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My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

In dribs and drabs

  • 9 September 2026
  • and more

Autumn slowly brews in drips

… and drabs.

as we ease into those tones first of warm milky coffee that's sure

to mature

to a deeper coloured hue

as berry and spice colours twirl on through.

And as the world turns from roasted to all things toasty,

I can happily admit… that for me… well… mostly

this new

“all things oh so cozy” feels right on cue.

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Gather what you'll need

This section contains affiliate links. If you choose to explore any of these tools, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Dew-Drop Crystals
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.
Pin/applicator
Pin/applicator

Yes, they are the classic corsage pins and if you need a pin that will go with anything, this is it. I also use these longer pins as precision applicators. Just, just catch a dew drop crystal on the tip of the corsage pin so that you can barely touch the sticky part to a petal or grass or berry to place without damaging any of the delicate plant material. There is a Tutorial for How-To below
The Effortless Floral Craftsman, a floral crafter's guide to crafting with nature
The Effortless Floral Craftsman, a floral crafter's guide to crafting with nature

For more information about my book (and to read the first 38 pages for free...) here is the shop link.
Tutorials
But because it is a Dahlia 'Café au Lait' … we can have a whip of grass and hint of Autumn to sprinkle on top, right?
9 September 2026
But because it is a Dahlia 'Café au Lait' … we can have a whip of grass and hint of Autumn to sprinkle on top, right?

Sure a classic French café au lait is simply equal parts brewed coffee and steamed milk and not traditionally served with foam, cinnamon, cocoa powder, or sugar on top... but this... is... just as delicious!
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.
Tape a grid around the edges of a container for a table top wreath
13 September 2017
Tape a grid around the edges of a container for a table top wreath

Suspend flowers with an almost invisible taped grid
Canna seed “pumpkins" nestled on a bed of cafe au lait dahlias
13 August 2025
Canna seed “pumpkins" nestled on a bed of cafe au lait dahlias

Lovely canna seedpods that blush just slightly darker than the dusty pink in the dahlias... a perfect match!
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.
Light as air puffy grass and elegantly curved gladiolus summer display that hints at all things pumpkin
21 August 2024
Light as air puffy grass and elegantly curved gladiolus summer display that hints at all things pumpkin

Create two separate containers to minimize clutter in a light and airy floral display.
Basket weave bunny tail grid to catch your floral details
23 August 2023
Basket weave bunny tail grid to catch your floral details

A no waste... but still decorative way to keep your flower in place and hydrated in the warm days of summer.
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.
Ripped Grass Frame
6 November 2012
Ripped Grass Frame

Create a sheltered or veiled design by framing the outer edge of your armature (in this case thick cardboard) with long strands of grass
Use the pull tab of a can to keep your floral details in place
16 August 2023
Use the pull tab of a can to keep your floral details in place

Love anchovies cans. And if you fold over the pull tab just so it is perfect for keeping even longer stem flowers upright.
Turn some gladiolus leaves into a pumpkin vase collar
27 September 2023
Turn some gladiolus leaves into a pumpkin vase collar

A collar for a vase that you can use throughout the season... simply replace the water and the flowers inside the vase.
Skeleton Leaf Flameless Candle Cocoon
17 April 2013
Skeleton Leaf Flameless Candle Cocoon

Cover a balloon with skeleton leaves to create a cocoon
A Spring Sprout Wreath Flower Frog
24 March 2021
A Spring Sprout Wreath Flower Frog

Craft an everything is still growing spring design to celebrate... what we love!
Twig Dome Armature
17 July 2019
Twig Dome Armature

Crafted from a hand full of twigs to give you a large design... even though you add only two stems of sweet peas.
Radiating rainbow vine armature
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.
Knot some knots to elevate a traditional knotted butterfly to slip into a messy grass sheath frame
26 August 2026
Knot some knots to elevate a traditional knotted butterfly to slip into a messy grass sheath frame

Combine two sheaths of grass into a wreath. The perfect habitat for the very rare... "LooksJustLikeASquiggle" species of butterfly
Turn, tuck and refine a papyrus disk bird’s nest armature
11 March 2026
Turn, tuck and refine a papyrus disk bird’s nest armature

