My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Link

To link in a loop

ring all around

tie a connection

join a bind

tie chain

wind a wreath

weaving a string

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Tutorials
Chain link wreath weaving
24 May 2017
Chain link wreath weaving

Weave a few small wreaths to connect
Stripping foliage from weaving stems
11 February 2015
Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with
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
Designing an odd one out wreath
24 May 2017
Designing an odd one out wreath

Adding floral material to a wreath design
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.
Willow flower crown
7 September 2016
Willow flower crown

Loosely weave willow tips to create an ethereal crown
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
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.
Willow Spring
24 February 2016
Willow Spring

Set willow tips into a spiral to create a spring design
Chain-link string and twig armature
18 January 2017
Chain-link string and twig armature

By removing every other twig you open up space for larger flowers to nestle in
Twig Chain Garlands
23 July 2014
Twig Chain Garlands

Knot stems into decorative swinging chains
Willow nest roll that continues to grow for a Spring display
26 March 2025
Willow nest roll that continues to grow for a Spring display

This design is meant to be long lasting and ever changing... make now and enjoy all the way to Easter and beyond
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
Four wreath harvest basket that looks like it grew that way… because now some of it still is!
23 October 2024
Four wreath harvest basket that looks like it grew that way… because now some of it still is!

Harvest some cuttings to root in a wild and overgrown floral design.
Coiled Spring and Wreath flower frog
3 April 2024
Coiled Spring and Wreath flower frog

Wind vines into an all natural armature to display your first of many... perfect... Spring flowers.
Suspend delicate stemmed orchids in a Willow Infinity Weave Flower Frog
24 January 2024
Suspend delicate stemmed orchids in a Willow Infinity Weave Flower Frog

Create a little grid that fits the stems exactly to position them above and below water in a large container.
Knot a vine wreath and ripped grass bug net
28 June 2023
Knot a vine wreath and ripped grass bug net

Simply easy design... with tiny design details to make your summer display unique.
Foxtail wreath frog with a leg in water
24 May 2023
Foxtail wreath frog with a leg in water

Twirl the fern into a wreath so that it can remain hydrated.
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.
Glue an early Spring basket from leftover cherry blossom twigs
1 March 2023
Glue an early Spring basket from leftover cherry blossom twigs

After the last petal drops cut the blossom twigs into snippets to craft a basket with.
Using European OASIS floral glue to secure floral details… yes! It makes a difference
22 June 2022
Using European OASIS floral glue to secure floral details… yes! It makes a difference

Securing the most delicate of design details successfully has a lot to do with what glue you use. But what glue is even more complicated than just brand.
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.
Submerged vine wreath armature to beat the summer heat
23 June 2021
Submerged vine wreath armature to beat the summer heat

Water... lots of water- that is the answer to designing flower arrangements that survive the summer heat.
Spring breeze tangled ribbon wreath
7 April 2021
Spring breeze tangled ribbon wreath

Using branches pruned from a fruit tree... with a few dried flowers and just a few orchids to make a fresh Spring design.
Peg a wreath to the edge of a container
16 September 2020
Peg a wreath to the edge of a container

Another version of a design idea I showed you last month... A vine wreath armature to balance a dramatic single stem anthurium. Only this time I take it a bit further.
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.
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.
Knot a Lavender chain link necklace or floral crown
13 May 2020
Knot a Lavender chain link necklace or floral crown

This is without a doubt the quickest and easiest floral project on my entire site. And rather fun to do. I make these.. all... the... time!
Weave a small wreath in the side twig of a willow branch to keep a flower in place in your design
11 September 2019
Weave a small wreath in the side twig of a willow branch to keep a flower in place in your design

This is both a decorative and functional design solution. But most importantly, I think, there is absolutely zero waste.
Long Lichen branches to dress up a curvy vase
5 December 2018
Long Lichen branches to dress up a curvy vase

Secure two lichen covered branched to rest around the neck of a curvy vase.
Wisteria Wreath Vine
5 September 2018
Wisteria Wreath Vine

Weave tiny vine wreaths on the leave stems of a stripped Wisteria vine
Wisteria Vine Wreath Armature
5 September 2018
Wisteria Vine Wreath Armature

Create a barely there armature with sturdy end of season vines.
Clematis Vine Swing
18 April 2018
Clematis Vine Swing

