My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

How to make a stack of just enough:

You take an average stack...

take away those that would be too much...

take away any that are too many...

… and if there were none it would be too few

… and too little would also not do

… and what you have left is a stack of just enough.

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Tutorials
Stack two glass vases to keep a leaf upright in water
24 January 2018
Stack two glass vases to keep a leaf upright in water

Slip a leaf into the gap between two glass containers to keep it upright... and add a plastic lining to support the flowers nestled into it.
Placing orchids in test tubes
25 August 2011
Placing orchids in test tubes

Cut the Phalaenopsis orchid with a bit of green stem attached. This will make them last longer.
Three Tier Wire Ring Chandelier
29 March 2017
Three Tier Wire Ring Chandelier

Bend and weave three wire wreaths to string up as an air plant chandelier
Flat wire and grass bridal basket
7 December 2016
Flat wire and grass bridal basket

Wrap grass around a flat wire shape to create a delicate bridal basket design
Spiral wire support pressed into a candle
15 December 2011
Spiral wire support pressed into a candle

The wire spirals are supported on wire sections pressed into the wax
Paperback Book Pumpkin
14 October 2013
Paperback Book Pumpkin

Cut and stain paperback books to make a pumpkin armature
Magnetic grass bubbles to reposition under water
7 October 2015
Magnetic grass bubbles to reposition under water

When suspending items under water it is convenient to add a tiny magnet so that you can reposition it if the water distorts the lines of your design
Prevent scratches, rust and water stains on display surfaces
17 July 2012
Prevent scratches, rust and water stains on display surfaces

This is a great, non permanent way to protect surfaces from damage
Suspending and positioning a Phalaenopsis orchid under water
30 August 2011
Suspending and positioning a Phalaenopsis orchid under water

Flowers naturally float and you will need some kind of sinker to keep them suspended under water.
Standing a water tube at an angle in lumber
30 August 2017
Standing a water tube at an angle in lumber

Create a minimal design by placing a single flower on a platform
Lightly sprinkled foliage frog
12 February 2014
Lightly sprinkled foliage frog

Light as air ripped foliage flower frog
Skewered Eucalyptus leaf line-up armature
10 May 2017
Skewered Eucalyptus leaf line-up armature

Thread leaves through wire
Syringe with tube
3 January 2011
Syringe with tube

Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase
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.
Melt plastic Soda Bottles into the "water" shapes
29 January 2011
Melt plastic Soda Bottles into the "water" shapes

Heat makes the plastic distort creating fantastic shapes
Straight up and down icicle, clematis vine and huckleberry twig double vase winter display
29 January 2025
Straight up and down icicle, clematis vine and huckleberry twig double vase winter display

Give an old mechanic a contemporary twist for creating light and airy flower displays.
Pinching vines in place with almost alike but perfectly unique double vases and twig peg
23 July 2024
Pinching vines in place with almost alike but perfectly unique double vases and twig peg

The tiniest twig peg keep the vines from spilling out of the minimal double vase display.
Creating a perfectly flat leafy surface... with a few gaps to fit some flowers
3 July 2024
Creating a perfectly flat leafy surface... with a few gaps to fit some flowers

Shady leaf fenestration raft for easy summer designing
Tendril support to anchor a floating vase (and its ginormous bubble) in place
17 April 2024
Tendril support to anchor a floating vase (and its ginormous bubble) in place

Trap a bubble between two shallow containers to float clematis flowers for Spring.
Fold a crab from grass
14 June 2023
Fold a crab from grass

A fun coastal touch for your design... a woven crab.
Double vase Snow Glow Winter Centerpiece
5 January 2022
Double vase Snow Glow Winter Centerpiece

Add warmth to a space with a softly glowing winter white arrangement
Dried twig collar in a double vase display for gravity sensitive flowers
11 August 2021
Dried twig collar in a double vase display for gravity sensitive flowers

Putting the focus on the flowers with an ever changing design.
Two leaf lining your container to shelter your orchids
2 June 2021
Two leaf lining your container to shelter your orchids

Create a shallow puddle in a larger container to keep your flowers in place.
Upside down and on it’s side glass display that plays with natural balance
12 August 2020
Upside down and on it’s side glass display that plays with natural balance

Utilizing those not so obvious characteristics of your design details to make a minimal clear glass summer floral design.
Leaf-puddle for a short stem in a big vase
8 January 2020
Leaf-puddle for a short stem in a big vase

