket armature
16 October 2019
Not quite a wreath, not quite a basket armature

Easy to weave design that can hold your prettiest autumn design treasures.
Curl tinsel
24 December 2018
Curl tinsel

Gently pull the tinsel over a blade to curl
Ripped Flax Mittens
7 November 2018
Ripped Flax Mittens

Knot delicate floral mittens from flax.
Bundled Phormium with a secret water source
20 June 2018
Bundled Phormium with a secret water source

Rip Phormium to create a freestanding bundle armature design.
Related Designs
All white, just not quite
4 June 2014
All white, just not quite

My article and woven ring basket design featured in the summer issue of DIY Weddings Magazine
Natural, naturally
16 May 2013
Natural, naturally

Weave a armature to rest a lily on
In one basket
27 March 2013
In one basket

Weave a nest for an Easter design
Mr. Stalk, the Seriously Terrifying Scarecrow, on his Day Off
6 November 2012
Mr. Stalk, the Seriously Terrifying Scarecrow, on his Day Off

An easy going design of ripped grass and calla lilies. But look a bit closer. See if you can find Mr. Stalk relaxing somewhere between the blades of grass.
Tying the knot and loosening those curls
18 September 2012
Tying the knot and loosening those curls

Romantic rose centerpiece with just a bit of an edge featured in the DIY Wedding Magazine
Tying the knot
10 September 2012
Tying the knot

Gypsophilla design with Celtic love knots featured in the DIY Wedding Magazine
On the first warm day in May
16 May 2012
On the first warm day in May

A ripped flax, Ranunculus and Mikado Reed drop shaped nest
In an Oriental Manner
19 October 2011
In an Oriental Manner

I wanted my parasol design to be thoroughly me, and thoroughly contemporary yet respectful of the guiding rules and methods shared by the different schools of Ikebana.
SHAPE
18 March 2011
SHAPE

Chrysanthemum Hourglass
Red, Redder, Reddest!
4 December 2013
Red, Redder, Reddest!

My article and flower girl net basket design featured in the Red! issue of DIY Weddings Magazine
Tape and Wrap
6 May 2015
Tape and Wrap

Design Two from my Inspiration Video: Use the same floral ingredients, willow twigs, Lichen, Spanish Moss, Kalanchoe and Gypsophila to make three distinctly different contemporary corsages
Stacking the odds in your favour
2 December 2015
Stacking the odds in your favour

Cover a wire frame for a winter kissing bough.
Christmas Waves
16 December 2015
Christmas Waves

Twist a Kalanchoe and Ivy vine Christmas tree mobile
In a nutshell
19 April 2012
In a nutshell

Sunday April 22 is Earth day and a tiny floral fridge magnet is a wonderful reminder of just how beautiful our planet is.
Encased
13 May 2015
Encased

Design Three from my Inspiration Video: Use the same floral ingredients, willow twigs, Lichen, Spanish Moss, Kalanchoe and Gypsophila to make three distinctly different contemporary corsages
Layer
30 April 2015
Layer

Design One from my Inspiration Video: Use the same floral ingredients, willow twigs, Lichen, Spanish Moss, Kalanchoe and Gypsophila to make three distinctly different contemporary corsages
Floral Hurricane
21 June 2023
Floral Hurricane

My Floral Hurricane design entry for the BC Floral Art Society mini show competition
Take a swing at it
15 June 2022
Take a swing at it

A cooling design for early summer days with swinging ripped grass and more than enough water for thirsty hydrangeas.
All That Potential
12 January 2022
All That Potential

Softly glowing winter twigs for a minimal display
High-Strung
21 July 2021
High-Strung

String up a tiny hammock for a dreamy summer vacation design
Center Peace
16 October 2019
Center Peace

A visual breather from all the bright and festive designs to come when designing for Autumn.
Grab your party mittens, flower buds… it’s Book Launch Day!
7 November 2018
Grab your party mittens, flower buds… it’s Book Launch Day!

Celebrating my book launch by knotting floral mittens using the design Tutorial from my book and the template from the free gift template booklet.
A Bundle of Pretty
20 June 2018
A Bundle of Pretty

A dried bundle of ripped flax hides a secret water source for the orchids
Swing Vine
18 April 2018
Swing Vine

Weave a delicate vine swing to nestle a small vase with spring flowers in
Favourite Flowers
Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe 'Calandiva Pink' flowers arranged in my tiny fridge magnet for my In a nutshell design
Phormium
Phormium

Flax Christmas tree "cake" for the Floral Trends Design Group end of the year function. "On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... two turtle doves"