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Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Light as a Kite

  • 14 July 2021
  • and more

Who's to

say

where

the

wind

will

take

you?

From the song “kite” U2

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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
Light as a kite wire spiked sunflower heart
14 July 2021
Light as a kite wire spiked sunflower heart

Using the disk floret of a sunflower to support your floral details.
Drinking straw "test tubes"
4 January 2011
Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.
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.
Sunflower Disk Floret
13 August 2014
Sunflower Disk Floret

Gently pull the petals ( Ray floret) from the seeded part of the sunflower
Standing flowering stems in shallow puddles
13 August 2014
Standing flowering stems in shallow puddles

Making a truss out of sunflower stems for a free standing design
Twig mushroom
3 July 2012
Twig mushroom

Stack and wire a twig mushroom armature
Adding folded grass "jitters" to a Sunflower
31 July 2019
Adding folded grass "jitters" to a Sunflower

Adding tension to a design with a grass frame and collar.
Sunflower heart autumn display
21 October 2020
Sunflower heart autumn display

Pick away the ray floret so that the disk floret of a sunflower can be used as a flat surface to display your design on.
Spider-mum
31 October 2018
Spider-mum

Craft a spider from twigs and a chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum sepals and receptacle
17 July 2013
Chrysanthemum sepals and receptacle

I love using bits of flowers to add interest and texture
Pin pegs for barely there suspended floral details
5 August 2026
Pin pegs for barely there suspended floral details

Glue clear notice board pins onto the side of a container to keep your floral details suspended in the water.
A wand-erful Amaranthus stem drape swizzle-stick
22 July 2026
A wand-erful Amaranthus stem drape swizzle-stick

Tall water filled vases that are cooling for warm weather designing.
A grass frog that falls into a heart
11 February 2026
A grass frog that falls into a heart

A small wineglass overflowing with love... and tiny Arctic Bell daffodils.
Adjustable nested grass Wood Wide Web shelter for tiny snow drops
14 January 2026
Adjustable nested grass Wood Wide Web shelter for tiny snow drops

Craft a grass shelter with hollow grass that can be retracted and extended to adjust the length in height where needed.
A grand kale to spark that almost end of summer colour
6 August 2025
A grand kale to spark that almost end of summer colour

A slight tweak turn a ornamental kale into a ornamental mechanic.
Palm twirl with a hidden double knot grid support that hold even heavier flowers in place
11 September 2024
Palm twirl with a hidden double knot grid support that hold even heavier flowers in place

Knot horizontal palm fronts in place to create a support for heavy flowers.
Use Firethorn spears for a Vine and Orchid twist support
17 July 2024
Use Firethorn spears for a Vine and Orchid twist support

Sharp thorns can be used to keep your floral details in place
Related Designs
A leg to stand on
13 August 2014
A leg to stand on

Create a upright design by supporting the flowering stems
Floral Carpet
5 April 2011
Floral Carpet

Durbanville Flower Club: Nature's Treasures, A Floral Art Exhibition at D'Ville Shopping Center Durbanville, Western Cape, South Africa
Twig-a-tude
3 July 2012
Twig-a-tude

Stack and wire twigs to create a twig mushroom with attitude for summer
Too Hot!
27 July 2016
Too Hot!

Leaning floral stems to stand on their own in a shallow container
Jitters!
31 July 2019
Jitters!

Zig-zag grass details add a bit of tension to the design
When it gets chilly
21 October 2020
When it gets chilly

Use the heart of a sunflower as a platform to place your autumn floral details on.
Designing Body Blooms
3 April 2012
Designing Body Blooms

Designing Contemporary Floral Accessories and Body Flowers Article in the Canadian Florist Magazine
Sparkle on tiny dew drop crystals!
5 August 2026
Sparkle on tiny dew drop crystals!

Clear sparkling water for a cooling summer display... without any visual distractions.
Wave a wand
22 July 2026
Wave a wand

A tall glass of water... and a tall stem of Amaranthus... makes a perfect summer display.
For the love of those little gasps of unexpected wonder
11 February 2026
For the love of those little gasps of unexpected wonder

let grass fall into a light hearted frog for Valentine's Day flowers
Subject: A Formal Complaint Regarding the Distinct Lack of Snowflakiness
14 January 2026
Subject: A Formal Complaint Regarding the Distinct Lack of Snowflakiness

Fold and combine two hollow grasses for an adjustable shelter to frame the daintiest of flowers.
Your brain rewards curiosity on a grand…. kale
6 August 2025
Your brain rewards curiosity on a grand…. kale

Growing plant material for floral design requires an unique spark of creativity.
More! More!! More!!!
11 September 2024
More! More!! More!!!

Adding more to an autumn design... but leaving everything out that you don't need.
Refresh-ing
17 July 2024
Refresh-ing

A tall vase for a short orchid stem summer design
Favourite Flowers
Helianthus anuus
Helianthus anuus

Nature's Treasures, A Floral Art Exhibition at D'Ville Shopping Center Durbanville Floral Carpet with the members of the Durbanville Flower Club. For the mid section I used roses,...
Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis orchid detail from my Harnessing the Wind design