Twist the edge of a papyrus together to craft a neat little nest for a bird for your Spring floral display.
Swing ripped foliage over a mop-head of hydrangeas to follow the natural curve
15 June 2022
Swing ripped foliage over a mop-head of hydrangeas to follow the natural curve

Gently curve ripped foliage over flowers to add a cooling movement to a minimal summer design.
Loop-over grass veil for a cool summer design
12 June 2019
Loop-over grass veil for a cool summer design

A cool and minimal floral design for summer.
Securing a kenzan
7 January 2015
Securing a kenzan

Temporarily adhere a traditional Ikebana Kenzan or pincushion to a shallow container.
Coil slip on sandals
29 August 2018
Coil slip on sandals

Braid ripped flax and coil it into shaped slip on sandals.
Wrap around grass loop and knot armature
8 August 2018
Wrap around grass loop and knot armature

Connect strips of ripped grass to create a knotted armature for short stemmed flowers
Related Designs
Canna cafe au lait dahlia be any more hold-your-breath magnificent?
13 August 2025
Canna cafe au lait dahlia be any more hold-your-breath magnificent?

A low and soft late summer display... with just a creative hint of autumn.
Around again
13 September 2017
Around again

Tape a grid at the edge of a container
Here comes the sun...
28 April 2021
Here comes the sun...

A minimal design celebrating the new growth on twigs
Deeply
12 August 2026
Deeply

Create a double glass layer by setting a (Apothecary Jar) glass lid deeply into a display container.
And what are you supposed to be?
21 August 2024
And what are you supposed to be?

... a hint of a pumpkin late summer floral display to show off the elegant curve of a gladiolus flower stem.
Note to Self
23 August 2023
Note to Self

An easy to weave natural grid for summer floral arrangements.
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?
Mr. Stalk, the Seriously Terrifying Scarecrow, on his Day Off
6 November 2012
Mr. Stalk, the Seriously Terrifying Scarecrow, on his Day Off

An easy going design of ripped grass and calla lilies. But look a bit closer. See if you can find Mr. Stalk relaxing somewhere between the blades of grass.
Canned right after harvest
16 August 2023
Canned right after harvest

Pull tab support for "canned" Calla lilies and bunny-tail grass.
this NEEDS to be at the top of my (our?) to-do list
27 September 2023
this NEEDS to be at the top of my (our?) to-do list

Autumn bud vase collar made from gladiolus foliage.
Hide-and-go-peek
17 April 2013
Hide-and-go-peek

Create a soft light by making a leaf cocoon for a flameless candle
To two too!
24 March 2021
To two too!

A Spring Tulip celebration design... with a special message
Over the rainbow
2 May 2018
Over the rainbow

Craft a radiating design that suspends from the orchid stems
… and... a bit more... effort… to make it special
17 July 2019
… and... a bit more... effort… to make it special

Instead of just placing a handful of twigs and two stems of sweet peas in a vase... why not...?
That day after Halloween feeling
1 November 2023
That day after Halloween feeling

Time to cut down vines... and enjoy them a bit longer in a Halloween display.
You can feel it in the air
26 August 2026
You can feel it in the air

Delicate, light as air butterflies (designed to look like line drawings) float above a grass sheath-wreath for a nearly autumn display.
Turn, tuck, test… and refine
11 March 2026
Turn, tuck, test… and refine

Wind and weave papyrus into a disk for a nest Spring display.
Floral Hurricane
21 June 2023
Floral Hurricane

My Floral Hurricane design entry for the BC Floral Art Society mini show competition
Almost... all over!
12 June 2019
Almost... all over!

Loop a grass veil over a lily stem to create a minimalist summer design.
Take a swing at it
15 June 2022
Take a swing at it

A cooling design for early summer days with swinging ripped grass and more than enough water for thirsty hydrangeas.
Step It Up
22 July 2020
Step It Up

Dress up a pair of hand coiled flip-flops with succulents.
On the net
8 August 2018
On the net

Knot a net to rest short stem orchids on.
Diamond Jubilee Waterfall
26 June 2012
Diamond Jubilee Waterfall

To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee and the 20th Anniversary of Friends of Government House Gardens Society a Horticultural event was hosted in the gardens and Great Hall of Government House in Victoria, Canada entitled British Columbia Blooms.