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Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

In the little gap

  • 19 May 2021
  • and more

Give

yourself

a little gap

in

which

you

can

get

better

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Tutorials
A flower, flower frog to keep your design details perfectly put
19 May 2021
A flower, flower frog to keep your design details perfectly put

Use the firm petals of a flower to keep your design details upright
Turning the sellotape over the vase trick up-side-down for a sticky side out frog
2 April 2014
Turning the sellotape over the vase trick up-side-down for a sticky side out frog

Tape a grid over a vase to keep the floral details in place
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.
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.
Tri-petal (with vines to fill in the gaps) lily flower wand
13 January 2021
Tri-petal (with vines to fill in the gaps) lily flower wand

Pick away petals from a lily to create space for delicate vines to really shine.
Weave a daffodil corona inspired sweater for a lily
9 September 2020
Weave a daffodil corona inspired sweater for a lily

Knit a corona (as in that inside skirt like part of a daffodil) by weaving a Ceropegia woodii vine around the stamen filament of a lily.
Longer lasting Gladiolus Composite Flower
11 September 2013
Longer lasting Gladiolus Composite Flower

Split (but don't cut) a few gladiolus flowers to spiral in a vase
A round, around a round foliage… spiral in a vase
30 January 2019
A round, around a round foliage… spiral in a vase

Stack foliage to create a rose spiral in a container.
Lily grass spiral in a vase
22 June 2016
Lily grass spiral in a vase

Twist lily grass slightly to create a spiral for the orchids to nestle in
Rethinking the traditional Komiwara technique
7 May 2014
Rethinking the traditional Komiwara technique

Komiwara is a classic and traditional Ikebana technique used in a Rikka design. Designers would usually bundle straw to keep the flowers in place.
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
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.
Related Designs
FLOAT
1 March 2011
FLOAT

Reflex Tulip and Passion Fruit Tendrils in a wax disk
Apricity
2 April 2014
Apricity

Turning a stand-by floral technique sticky side out
Picked up some proper Pruning
24 February 2021
Picked up some proper Pruning

An early Spring design with a twist on using an old favourite: composite flowers.
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.
It takes more than one person to invent a trumpet!
8 May 2019
It takes more than one person to invent a trumpet!

Filling a trumpet flower cup... with more flowers!
It's in there
13 January 2021
It's in there

Complete the picture by drawing a lily flower with delicate vines.
Daffodillily
9 September 2020
Daffodillily

Weave around the stamens of a lily to create a daffodil like inside.
All In One
5 November 2014
All In One

dry autumn leaves into an acorn shape
Making it last
11 September 2013
Making it last

Split and spiral a few gladiolus flowers in a way that the stems remain intact, to spiral in a water filled filled vase for a long lasting composite flower
Around Here
30 January 2019
Around Here

Wind lily leaves to spiral around in a water filled container.
Perfection
22 June 2016
Perfection

Spiral grass to create a nest for the lady slipper orchids
Serendipity
7 May 2014
Serendipity

Be inspired by traditional Ikebana techniques
I am a fan!
13 September 2023
I am a fan!

Giving my book a super fan make-over.
Favourite Flowers
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum

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