My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Availability of plant material shows in your design style



Book launch gift: Download your free template booklet You will find the template for this week's design (and 16 other design tempates)

My book launch demonstration was hosted by my flower-buddies from the Capilano Flower Arranging Club. We looked at what influences our own effortless style... that "thing" that makes good floral art great. This is the last of my 4 demonstration designs I did for my book launch at the Capilano Flower Arranging Club. To read and see more pictures of the demonstration: The effortless floral craftsman, a floral crafter's guide to crafting with nature Book Launch Demonstration

Availability of plant material shows in your design style floral art design

It is so easy to find examples of how the availability of plant material in your area shows up in your design style.

Floral chandelier

You can clearly see examples of this just by looking at the design elements I use.

... two examples:

Vine wreath chandelier

I would often use a spectacular flower find and combine it with staples I already have in my design room ...

... such as gorgeous dried tendril filled vine wreaths (easy to find in Vancouver, where a fresh vine wreath is an almost never find)

Chandelier flower arrangement with rosary vine

... and then add a few stems of my much treasured rosary vine (we rarely find cut flower vines for sale in Vancouver).

The rosary plant Ceropegia woodii I design with has been my friend for more than 7 years!

Oncidium orchid vine chandelier floral design

Every design you see me using rosary vine is from the exact same plant.

Floral art chandelier

I usually root a few vines in preparation for demonstrations so that I can hand out the succulents to members in the audience who wants to grow their own.

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

Tutorials

27 November 2012 Winter Woodland Chandelier

Wrap vines and twigs around a wire frame to create a decorative woodland chandelier

19 February 2013 Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening

Most stems, twigs and even sturdier branches can be bend into shapes. It takes practice and more than a bit of patience. The main idea is to slowly manipulate the branch without...

3 January 2011 Syringe with tube

Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase

8 July 2015 Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals

It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

14 June 2017 Hanging Bamboo Lantern

This is a perfect do-ahead-of-time hanging design for a summer wedding. Craft one or three or a whole lot of the lanterns and add some orchids at the last moment to finish the...

4 December 2012 Twig Lanterns

Wire short twigs around wire rings to create rustic flameless tea-light lanterns

15 December 2011 Spiral wire support pressed into a candle

The wire spirals are supported on wire sections pressed into the wax

Favourite Flowers

Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"

Curly Willow, Chinese Willow, Tortured Willow, Globe Willow, Dragon's Claw, Hankow Willow

Oncidium

Dancing lady

Related Designs

21 November 2018 The effortless floral craftsman, a floral crafter's guide to crafting with nature Book Launch Demonstration

My book launch demonstration was hosted by my flower-buddies from the Capilano Flower Arranging Club. We looked at what influences our own effortless style... that "thing" that...

24 November 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most... Glowing-est Patina Christmas of all!

This is the first of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. We will explore how to patina Copper and use it to...

24 January 2024 I mean… really!?!

Using fresh twigs to bind a little twig platform to suspend the beautiful orchids from.

27 November 2012 The glories of Christmases long, long ago…

Weave a wire and twig Christmas chandelier

14 June 2017 Things are looking up!

My article and Bamboo Lantern design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

4 December 2012 'Tis the Season

My article looking at contrasts and 6 winter lantern designs featured in the DIY Wedding Magazine

15 December 2011 Rocking around Three Candle Trees

Wire spirals twisted around candles to make small Christmas trees for the Christmas Eve dinner table

17 April 2013 Hide-and-go-peek

Create a soft light by making a leaf cocoon for a flameless candle

19 September 2018 Before I show you my book- let me show you my book

… and why we call this the special craftsmanship edition