My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Center Peace

16 October 2019
click to send Christine a smile
and more

Every year I enthusiastically wait for all those bright autumn colours…

But every year it’s actually the sight of my first Ghost Pumpkin

that fills my minimalist soul with pure joy

… and gives me that moment of peace

I need to recharge my creative spark

For, first the brightest and then the twinkle seasons yet to come.

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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

16 October 2019

Not quite a wreath, not quite a basket armature

Easy to weave design that can hold your prettiest autumn design treasures.

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.

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 breaking it.

18 January 2012

Butterfly hairclip claws to hold twigs in place while glue dries

Butterfly hair clips are the perfect little claws to help you hold tiny items in place while you wait for glue to dry

23 August 2017

Twirl a ripped Phormium pumpkin pod

Rip the New Zealand flax to create a delicate fiber armature

4 June 2014

Weaving a ring basket

Create a wire frame and weave ripped foliage around it

16 May 2013

Weaving a pod shape from ripped foliage

Weave a pod shape armature

19 October 2011

Making a parasol

I glued wooden slats into a frame and then wove flax string to create the floral parasol

25 October 2017

Willow Paddle

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

11 October 2017

Shaping Thanks with wire that has a bit of give

Shape the letters out of wire and then decorate with autumn design elements.

14 May 2025

Use dried roots from a re-potted Monstera to create a root lace-wreath

Every repotting season I struggle with what to do with my overgrown Monstera plant. It absolutely loves hanging out in my design room... so... let's design, Monstera!

26 March 2025

Willow nest roll that continues to grow for a Spring display

This design is meant to be long lasting and ever changing... make now and enjoy all the way to Easter and beyond

8 January 2025

A growing Paperwhite paperweight to secure twirling passion fruit vines under water

This design takes a few weeks to make... but lasts a few weeks longer growing and evolving all on its own.

18 September 2024

Controlled chaos straw and dried foliage armature

Craft a straw covered wire grid to slip over display containers for a foam free floral display that is light and airy... just like it grown in the field.

13 March 2024

Spaced birch bark strip basket

Sturdy and easy to make... a small harvest basket ready for all the Spring flowers still to come.

24 January 2024

Suspend delicate stemmed orchids in a Willow Infinity Weave Flower Frog

Create a little grid that fits the stems exactly to position them above and below water in a large container.

3 October 2023

Keep your fresh plant material hydrated... and your dried plant material from falling into the water with a dried vine armature

Use dried floral details to keep fresh floral details suspended in water and fresh floral details to keep dried floral details from falling into the water… easy!

12 July 2023

Frond Support for short stemmed flowers

Create an all natural fern grid to arrange your flowers for a summer display.

31 August 2022

Suspended, suspended buds in a zig zag grass thread

Suspend flowers in tight bud to slip over a folded and threaded grass grid

4 May 2022

Tendril Tangle Grid

Let tendrils do what they naturally do to help keep your flowers in place.

Related Designs

25 October 2017

When the pretty eyeballs you back!

Barely there skeleton blossoms with Eucalyptus eyes for my Halloween design... Oh! and a Willow Paddle, which probably should have been the main Tutorial... but... well...