Weave a delicate nest for a small spring design.
Craft a Spring basket from a wreath
21 March 2018
Craft a Spring basket from a wreath

A wide gap nearly basket for nearly spring
Willow birdcage
14 March 2018
Willow birdcage

Weave a willow birdcage to use as a wedding ring box
Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin
27 September 2017
Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin

Reshape a vine wreath into smaller wreaths to combine as a pumpkin
Related Designs
Large Open Weave Twig Basket
8 April 2011
Large Open Weave Twig Basket

Easter Basket used in the Durbanville Flower Club Easter Parade Demonstration
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
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
Intimate Dinner For Two- Table Setting Competition Class
12 April 2011
Intimate Dinner For Two- Table Setting Competition Class

Floral Sushi Dinner, for two
On The Street Where You Live
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.
There are Octobers
19 October 2016
There are Octobers

Autumn wreath
You are all invited!
7 September 2016
You are all invited!

My article and Willow Crown design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
Strangeness
17 August 2016
Strangeness

Weave a wreath to display air plants on
Forest Filigree Christmas Wreath
7 December 2011
Forest Filigree Christmas Wreath

I wanted my Hazel twig wreath to look like forest filigree: mysteriously overgrown, tangled with age and dappled with moss and lichen. The wreath is also dressed with fresh and dried flower bud clusters and operculum of Eucalyptus.
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.
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
Ring-a-round
4 May 2016
Ring-a-round

Open a vine wreath to create a spiral twig armature around a glass container
How to make an early Spring
24 February 2016
How to make an early Spring

Roll and set willow twigs into a spring
Chain of Thought
23 July 2014
Chain of Thought

Knot small stems into decorative chain garlands
Spring Roll
26 March 2025
Spring Roll

oh yes... Spring is definitely rolling in with some fresh growth on the willow just to prove it!
“Ha ha ha weeeeee!"
26 February 2025
“Ha ha ha weeeeee!"

Beautiful iris wreath kebab to chase away the winter blues
Haerfest
23 October 2024
Haerfest

Rooting clematis cuttings in a harvest wreath basket
springy, Spring, spring
3 April 2024
springy, Spring, spring

Gorgeous Aquilegia vulgaris spring flower... with it's own springy thing!
I mean… really!?!
24 January 2024
I mean… really!?!

Using fresh twigs to bind a little twig platform to suspend the beautiful orchids from.
Catch and Release
28 June 2023
Catch and Release

Ah... yes summer time designing. Anyone else seeing more insects hiding between the petals this year?
everywhere IS nature
24 May 2023
everywhere IS nature

A lush wreath that remains green so that you can design once... and cut and cut and place your violas to make sure you have flowers all season long.
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.
… ish
1 March 2023
… ish

An early... ish Spring basket glued from blossom twigs
You Say Tomato I Say Tomato
22 June 2022
You Say Tomato I Say Tomato

Tiny tomato vine design to celebrate Summer.
Linked This Way
28 July 2021
Linked This Way

A fun way to elevate a few bud vases into a display.
Over Easy
23 June 2021
Over Easy

A cooling design to celebrate the summer solstice.
First we learn HOW to design… and then we learn how only WE design.
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.
The circle of making new things:
16 September 2020
The circle of making new things:

A wreath armature design for early Autumn... this takes the split armature Tutorial I showed you last month a little bit further.
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.
be MINDFUL of the invisible stuff you add
13 May 2020
be MINDFUL of the invisible stuff you add

Left over flowers and off-cuts are ideal to transform into a quick floral crown or necklace. This is the absolute easiest design, yet!
Transition into Fall
11 September 2019
Transition into Fall

A sustainable, absolutely no waste floral design using willow to suspend your flower head in your arrangement.
Personal Preference
5 December 2018
Personal Preference

The third design I did for my book launch demonstration looking at aspects that influences my effortless style of designing.
Wreath Vine Season!
5 September 2018
Wreath Vine Season!

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

My article and willow birdcage design for wedding rings featured in DIY Weddings Magazine.
March Days
28 February 2018
March Days

Line up a few frosted twigs to march across a shallow container
As tendrils tend to do
27 September 2017
As tendrils tend to do

Curl a wreath with tendrils to create a twig-pumpkin