My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Cross-hatch a Shadow Bright Autumn

The days

are darker

but on the up-side

the trees are

brighter

This week's newsletter subscriber tip is about pathways for your eyes to follow in a design ... and book readers can find more information about another way I use this trick when I add any kind of critter to my design. See page 368 Do more than you have to in my book the effortless floral craftsman, a floral crafter’s guide to crafting with nature

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Tutorials
Cross hatch Twig Armature
2 October 2019
Cross hatch Twig Armature

Add a bit of shadow and dimension to a flat armature by using the sketch technique of cross hatching.
Drinking straw "test tubes"
4 January 2011
Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.
Drying Physalis sepals
23 March 2012
Drying Physalis sepals

Every Autumn we see the beautiful Physalis pods everywhere but they are easy to dry and preserve to use year round.
Bite and snap a sturdy twig
22 May 2012
Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.
Twig sparkler
12 July 2017
Twig sparkler

Glue twigs to radiate out from a central point
Twig cloud mobile
10 April 2019
Twig cloud mobile

Wire a sturdy cloud shaped armature to hang a heavier water source for thirsty Wisteria flowers.
Winter White Twig Screen
6 February 2019
Winter White Twig Screen

Glue twigs to screen delicate flowers for a wintry design.
Funnel shaped pick-up-sticks armature
30 January 2013
Funnel shaped pick-up-sticks armature

By making a very secure armature, it is possible to stack and suspend loose twigs on top of it building on the stable foundation
Taco-shaped twig armature
16 October 2012
Taco-shaped twig armature

Make a half-moon shaped armature to fill with flowers
Spiny Twig Porcupine Armature
2 October 2013
Spiny Twig Porcupine Armature

Glue a few twigs to display Autumn flowers and foliage on
Twig Shooting Star
29 January 2014
Twig Shooting Star

Wire and glue a twig armature
Stacked Twig Roundabout
24 July 2012
Stacked Twig Roundabout

This is a great way to use all those bits of twigs and sticks in your design room to make a floral armature
A fluffy faded leaf "tail" to display delicate autumn treasures
5 October 2022
A fluffy faded leaf "tail" to display delicate autumn treasures

Threading leaves to craft a long garland armature for an autumn display
Three drop Lantern
28 September 2022
Three drop Lantern

Attach three Physalis pods to drop down in a long lasting Fall design.
Hovering golden wheat Ghost Ship armature
27 October 2021
Hovering golden wheat Ghost Ship armature

Using dry and fresh floral material in one design without the dry becoming soggy and the fresh drying out.
Upright standing besom for the modern witch on the go
20 October 2021
Upright standing besom for the modern witch on the go

Craft a wire tripod to fit into the bristles of a handcrafted broom so that it can stand freely in your display.
Glue soaked stems cheeky angled grid for those first autumn leaves (with a dye soak up tip)
8 September 2021
Glue soaked stems cheeky angled grid for those first autumn leaves (with a dye soak up tip)

A barely there delicate grid to keep your flowers in place.
A contained design for watching those pretty twigs get their leaves
28 April 2021
A contained design for watching those pretty twigs get their leaves

Careful manipulation of twigs in a shallow container. With a special note on how to use new growth.
On the edge grid for a decorative twig and reed armature
14 October 2020
On the edge grid for a decorative twig and reed armature

Place the floral details strategically on the edge of sturdier parts of the armature to keep the reed grid from collapsing under the weight of the floral details.
Related Designs
Sparkler
12 July 2017
Sparkler

A radiating twig design
Just Like Wisteria Rain
10 April 2019
Just Like Wisteria Rain

Craft a ethereal design from twigs and wisteria flowers
Tread softly on winter
6 February 2019
Tread softly on winter

A delicate winter twig armature to show off the delicate beauty of these early spring coloured tulips.
It's stick season!
8 January 2014
It's stick season!

Snap and stack an glue a few twigs to create a lace like armature
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with wire techniques
30 January 2013
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with wire techniques

This was my last two designs for my It's High Time for Tea Floral Craft and Art Demonstration at The Capilano Flower Arranging Club meeting
Pick-Up Sticks
29 September 2011
Pick-Up Sticks

A twig and stick design with sweet dumpling pumpkins and rosary vine (Ceropegia woodii). I also made a cherry twig and skeleton leaf Stick Insect
Bright, brighter… brightest!
16 October 2012
Bright, brighter… brightest!

Celebrate the bright colours of autumn with lilies and Chinese lanterns
Prickly
2 October 2013
Prickly

Build a twig porcupine armature for fall flowers
Glued to stay just so
29 January 2014
Glued to stay just so

Wire and glue a twig armature
A little bit of Art and Soul
24 July 2012
A little bit of Art and Soul

A twig structure with roses
Tail End Of The Season
5 October 2022
Tail End Of The Season

A display armature for a delicate autumn display.
Inside my world
28 September 2022
Inside my world

Cut open a Chinese Lantern to show off that shiny berry inside.
Ship Shape
27 October 2021
Ship Shape

The dry wheat stems are suspended from the outside of the container so that they remain dry and the flower stems can gently rest inside to remain hydrated.
Flying Lessons
20 October 2021
Flying Lessons

An easy get ahead with Halloween decoration that will last.
A good September Soaking
8 September 2021
A good September Soaking

Exploring two soaking techniques for a subtle early autumn design
Stick it out… the creative spirit version
14 October 2020
Stick it out… the creative spirit version

Soft minimal Fall armature making it easy to replace the flowers as the season progress.
Favourite Flowers
Physalis
Physalis

Spiral flowers from Chinese lantern sepals for my Thanksgiving Harvest design.
Alstroemeria
Alstroemeria

Rocking around three candle trees floral art design with berries, dendrobium orchids, alstroemeria, cymbidium orchids and lisianthus flowers