My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

It’s a sugar rush!

It's a sugar rush floral art design

In Autumn, as the chlorophyll breaks down…

Hand weave a wreath to look more natural than the ones you buy.

the green colour in the leaves disappears.

Aranthera orchids are perfect for a touch of early autumn in your floral designs

Yes, temperature,

Crafting with plant material helps you to reconnect with nature through creativity

sunlight

A clever way to make your flowers last in a wreath for interior styling

and soil moisture all play a role in how the leaves will look in the fall

Hand made wreath ideas for your fall themed arrangements

… but this bright red pigments (anthocyanins) are manufactured from the sugars that are trapped in the leaf!

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

18 September 2019 Weave a burst of overgrown wildness wreath

This wreath is perfectly imperfect. Perfect for using those first few autumn (or preserved from last autumn) leaves.

1 November 2011 Weaving a twig wreath

For my design I wanted the wreath to look wind blown so I added a few loosely woven twigs into the weave. I also wanted to emphasize the autumn colours so I added a twirling...

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

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.

16 August 2011 Cut spiked flower stems and foliage into short sections

Orchids grow in long flower spikes. It is great to use the entire stem but sometimes you need shorter section. There is a trick to cutting the stems without leaving a visible...

29 November 2017 Autumn Screen

Craft a hanging twig and autumn leaf design

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.

7 September 2016 Willow flower crown

Loosely weave willow tips to create an ethereal crown

25 January 2012 Weaving Willow spheres

I build up the spheres by weaving willow wreaths and then use those to shape the ball

Favourite Flowers

Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"

Curly Willow, Chinese Willow, Tortured Willow, Globe Willow, Dragon's Claw, Hankow Willow

Related Designs

7 April 2021 First we learn HOW to design… and then we learn how only WE design.

Whipped up to be light in the Spring breeze wreath design.

3 November 2021 Coppepeppepepper wreath

Wire dried pepper berries to a wreath with super fancy flat wire (okay... it's the humble wire from a copper pot scrubber but it still looks fancy!)

21 September 2022 Balanced Attitude

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

23 October 2024 Haerfest

Rooting clematis cuttings in a harvest wreath basket

29 November 2017 Marcescent

Glue a delicate autumn room devider

4 November 2015 Delicate

Bleached Gypsophila wreath with delicate autumn touches

1 November 2011 On The Street Where You Live

A floral design snapshot of what it looks like when walking down the streets of Vancouver this week.

7 September 2016 You are all invited!

My article and Willow Crown design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

17 August 2016 Strangeness

Weave a wreath to display air plants on

24 February 2016 How to make an early Spring

Roll and set willow twigs into a spring