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Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Let some light in

  • 18 March 2026
  • and more

And to think…

somewhere

even in this dark and soggy cold

feeling its little coat soften…

just enough to let some warmth

and light in

a brave little sprout

is willing to look a bit messy as it gets started… before fully budding with promise.

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Gather what you'll need

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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.
Tutorials
Sprouting sphere armature to show off curvy burgundy arum lilies
18 March 2026
Sprouting sphere armature to show off curvy burgundy arum lilies

Weaving wreaths to wedge into a container to create a ball shaped armature.
Weaving a twig wreath
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 copper wire into the weave
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.
Stripping foliage from weaving stems
11 February 2015
Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with
Adjusting the curve in plant material
16 May 2018
Adjusting the curve in plant material

It is possible to curve or adjust a curve in plant material
Thread your wreaths in a row to show off your "it could (almost) be mistaken for Spring sprouts"
26 February 2025
Thread your wreaths in a row to show off your "it could (almost) be mistaken for Spring sprouts"

Late winter flowering irises in a wreath armature
Just hatched willow twig egg armature
16 April 2025
Just hatched willow twig egg armature

Craft a cracked egg shape armature for an Easter display.
Willow and Vine tiny stem Gathering Basket
19 April 2023
Willow and Vine tiny stem Gathering Basket

Tiny stems are often also delicate stems... place your cut flowers directly in a small glass of water. A perfect fit for this basket.
Craft a wreath chain to link a few bud vases together
28 July 2021
Craft a wreath chain to link a few bud vases together

All you need is a few twigs to craft this design- it's a perfect floral meditation activity.
Chain link wreath weaving
24 May 2017
Chain link wreath weaving

Weave a few small wreaths to connect
Tangle a perfect vine around two wreaths for a split armature
19 August 2020
Tangle a perfect vine around two wreaths for a split armature

Passion fruit flowers never lasts long. Not even growing outside on a vine. But the buds continue to open once cut making a wreath display ideal for an even changing passion fruit flower display.
Curving Calla Lilies
30 August 2011
Curving Calla Lilies

Follow the flower's natural curve but you can also curve only sections to create an elegant crescent or a curve at the tip of the stem
Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening
19 February 2013
Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening

Most stems, twigs and even sturdier branches can be bend into shapes. It takes practice and more than a bit of patience. The main idea is to slowly manipulate the branch without breaking it.
Weaving Willow spheres
25 January 2012
Weaving Willow spheres

I build up the spheres by weaving willow wreaths and then use those to shape the ball
Building up a wreath panel
24 June 2020
Building up a wreath panel

Connect six wreaths to build up a hanging panel to display your flowers on.
Impossibly delicate Dancing Lady orchid wreath
11 March 2020
Impossibly delicate Dancing Lady orchid wreath

Weave a wreath around a cardboard circle to create an almost lace effect... perfect to capture those first signs of Spring!
Winter white Tulle bridal basket
9 January 2019
Winter white Tulle bridal basket

Craft a delicate bridal basket from twigs and tulle.
Clematis Vine Swing
18 April 2018
Clematis Vine Swing

Weave a delicate nest for a small spring design.
Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin
27 September 2017
Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin

Reshape a vine wreath into smaller wreaths to combine as a pumpkin
A little nest for Easter chocolates that naturally hooks over the edge of a container
11 April 2017
A little nest for Easter chocolates that naturally hooks over the edge of a container

Weave a tiny nest with a twig hook so that you can hang it in a design
Willow flower crown
7 September 2016
Willow flower crown

Loosely weave willow tips to create an ethereal crown
Hanging Willow Nest
3 August 2016
Hanging Willow Nest

Bend and weave a nest shape from fresh willow stems
Loosened Wreath Armature
4 May 2016
Loosened Wreath Armature

Snip a dried twig wreath to undo the spirals to hang around a glass container
Willow Parasol
16 March 2016
Willow Parasol

Weave willow stems into a decorative parasol
Overgrown Willow web inspired by a traditional Dream-catcher
8 July 2015
Overgrown Willow web inspired by a traditional Dream-catcher

I wanted my willow armature to hint of a web-like dreamcatcher that grows in the wild rather than being a precise replica of the traditional craft technique. But I did weave it in a similar way.
Leaf Swirls
6 November 2013
Leaf Swirls

Cut fall leaves to create continuous swirls
Related Designs
“Ha ha ha weeeeee!"
26 February 2025
“Ha ha ha weeeeee!"

