My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

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Tutorials
Skewered Foliage Garland
22 March 2017
Skewered Foliage Garland

Create a garland that dries well with rolled up leaves
Macramé inspired hanging test tubes
28 December 2011
Macramé inspired hanging test tubes

When I hang these delicate glass bubbles I want to make sure they are really secure. By slipping them into Macramé inspired knots they are not only hanging securely but the fishing line knots at the sides also protect them against bumps
Macramé hanging vases
24 April 2013
Macramé hanging vases

Knot wool to create a catch to hang tiny bud vases from
Stain wooden skewers with natural dye
24 August 2011
Stain wooden skewers with natural dye

Using fruit, berries, flowers, leaves and grasses to naturally stain design details for floral art relies on the same techniques as using paint or any other dye.
Pin Protea foliage into a curl
22 March 2017
Pin Protea foliage into a curl

The sturdy Protea leaves holds it shape even when dried when pinned into place
Rolling leaf tubes
23 March 2013
Rolling leaf tubes

Roll foliage to create tubes
Roll hundreds (yes! hundreds) of autumn leaves so create a natural, upright flower frog
14 October 2015
Roll hundreds (yes! hundreds) of autumn leaves so create a natural, upright flower frog

Rolled leaves offer support for floral stems
Autumn leaf Roses
6 September 2011
Autumn leaf Roses

I used to make baskets full of these when I was a little girl. We had a big Acasia thorn tree and I used to spear my “roses” onto the tree pretending I was the fairy responsible for bringing blossoms.
Autumn Leaf Rosette
11 November 2012
Autumn Leaf Rosette

Great way to use all the autumn leaves you collect on walks during the season. Slowly build up the leaf rosette and let the leaves dry before adding a few more.
Balancing the curved stems of dried Autumn leaf tubes
11 November 2015
Balancing the curved stems of dried Autumn leaf tubes

Long stemmed autumn leave tubes as a floral armature
Balanced branch with dangling macrame vases
17 August 2022
Balanced branch with dangling macrame vases

Create a display branch for ever changing fresh flowers and foliage... or vines.
Cross stem spacer
10 August 2022
Cross stem spacer

Use the off-cut stems to create a spacer to keep the flowers in place.
Threaded stem and wire spacer wire garland
10 August 2022
Threaded stem and wire spacer wire garland

Thread stems into a wire to create dangling garlands
How to skewer foliage tubes for a lily bud swirl support
18 May 2022
How to skewer foliage tubes for a lily bud swirl support

Ombre designing with the smallest to the biggest lily buds in a shallow container.
Sea glass counter weights to keep leaning top heavy stems from tipping
5 May 2021
Sea glass counter weights to keep leaning top heavy stems from tipping

An easy fix for preventing flowers from falling out of a container
Rolled leaf shelter for a lean-in-closer tiny bud vase design
6 January 2021
Rolled leaf shelter for a lean-in-closer tiny bud vase design

Create a tiny visual tunnel to focus attention.
Skewer and thread a double layer foliage ruffle collar to slip over a bud vase
27 May 2020
Skewer and thread a double layer foliage ruffle collar to slip over a bud vase

An easy to do and quick to add decorative detail to dress up contemporary floral designs.
Quarter fold and Thread an Autumn leaf tube armature
9 October 2019
Quarter fold and Thread an Autumn leaf tube armature

This armature is actually made of four times as many leaves as what it looks like to create a hinge to fan the entire leaf-tube open yet keep it's shape.
Grass Spiral Wind Spinner
2 July 2019
Grass Spiral Wind Spinner

Thread grass into flexi grass to create a spinner that gently turns in the wind.
Twig cloud mobile
10 April 2019
Twig cloud mobile

Wire a sturdy cloud shaped armature to hang a heavier water source for thirsty Wisteria flowers.
Autumn leaf Christmas tree stack
24 October 2018
Autumn leaf Christmas tree stack

Stack autumn leaves, from big to small to look like a tiny Christmas tree
Clips to hang flowers vertically
17 October 2018
Clips to hang flowers vertically

I designed and printed these clips on a 3D printer as a fast, secure and convenient way to hang water tubes vertically down fishing line.
Stack two glass vases to keep a leaf upright in water
24 January 2018
Stack two glass vases to keep a leaf upright in water

Slip a leaf into the gap between two glass containers to keep it upright... and add a plastic lining to support the flowers nestled into it.
Related Designs
Stringing in the rain
8 August 2012
Stringing in the rain

A veil of green wool, Spanish moss and dried hydrangeas hang over white lilies
Celebrate!
23 March 2016
Celebrate!

A closer look at my design at the 20th anniversary of Canada Blooms and The Toronto Flower Show
Hanging Space
24 April 2013
Hanging Space

Suspend small bud vases with Macramé-like knotted wool. This design is featured on The Fusion Flowers Magazine... Fusion Links page.
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.
Biomimicry
22 March 2017
Biomimicry

A design demonstration and workshop at the Floral Trends Design group in South Africa exploring how we emulate nature’s best biological ideas to solve our modern day design problems.
Bubbly New Year’s Sparklers
28 December 2011
Bubbly New Year’s Sparklers

Delicate glass bubbles filled with the midnight blue African violet flowers, purple ornamental capsicum and spilling down the design are a few stems of rosary vine
Designing a Feeling
19 June 2012
Designing a Feeling

The emotions your designs inspire give real meaning to your work. My article in the Canadian Florist Magazine
Today I'll be
23 March 2013
Today I'll be

Silhouette design using glasses filled with water
What a find!
14 October 2015
What a find!

Roll autumn leaves to create a frog to keep flowers upright
Leaves by Hundreds came
11 November 2012
Leaves by Hundreds came

A rosette of fall leaves to celebrate the beauty of autumn
Balancing Act
11 November 2015
Balancing Act

Bend dried fall leaves to balance on the edge of a glass container
Branch Manager
17 August 2022
Branch Manager

Managed to find an utterly gorgeous branch... perfect contrast to the minimal orchids.
Space holder
10 August 2022
Space holder

Creating a bit of space in a summer design to allow for the plant material to naturally fall as it wants.
Because Why
18 May 2022
Because Why

Adding the smallest details to absolutely make the design.
But of course.
5 May 2021
But of course.

Repurpose an apothecary vase lid for a floating Spring design.
I tip my (flower) cap!
6 January 2021
I tip my (flower) cap!

An enclosed design that invites the onlooker to lean in closer to explore the pretty orchid.
Take a Stab at it
27 May 2020
Take a Stab at it

Skewer a few leaves to turn a single carnation in a bud vase... into an occasion... all by itself!
With a thankful twist in the middle
9 October 2019
With a thankful twist in the middle

Fold and thread an autumn leaf armature for a thankful Thanksgiving design
Taking a Breather
3 July 2019
Taking a Breather

A relaxing summer design that spins gently in the wind
Just Like Wisteria Rain
10 April 2019
Just Like Wisteria Rain

Craft a ethereal design from twigs and wisteria flowers
It all stacks up
24 October 2018
It all stacks up

Quick and easy: Stack autumn leaves onto a wire for a... tiny table top Christmas tree.
But wait… there's more!
17 October 2018
But wait… there's more!

Tucked into the box with every advance copy of the book, the effortless floral craftsman is a packet of clips. This design and Tutorial is a bit of inspiration... what will you create with your clips?
How to make a stack of just enough:
24 January 2018
How to make a stack of just enough:

Stack two vases to create a small gap at the side to keep a leaf upright
Favourite Flowers
Cymbidium
Cymbidium

Cymbidium orchids for my Designing your way to profits article that was featured in the Canadian Florist Magazine