My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Any Which Way

7 January 2015

There’s your way

and my way

and our way

and their way

and the other way

and a similar way

and a different way

and a nicer way

and a worse way...

but it’s still only another way

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

Tutorials

7 January 2015

Securing a kenzan

Temporarily adhere a traditional Ikebana Kenzan or pincushion to a shallow container.

7 January 2015

So many ways to use a Kenzan to hold floral materials

How to place various sizes of plant material in a Kenzan

16 August 2011

Cut spiked flower stems and foliage into short sections

Orchids grow in long flower spikes. It is great to use the entire stem but sometimes you need shorter section. There is a trick to cutting the stems without leaving a visible blunt stem.

8 October 2014

Replacing water in a shallow container design without disturbing the design elements

Our goal as designers is to create the best environment for our flowers to stay as beautiful and fresh for as long as possible. When we condition flowers we always remove any leaves that will fall below the waterline of the design to prevent the leaves from deteriorating and rotting. Decaying leaves encourages bacterial growth which plugs the vascular system of the flower stems preventing water uptake.

22 May 2012

Filling a vase with water without disturbing the design details

Break the water flow when you fill a vase with details in that can move with the stream of water

14 January 2011

Ripping Flax

Flax can be ripped into fibres creating long and versatile strips

22 May 2012

Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.

30 July 2025

Grass and orchid octopus for a beachy summer display

A spotted Phaleoctopi (not true) in a pebble beach design mechanic (absolutely true) summer display.

25 June 2025

A rock solid support for long stemmed Lupine foliage, an absolutely not So-so Bletilla orchid and jasmine vine

Minimal but oh so remarkable! Easy way to support long thin stems exactly how you want them to create a tropical looking summer design.

6 September 2023

Peg Sunflowers and Quaking Grass in a Kenzan

An old trick... but still a great one to support thin stems in the needles of a Kenzan.

20 July 2022

Breezy lily grass ripple

A radiating design that has the freedom of movement to add a bit of a cooling effect on the warmer days of summer.

25 May 2022

Give a single upright bleeding heart flower a view through a leafy hole

Flair open a leathery leaf to craft a frame a single bleeding heart flower on its long stem.

14 April 2021

Fuzzy Willow Caterpillar in a buttercup and jasmine vine swirl

As in… Pussy willow catkins caterpillar… that is super fuzzy.

17 April 2019

Cross cut Spring Twig Armature

Give a sturdy twig a cut to stay put in your Spring design.

17 January 2018

Creating contrasts in shallow containers with pebbles and water

Such a peaceful design with just enough float and "stay put" elements

15 November 2017

Kenzan leaf rack

Line and position pretty autumn leaves.

1 June 2016

Binding a lily bud

Binding the bud to let it open in an exaggerated trumpet shape

Related Designs

30 July 2025

Staycation

Oh yes, here it is the warmest days of summer... water... pebbles and a few pretty flowers.

25 June 2025

So not so So-so after all

An island holiday (with a beach umbrella, don't you think?) floral display that celebrate a clutter free summer.

6 September 2023

Mother Nature’s little magic to let us know Autumn is near

It's the little sun-washed coloured hints that makes you look again to see if you really saw what you thought you saw... yes! There really are signs of autumn everywhere!