My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Crafting

This is the second 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

It is often...

at

these places

where

your interests overlap

that innovation happens.

Crafting is part of my creative journey and became part of my floral art style.

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Tutorials
Crafting a stripped bark and sisal armature
28 November 2018
Crafting a stripped bark and sisal armature

Make a free standing armature with three water tubes for fresh flowers.
Stripping bark from willow sticks
8 June 2016
Stripping bark from willow sticks

Strip the green bark from the stems to expose the smooth wood
Stripping foliage from weaving stems
11 February 2015
Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with
The Three legged trick for Upright Constructions
7 September 2012
The Three legged trick for Upright Constructions

When in doubt, always give your armature three legs. Two legs are simply not enough and four legs will wobble if it is even slightly off balance.
Palm leaf Hopper-flies (grasshoppers and butterflies)
5 January 2011
Palm leaf Hopper-flies (grasshoppers and butterflies)

Weave grasshoppers or butterflies (or fireflies) from palm leaves
Willow Paddle
25 October 2017
Willow Paddle

Weave willow between the fork in a twig to create a paddle like armature
Willow Heart Wand
11 February 2015
Willow Heart Wand
Willow Parasol
16 March 2016
Willow Parasol

Weave willow stems into a decorative parasol
Free standing Willow twig armature with a hidden water source
20 April 2016
Free standing Willow twig armature with a hidden water source

Cut a few willow twigs to split to create legs for the armature
Hanging Willow Nest
3 August 2016
Hanging Willow Nest

Bend and weave a nest shape from fresh willow stems
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.
Grasshopper Blossom branches
15 March 2023
Grasshopper Blossom branches

Just for fun add a few pollinators to your Spring blossom design
Related Designs
When the pretty eyeballs you back!
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...
Love Spell
11 February 2015
Love Spell

Weave willow to create a heart shaped wand design
Creative Expectations
16 March 2016
Creative Expectations

My article and a floral parasol design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
That Will Be
20 April 2016
That Will Be

Freestanding willow twig armature design
Practice
3 August 2016
Practice

Weave a willow bird nest
Bring in some of the magic of summer rain
7 August 2024
Bring in some of the magic of summer rain

Design drops of grass to dangle down a hydrangea flower for an effortless summer floral display.
Hop… Lots!
15 March 2023
Hop… Lots!

Beautiful blossoms don’t NEED much to make it into a lovely design. But the start of Spring might just inspire you to add a bit much… just because it makes you happy.
Favourite Flowers
Zantedeschia
Zantedeschia

Calla lilies in my Direct Contrast design for the Floral Trends Design Group
Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"
Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"

I wove three willow spheres for my Floral Art design Three Drops of floral chocolate.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea

Dried and fresh hydrangeas with sticks and bark