My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Brewing some inspiration

Inspiration doesn’t just happen.

Soaked willow plait for a foam free flower frog

You have to brew some.

Fresh willow plaited flower frog for sustainable floral designing

Very much, like coffee

Use willow to position your flowers in a sustainable waste free flower arrangement

You need to look around for some raw magic beans (… that suits your taste)

Minimal floral styling harvested in your own garden

and let them roast for a while

Plait willow to craft a flower frog for waste free and no floral foam flower arrangements

and grind them up in particles tiny enough so that when you pour your hot water of experience over it, it can extract the flavour.

Creative flower arranging ideas with flowers from your own garden

Next you filter it through what is so uniquely you, to catch it drop by drop…

Easy way to style flowers for a soft minimal space

and compost what is not.

How to make a flower arrangement with a few stems of flowers

And then… flower buddies you have a cup of freshly brewed inspiration to make with it what you want.

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

Tutorials

2 October 2024 A green plaited willow way-over for small flower details

Here it is: the first of my first autumn harvest of willow from my willow coppice I am growing in my balcony garden. It is working spectacularly well!

11 February 2015 Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with

25 April 2012 A plait, a braid or a French knot grass collar

"Plaid" and "braid" are synonyms, and where you are from will most likely dictate whether you use plait (British) or braid (American or Celtic). Some people also refer to...

29 August 2018 Coil slip on sandals

Braid ripped flax and coil it into shaped slip on sandals.

18 April 2018 Clematis Vine Swing

Weave a delicate nest for a small spring design.

3 May 2017 Three Twig Bundle Braid

Braid bundles of twigs to create an armature for flowers to dance in

3 August 2016 Hanging Willow Nest

Bend and weave a nest shape from fresh willow stems

7 September 2016 Willow flower crown

Loosely weave willow tips to create an ethereal crown

16 March 2016 Willow Parasol

Weave willow stems into a decorative parasol

11 February 2015 Willow Heart Wand

8 July 2015 Overgrown Willow web inspired by a traditional Dream-catcher

I wanted my willow armature to hint of a web-like dreamcatcher that grows in the wild rather than being a precise replica of the traditional craft technique. But I did weave it...

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.

1 May 2013 Weaving a Straight Edged Strip

A beautiful woven strip that is quite easy to make

19 April 2023 Willow and Vine tiny stem Gathering Basket

Tiny stems are often also delicate stems... place your cut flowers directly in a small glass of water. A perfect fit for this basket.

25 October 2017 Willow Paddle

Weave willow between the fork in a twig to create a paddle like armature

Favourite Flowers

Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"

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

Related Designs

18 April 2018 Swing Vine

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

3 May 2017 Oh just...

Braid a few twigs to dance around your flowers

13 September 2017 Around again

Tape a grid at the edge of a container

24 April 2012 Words Matter.

Braiding and plaiting and knotting hair is a huge trend in hairdressing at the moment. Intricate little plaits are draped over long flowing hair to add complexity and quirk. ...

29 August 2018 It’s not that it is inexpensive… it’s priceless!

Yes, this Coil slip on sandals design is in my book: the effortless floral craftsman, a floral crafter’s guide to crafting with nature ... it is also the first design from the...

22 July 2020 Step It Up

Dress up a pair of hand coiled flip-flops with succulents.

3 August 2016 Practice

Weave a willow bird nest

7 September 2016 You are all invited!

My article and Willow Crown design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

16 March 2016 Creative Expectations

My article and a floral parasol design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

11 February 2015 Love Spell

Weave willow to create a heart shaped wand design

8 July 2015 How To Catch A Dream

Take inspiration from a traditional Dream-catcher design to create a floral armature

19 April 2023 Short Cut

A tiny carry basket to gather the shortest stems from your cutting garden... with a place for water and your cutters.