Add a leaf to a large-ish vase to create a small puddle of water for your short flower stem to rest in.
Stacked bowl floral display
20 February 2019
Stacked bowl floral display

Create a foam free stacked design by slipping flowers between stacked bowls.
Designing with refraction
11 April 2018
Designing with refraction

Only a few stems create an impressive display if you allow the water to design with you.
Pick up any bits of plant material floating in the water
11 April 2018
Pick up any bits of plant material floating in the water

Use a wet brush to lift any tiny bits of plant material floating on and in the water to keep your container clear.
Related Designs
The last Vine Wreath
20 January 2011
The last Vine Wreath

Every designer knows how to stretch their supplies. We use and re-use our dried plant material until our fellow designers feel like hiding it from us. I formed such an attachment to my vine wreaths. This post features four designs using the same wreaths.
Hang on!
14 September 2016
Hang on!

Macrame inspired handing seahorse vases
A Twirl
29 March 2017
A Twirl

Suspend a wire chandelier design to twirl
Let's hang out
31 May 2017
Let's hang out

Skewer some Eucalyptus to suspend between the orchids
Oh! So clever
7 December 2016
Oh! So clever

My article and Bridal basket design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
Just So
25 February 2015
Just So

Twirl a few willow twigs to create a balanced armature to display orchids
Rocking around Three Candle Trees
15 December 2011
Rocking around Three Candle Trees

Wire spirals twisted around candles to make small Christmas trees for the Christmas Eve dinner table
All To Myself
14 October 2013
All To Myself

Cut and stain old books to create a paperback nook pumpkin armature
Swimmingly
6 February 2013
Swimmingly

Fold a grass fish for an easy going underwater design detail
Down-bubble
7 October 2015
Down-bubble

Add grass "bubbles" that can be repositioned to your design
Ichi-go, ichi-e
30 August 2011
Ichi-go, ichi-e

Freely translated it means Each Moment, Only Once. It is a saying associated with Japanese tea ceremonies.
If
30 August 2017
If

Place a water tube at an angle in lumber so that the Zantedeschia float just above the base to show off the delicate grass snippets scattered up the stem
Easy does it
12 February 2014
Easy does it

Rip foliage to sprinkle as a light as air flower frog
About a line
10 May 2017
About a line

Skewer and line up leaves to create an armature
Pour
11 May 2016
Pour

Glue a twig vase and melt some plastic to create a tumbling design
Alrighty then
29 January 2025
Alrighty then

A fragrant spring display... but make it still look like winter
Just... the Most
24 July 2024
Just... the Most

Perfect for summer designing with some space for the vines to continue to grow in your design.
Oh! my word
3 July 2024
Oh! my word

A perfectly flat leaf to support tiny floral details in the summer heat.
In The Time it Takes To Listen To Learn
17 April 2024
In The Time it Takes To Listen To Learn

Ideal design for those flowers that needs a deep soak to remain hydrated.
Because I am beautiful!
14 June 2023
Because I am beautiful!

It deserves a bowl all of it's own... right? I am (of course!) talking about these spectacular little sweet peas called King Tut. Not much else is needed. But add a cute little crab and you have a bowl filled with summer.
Slow Glow
5 January 2022
Slow Glow

A slow but glowing start to the New Year and the new design season
A bit Special... four dimensional designing
11 August 2021
A bit Special... four dimensional designing

Using that little something that is unusual about your flower to make the design stand out.
Like an open book
2 June 2021
Like an open book

Position foliage to create a smaller, shallow pond for your floral details to shelter in.
A lesson in letting be
12 August 2020
A lesson in letting be

Deceptively simple. A design that relies on you working with not against what is already there.
Rest a bit here
8 January 2020
Rest a bit here

Gently curve a shallow area with a leaf to showcase a gorgeous flower with a short stem in a water filled vase
Inna...
20 February 2019
Inna...

Stack bowls to keep your flower stems in place.
Follow the line
11 April 2018
Follow the line

Stack a few glass containers and fill each with water to a different level.
Favourite Flowers
Cymbidium
Cymbidium

Cymbidium orchids for my Designing your way to profits article that was featured in the Canadian Florist Magazine
Tillandsia Usneoides
Tillandsia Usneoides

Detail of my Stringing in the Rain design with Spanish moss, wool, hydrangeas and lilies.