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Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Bring in some of the magic of summer rain

  • 7 August 2024
  • and more

I always think

summer

is my least favourite

of all the seasons…

…until those huge rain drops fall on a hot and sticky August day.

There is something so unbelievably hopeful about watching the quaking grass bow and dance...

after a splash of summer rain.

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Tutorials
Dangling Quaking Grass drops threaded through a hydrangea flower head for support
7 August 2024
Dangling Quaking Grass drops threaded through a hydrangea flower head for support

A quick craft with quaking grass to turn it into dangling droplets.
Drying Hydrangeas: Fast, Flat or Natural
30 May 2012
Drying Hydrangeas: Fast, Flat or Natural

Use all three methods to dry hydrangeas to get three very different textures to use in design work.
Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals
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.
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.
Turn some gladiolus leaves into a pumpkin vase collar
27 September 2023
Turn some gladiolus leaves into a pumpkin vase collar

A collar for a vase that you can use throughout the season... simply replace the water and the flowers inside the vase.
Gypsophila snowball posy
9 November 2011
Gypsophila snowball posy

A Posy made of Gypsophila flowers can look flat. I use a dried Hydrangea or Agapanthus flower head as a flower frog to puff it out
Glued Hydrangea Float
11 July 2018
Glued Hydrangea Float

Glue a delicate hydrangea wreath to float on water
Rock Rest for a heavy Protea Flower Head
31 January 2018
Rock Rest for a heavy Protea Flower Head

Create a contrasting base to lift the heavy flower-head to design in
Glue a Sisal Fiber Bubble
8 May 2013
Glue a Sisal Fiber Bubble

Mix Sisal fibers and glue to make a bubble
Hydrangea pomander with just a hint of pumpkin in its ribbon layered to hide a secret (refillable) water source
15 October 2025
Hydrangea pomander with just a hint of pumpkin in its ribbon layered to hide a secret (refillable) water source

A floral sphere, or kissing ball, a pomander is designed to be hung or carried as decorations for weddings and holidays... especially festive if you can skip the floral foam, right?
Curve a handful of grass to twist into place
8 October 2025
Curve a handful of grass to twist into place

Use two tiny budvases to display a few blades of grass for autumn.
Bark squares, wire and water tubes dangling dangler
11 June 2025
Bark squares, wire and water tubes dangling dangler

A mobile design that is crafted around your plant material.
Related Designs
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.
this NEEDS to be at the top of my (our?) to-do list
27 September 2023
this NEEDS to be at the top of my (our?) to-do list

Autumn bud vase collar made from gladiolus foliage.
Crafting
28 November 2018
Crafting

The second design I did for my book launch demonstration looking at aspects that influences my effortless style of designing.
I am a fan!
13 September 2023
I am a fan!

Giving my book a super fan make-over.
A snowball’s chance
9 November 2011
A snowball’s chance

I designed my posy to be light and feathery but also earthly, like a fresh snowball gathered from a forest floor.
Fall Treasures
9 September 2015
Fall Treasures

A sisal mat armature for fall twigs flowers and leaves
Stay-a-Float
11 July 2018
Stay-a-Float

Snip florets from a hydrangea mop head to float on water
Rock, don't Roll
31 January 2018
Rock, don't Roll

Balance the heavy Protea flower head to lean against a rock.
Half the Fun
25 May 2016
Half the Fun

Cut a cabbage to create a design platform
So happy together
8 May 2013
So happy together

Glue a sisal bubble for a few delicate flowers to rest in
Shine Shade
27 April 2022
Shine Shade

Glue snippets of grass into a double layer sphere to create a sheltered floral globe.
Design.
15 October 2025
Design.

An... almost a pumpkin (don't you think...?) pomander to celebrate Thanksgiving.
Falls in place
8 October 2025
Falls in place

A curve to twirl Autumn floral details through.
Favourite Flowers
Hydrangea
Hydrangea

Dried and fresh hydrangeas with sticks and bark