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Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Dance lessons from the Autumn leaves

  • 6 November 2019
  • and more

First you Sway

Then turn, turn, turn

Half a Tumble and

sweep.

Then swing

Wave, wave, wave...

Shake a

flutter and finish with a

twirl, twirl, twirl

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Tutorials
Dancing fall leaves... on a stick
6 November 2019
Dancing fall leaves... on a stick

Spike fall leaves and water tubes to create a minimal radiating autumn display
Drying leaves to have the exact same curve
6 November 2019
Drying leaves to have the exact same curve

Threat a stack of leaves to dry so that they shrivel and dry up in a similar way.
Test tube on a stick
22 April 2011
Test tube on a stick

Include a single floret (such as an orchid) or bundle a few weaker stems (such as lily of the valley) into an arrangement or hand tie by wiring a test tube to a stick.
Spiny Twig Porcupine Armature
2 October 2013
Spiny Twig Porcupine Armature

Glue a few twigs to display Autumn flowers and foliage on
Stir-stick Sunburst
22 September 2012
Stir-stick Sunburst

Glue a radiating armature from stir-sticks.
Stiffen and set skeletonized leaves into a whirl
22 September 2012
Stiffen and set skeletonized leaves into a whirl

Skeletonized leaves can be shaped while wet to create shapes
A Three level Kenzan skewer stack to Radiate Gladiolus spikes flat in a shallow container
7 August 2019
A Three level Kenzan skewer stack to Radiate Gladiolus spikes flat in a shallow container

Build up a design in a shallow container by stacking it by threading the plant material into the teeth of a pin cushion in three levels.
Taco-shaped twig armature
16 October 2012
Taco-shaped twig armature

Make a half-moon shaped armature to fill with flowers
Cinderella Spiral Pumpkin from Midelino Cane Coils
1 May 2012
Cinderella Spiral Pumpkin from Midelino Cane Coils

Tie Midelino Cane coils to make a spiral armature
Sticks stuck in a ground covered foundation
26 November 2014
Sticks stuck in a ground covered foundation

Glue potting soil to polystyrene to create a natural looking armature
Stabilizing sticks for dried or fresh flowers
10 July 2012
Stabilizing sticks for dried or fresh flowers

Create a full design without the weight by stabilizing the flowers with glued sticks. This is a great alternative to floral foam.
Firethorns join two leaves for an edgy support for a tall flower stem
14 August 2024
Firethorns join two leaves for an edgy support for a tall flower stem

Thorns are a great way to spear (and keep) design details into position.
Traditional book folding craft technique turned into an armature… with a me twist
13 September 2023
Traditional book folding craft technique turned into an armature… with a me twist

Fold a book into a floral armature... with tricks there to keep the floral material hydrated and suspended.
Radiating bunny tails
30 August 2023
Radiating bunny tails

Spear bunny tail grasses into a Kenzan to create a cozy space to display apricot lemonade cosmos flowers.
Related Designs
Prickly
2 October 2013
Prickly

Build a twig porcupine armature for fall flowers
Turning of the leaves
22 September 2012
Turning of the leaves

An Autumn Equinox design that captures the moment before the spectacular colour burst of autumn floats around again
Point Out: this is a single bunch of gladiolus!
7 August 2019
Point Out: this is a single bunch of gladiolus!

Cut stems of Gladiolus to place in a radiating summer design.
Bright, brighter… brightest!
16 October 2012
Bright, brighter… brightest!

Celebrate the bright colours of autumn with lilies and Chinese lanterns
Late Autumn Early Christmas.
26 November 2014
Late Autumn Early Christmas.

Glue a ground foundation for a late autumn design
everything in one
14 August 2024
everything in one

Connect a unit of leaves... and a pretty floppy stem with thorns.
I am a fan!
13 September 2023
I am a fan!

Giving my book a super fan make-over.
Courage, now
30 August 2023
Courage, now

A bit of a rethink as the season is getting ready to change. How can I give my design idea a fresh twist?
Favourite Flowers
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum Design: the Floral Hour glass was made as part of my wax series