My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Just A Bit

You start with just doing that first bit,

… and then a bit

… and a bit,

… and a bit,

And a bit more...

… and then a bit

… and a bit

… and a bit

And before you know it you have a whole lot of done bits.

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Tutorials
Bits of snipped grass glued to create a net
5 July 2017
Bits of snipped grass glued to create a net

Glue a fragile sheltering net to soften the look of a summer design
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.
Hana-Kubari twig
26 April 2017
Hana-Kubari twig

Slip a twig over the side of a container to keep an elegant flower stem upright
T-connect twigs to shadow a design
18 January 2017
T-connect twigs to shadow a design

Split a twig to create a t connection to hover a twig over the design
Free standing Willow twig armature with a hidden water source
20 April 2016
Free standing Willow twig armature with a hidden water source

Cut a few willow twigs to split to create legs for the armature
Hana-kubari Bamboo
1 April 2015
Hana-kubari Bamboo

Hana-Kubari is an Ikebana flower mechanic. Only natural materials such as pebbles, sticks and branches can be seen to support the flowers. Traditionally no twine or wire, nails, or screws or any other man made materials are used
Hana-Kubari Bamboo Stilts with a Hidden Water Source
2 September 2015
Hana-Kubari Bamboo Stilts with a Hidden Water Source

Split bamboo stems to create a water source for dancing orchids
Hana-Kubari chopsticks
19 October 2011
Hana-Kubari chopsticks

Splitting the chopsticks or a wooden branch, such as a willow twig creates a natural (and glue-less!) clamp.
Bamboo panel
28 May 2014
Bamboo panel

Create a panel for the flowers to hang on
Bamboo scaffold armature
28 May 2014
Bamboo scaffold armature

Latch a few bamboo pieces together to create a scaffold for the flowers to hang from
Bamboo frog for a shallow container design
10 August 2016
Bamboo frog for a shallow container design

Cut short bamboo lengths to keep your flower material upright in a shallow and narrow container
Hanging Bamboo Lantern
14 June 2017
Hanging Bamboo Lantern

This is a perfect do-ahead-of-time hanging design for a summer wedding. Craft one or three or a whole lot of the lanterns and add some orchids at the last moment to finish the design.
Standing flower stems upright In Perlite
3 May 2023
Standing flower stems upright In Perlite

I use perlite to root my cuttings... and to support flower stems in an upright position in designs without using floral foam.
An eggshell stack and grass snippet arch with a hidden water source for a Spring or Easter design
27 March 2019
An eggshell stack and grass snippet arch with a hidden water source for a Spring or Easter design

An almost nest like design with a hidden water source.
Delicate Twig Hammock Armature to keep tulips upright in a shallow container
16 January 2019
Delicate Twig Hammock Armature to keep tulips upright in a shallow container

Craft a suspended armature to create a clear winter design.
Incise waxy Gardenia foliage to decorate the edge of a container
9 May 2018
Incise waxy Gardenia foliage to decorate the edge of a container

Cut a small wedge out of a stack of waxy leaves to keep the flower and twig in place.
Using a fork in a twig to “peg” a stem in place
3 January 2018
Using a fork in a twig to “peg” a stem in place

A easy to use Hana Kubari technique
Related Designs
In no time at all
26 April 2017
In no time at all

Hana-Kubari twig armature
That Will Be
20 April 2016
That Will Be

Freestanding willow twig armature design
Happy Dance
2 September 2015
Happy Dance

Split a few bamboo sections to create a happy water source for miniature orchids
The Space Between
1 April 2015
The Space Between

Traditional Hana-Kubari flower mechanic
Intimate Dinner For Two- Table Setting Competition Class
12 April 2011
Intimate Dinner For Two- Table Setting Competition Class

Floral Sushi Dinner, for two
Saved up
10 August 2016
Saved up

Cut lengths of bamboo to place in a shallow container as a flower frog
Be Silent And Listen
28 May 2014
Be Silent And Listen

Lash a few bamboo pieces together to create a scaffold armature
Things are looking up!
14 June 2017
Things are looking up!

My article and Bamboo Lantern design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
Spring Row
3 May 2023
Spring Row

Viola and chives cleverly dancing upright in a row.
Like trying to find a water tube in a eggshell stack
27 March 2019
Like trying to find a water tube in a eggshell stack

A fun Spring and Easter design with stacked eggshells.
Every. Single. Week.
16 January 2019
Every. Single. Week.

Stand tulips upright in a shallow container with a suspended twig armature.
What is the meaning of this?
9 May 2018
What is the meaning of this?

Create a minimal design with a few leaves to keep is all upright.
Happy Coincidence!
3 January 2018
Happy Coincidence!

Some designs really do just make themselves. I received this tiny vase for Christmas from Marius (thank you, Marius!) and while cleaning out my design room I found this little twig with a fork in it. Add a ranunculus with a ridiculously gorgeous curve in it's stem... done.