Beautiful iris wreath kebab to chase away the winter blues
See you around
30 July 2014
See you around

Weave a few spheres to create a simple design
Fascinating!
29 May 2024
Fascinating!

Trendy fascinator design using long lasting (read can be designed ahead of time) floral details.
I Break For Beauty
16 April 2025
I Break For Beauty

A cracked Easter Egg willow armature for hiding some treats...
I'll Go First
21 February 2024
I'll Go First

My Spring/Easter design and the introduction article about my floral journey written by the editor, Nina Tucknott in the latest issue of Flora Magazine.
Short Cut
19 April 2023
Short Cut

A tiny carry basket to gather the shortest stems from your cutting garden... with a place for water and your cutters.
Linked This Way
28 July 2021
Linked This Way

A fun way to elevate a few bud vases into a display.
Veiled Sunshine:50th Anniversary of the South African Orchid Society at the Cape Town Convention Centre.
11 April 2011
Veiled Sunshine:50th Anniversary of the South African Orchid Society at the Cape Town Convention Centre.

Bright and sunny cymbidium orchids and roses, lilies, lisianthus and pincushions
All round pretty sweet and short
19 August 2020
All round pretty sweet and short

Frame a passion flower in a vine wreath for a short lived but so pretty arrangement.
End Up
24 June 2020
End Up

Connect small wreaths to create a pretty summer armature to arrange your flowers on.
On-Spring-dium
11 March 2020
On-Spring-dium

A almost impossibly delicate oncidium (dancing lady) orchid wreath.
Magical Craftsmanship
9 January 2019
Magical Craftsmanship

My article and winter white Tulle bridal basket design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine.
Swing Vine
18 April 2018
Swing Vine

Weave a delicate vine swing to nestle a small vase with spring flowers in
Bring some Spring
21 March 2018
Bring some Spring

Just like the weather is only hinting at spring, so is this design only hinting at being a basket
Wreath Vine Season!
5 September 2018
Wreath Vine Season!

Weave tiny wreaths on the stems of Wisteria vines
Old, new trends
14 March 2018
Old, new trends

My article and willow birdcage design for wedding rings featured in DIY Weddings Magazine.
As tendrils tend to do
27 September 2017
As tendrils tend to do

Curl a wreath with tendrils to create a twig-pumpkin
Link
24 May 2017
Link

weave a few wreaths to link
Well… we did it again!
11 April 2017
Well… we did it again!

Blossoms and chocolates for Easter
You are all invited!
7 September 2016
You are all invited!

My article and Willow Crown design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
Practice
3 August 2016
Practice

Weave a willow bird nest
Ring-a-round
4 May 2016
Ring-a-round

Open a vine wreath to create a spiral twig armature around a glass container
Creative Expectations
16 March 2016
Creative Expectations

My article and a floral parasol design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
So
30 September 2015
So

A willow sphere to display your first Autumn treasures.
How To Catch A Dream
8 July 2015
How To Catch A Dream

Take inspiration from a traditional Dream-catcher design to create a floral armature
Three Drops of Floral Chocolate
25 January 2012
Three Drops of Floral Chocolate

The design drips down in three tiers each celebrating life, love and connection.
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with veneer techniques
22 January 2013
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with veneer techniques

This was my second two designs for my It's High Time for Tea Floral Craft and Art Demonstration at The Capilano Flower Arranging Club meeting.
This is the Fragrance of November
6 November 2013
This is the Fragrance of November

Weave a wreath to thread a dome for an Autumn leaf design
Feeling Funky
10 April 2011
Feeling Funky

I wove vine wreaths to form a pyramid, one just slightly larger than the next. In the natural cavities between the wreaths I placed the roses and lisianthus in plastic covered Oasis
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.