My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Fall into Christmas

“You blink twice and

the year's gone by

I started thinking, "There's gotta be a reason"

Why would time want to learn to fly?

Gets you quicker to your favorite season!”

Sang by Kermit (and friends) in Letters to Santa

This concludes my series of Soft Transition Designs where I show ideas that are a bit autumny… and a bit Christmassy for this in-between design season. Next week… Christmas Trends!

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Tutorials
Bind Autumn design details and Christmas evergreens around an upturned vase to keep the stem ends hydrated... from Fall to Christmas!
29 November 2023
Bind Autumn design details and Christmas evergreens around an upturned vase to keep the stem ends hydrated... from Fall to Christmas!

A wrap-around-vase to show off new bits of Christmas and the last bits of our autumn treasures.
Weave a grass Christmas tree
23 December 2020
Weave a grass Christmas tree

Easy armature design that is actually quite relaxing to do... plant meditation!
Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals
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.
Roof-tile pumpkin from dried physalis pods
9 November 2022
Roof-tile pumpkin from dried physalis pods

Carefully stack dried physalis berry husks to craft a long lasting pumpkin that you can refresh with fresh flowers and vines.
Wire Tendrils
26 July 2011
Wire Tendrils

Curl the wire at irregular intervals to create a natural wire tendril similar to that of a passion fruit plant
Glued Twig Snippet Wreath
3 September 2014
Glued Twig Snippet Wreath

Small little twigs are glued to create a lace-like wreath
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.
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
Washi paper (Rakusui) split tube
1 July 2015
Washi paper (Rakusui) split tube

Rip up the Washi paper for a lace fine armature for floral art
Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin
27 September 2017
Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin

Reshape a vine wreath into smaller wreaths to combine as a pumpkin
Inside Pod Designing
3 October 2018
Inside Pod Designing

Snip open a Physalis pod to create a cavity for delicate floral details.
Bark pod for growing a Pearl Oyster mushroom mini farm
19 August 2015
Bark pod for growing a Pearl Oyster mushroom mini farm

Glue bark to a Papier Maché and wire frame to create a pod shaped armature
Twig and Tinsel Candy Canes
6 December 2023
Twig and Tinsel Candy Canes

Easy... but it takes a bit of resting time. Perfect for having your hot chocolate while waiting...
Related Designs
Gentle transition
22 November 2023
Gentle transition

There's no need to rush the seasons. Take it slow and enjoy the plant material that are still available even if you are excited about what is to come...
Freeze… just for a moment!
15 November 2023
Freeze… just for a moment!

Not quite winter but also a bit late for autumn design that is somewhere between sparkle and flying leaves.
A warm up
8 November 2023
A warm up

An almost Christmas... Christmas wreath featured in the winter edition of Flora Magazine.
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with veneer techniques
22 January 2013
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with veneer techniques

This was my second two designs for my It's High Time for Tea Floral Craft and Art Demonstration at The Capilano Flower Arranging Club meeting.
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: wired snowball pom pom for a woven grass Christmas tree
23 December 2020
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: wired snowball pom pom for a woven grass Christmas tree

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. Some cardboard to wrap the string around… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered. This week I am making loads of snowball pom poms.
It's a swell time…
12 December 2012
It's a swell time…

An exceptional moment frozen in time… 12:12:12 12/12/12
All Pumpkind Out
9 November 2022
All Pumpkind Out

A physalis husk pumpkin to celebrate the last bright rays of Autumn.
What's done is done
3 September 2014
What's done is done

My article and lace fine wreath design featured in the Autumn issue of DIY Weddings Magazine
Tail End Of The Season
5 October 2022
Tail End Of The Season

A display armature for a delicate autumn display.
At a Stretch
1 July 2015
At a Stretch

Glue a paper tube floral art structure
As tendrils tend to do
27 September 2017
As tendrils tend to do

Curl a wreath with tendrils to create a twig-pumpkin
But what’s inside?
3 October 2018
But what’s inside?

This week we are looking at the contents pages of my book... but more specifically at the sweet little pod design on the content page of my book.
Growth Medium
19 August 2015
Growth Medium

Design a bark and moss pod for a mushroom mini farm
A Jingle Cotton Christmas
28 December 2016
A Jingle Cotton Christmas

Cover a wreath frame with bark and cotton for a textured Christmas wreath design
A Very Merry Dark and Moody and bring it in from the Woods Trendy Christmas Cheer
6 December 2023
A Very Merry Dark and Moody and bring it in from the Woods Trendy Christmas Cheer

From now to a bit after New Year's Eve I will show you my take on the trends for Christmas 2023. This week I start with natural styling with a handcrafted twig candy cane.
Favourite Flowers
Physalis
Physalis

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