My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Drops do that!

18 October 2023
and more

Let me see… now what was it…

A pinch of stumble?

A smidgen of tumble?

A sprinkle of topple…?

A dash of keel over?

A splash of… taking a splash?

Nope, this smile is brought to you by all these Drops of Fall after a long and dry summer.

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Gather what you'll need

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Dew-Drop Crystals

I created the Tutorial for how I add these crystals to my floral designs 11 years ago! Since then I have tried, tested and searched for the perfect crystals that would go from studio‑table picture perfect to show‑day‑dependable and I always come back to these. They remain the absolute best. They’re inexpensive yet have a refined, high‑quality crystal brilliance; they don’t tarnish and their adhesive backing stays reliably tacky even after they were exposed to water.

Tutorials

18 October 2023

U shape stems to anchor Fuchsia drops and Maple leaf Falls in a bud vase

Bend pliable stems to kick against the side to anchor design details exactly in place in a small vase.

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.

21 September 2022

Counterbalance elegantly leaning Calla lilies with dressed up Dried Autumn Details

Using those much treasured dried autumn details to bridge the gap between the bright green of summer and the brightness that is yet to come.

29 November 2017

Autumn Screen

Craft a hanging twig and autumn leaf design

2 May 2018

Radiating rainbow vine armature

Design an armature that is light enough to be carried by two flower stems to create a radiating frame.

26 October 2016

Folded Bleached Baby’s Breath Wreath Armature

Glued Baby's Breath Wreath, folded in half to create a moon shaped armature

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!

28 January 2015

Well Rooted Sprouting Willow Weave

Weave a sprouting armature

16 May 2018

Adjusting the curve in plant material

It is possible to curve or adjust a curve in plant material

11 September 2019

Weave a small wreath in the side twig of a willow branch to keep a flower in place in your design

This is both a decorative and functional design solution. But most importantly, I think, there is absolutely zero waste.

15 February 2023

Blossom Twig Heart Frame… with a twist in the middle

Curve and tie a blossoming twig into a heart... that can suspend a heavy flower head.

5 November 2025

Barely there twig layer support to allow all the autumn colours to shine and glow

Snip Autumn bits from your garden to arrange in and around a glass container for a modern loose, layered display.

25 September 2024

Slip-slit tapped in stems to keep vines upright in a muted autumn display

A tiny adjustment in a stem wedged into a vase mechanic to give you even more control over the placement of design details.

Related Designs

30 July 2014

See you around

Weave a few spheres to create a simple design

21 September 2022

Balanced Attitude

Getting the balance just so... so that you lean into the first sights of Autumn.

29 November 2017

Marcescent

Glue a delicate autumn room devider

2 May 2018

Over the rainbow

Craft a radiating design that suspends from the orchid stems

26 October 2016

Harvest Moon

Fold a fine twig wreath in half to create a moon shaped armature

4 October 2023

So Into Fall

Keep you fresh plant material hydrated in water... and your dried plant material suspended to keep it from falling into the water.

28 January 2015

In a State of Flow

weave some willow to use as an armature

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...