My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Look at me… doing math!

You see, the flowers we design with start off pretty much perfect.

Everything else we add

to our design

subtracts from that pure flowery-ness-ness of our perfect flowers.

Which is what makes designing so fun… we start off with perfect and each of us look at this perfection and point at that something that we are uniquely wired to recognize.

As designers we then add to that something to multiply it…

and if we do it right our solution makes the flowers look perfect.

Perfectly… you. Perfectly... me.

(and that is... of course... what my book is all about)

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Tutorials
Tap in support for horizontal placement of your top heavy flowers
9 August 2023
Tap in support for horizontal placement of your top heavy flowers

Placing gladiolus stems horizontally so that the stems... disappear.
Tap in a Twig Support
4 April 2018
Tap in a Twig Support

Wedge snipped twigs into a glass vase to act as a support for your flowers
Cut spiked flower stems and foliage into short sections
16 August 2011
Cut spiked flower stems and foliage into short sections

Orchids grow in long flower spikes. It is great to use the entire stem but sometimes you need shorter section. There is a trick to cutting the stems without leaving a visible blunt stem.
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.
Willow and Rose heart armature
13 February 2019
Willow and Rose heart armature

Weave willow stems into a heart shaped armature.
Stripping foliage from weaving stems
11 February 2015
Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with
Twig float for a single lemon blossom
5 August 2020
Twig float for a single lemon blossom

This design is all about that line there where the water meets the lemon blossom stem...
A Spring Sprout Wreath Flower Frog
24 March 2021
A Spring Sprout Wreath Flower Frog

Craft an everything is still growing spring design to celebrate... what we love!
Well Rooted Sprouting Willow Weave
28 January 2015
Well Rooted Sprouting Willow Weave

Weave a sprouting armature
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
Skewered Eucalyptus leaf line-up armature
10 May 2017
Skewered Eucalyptus leaf line-up armature

Thread leaves through wire
Slip-slit tapped in stems to keep vines upright in a muted autumn display
25 September 2024
Slip-slit tapped in stems to keep vines upright in a muted autumn display

A tiny adjustment in a stem wedged into a vase mechanic to give you even more control over the placement of design details.
Light as air puffy grass and elegantly curved gladiolus summer display that hints at all things pumpkin
21 August 2024
Light as air puffy grass and elegantly curved gladiolus summer display that hints at all things pumpkin

Create two separate containers to minimize clutter in a light and airy floral display.
Curve fountain grass... a bit... or a lot... and how to choose grass that is straight for more height
21 August 2024
Curve fountain grass... a bit... or a lot... and how to choose grass that is straight for more height

Curving long and elegantly sweeping purple fountain grass
Figure eight willow spacer for a water tube in a double vase display
20 August 2024
Figure eight willow spacer for a water tube in a double vase display

Create a bit of a buffer to keep a water tube upright in a light and airy suspended display.
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
Grow on it
4 April 2018
Grow on it

Wedge twigs into a vase to create a grid.
Hide-and-go-peek
17 April 2013
Hide-and-go-peek

Create a soft light by making a leaf cocoon for a flameless candle
Pick Love
13 February 2019
Pick Love

Craft a willow heart to display 12 red roses to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Spare a Moment
5 August 2020
Spare a Moment

A tranquil design that just takes a moment to do... when you need to take a moment to... breathe.
To two too!
24 March 2021
To two too!

A Spring Tulip celebration design... with a special message
Well, I'll be
27 January 2016
Well, I'll be

Manipulate fresh willow stems to create a sprouting armature for long tulip stems
In a State of Flow
28 January 2015
In a State of Flow

weave some willow to use as an armature
Saved up
10 August 2016
Saved up

Cut lengths of bamboo to place in a shallow container as a flower frog
About a line
10 May 2017
About a line

Skewer and line up leaves to create an armature
Toning down the summer up into the earliest autumn
25 September 2024
Toning down the summer up into the earliest autumn

Using summery floral details in a way that it gives you all the autumn feelings... when autumn details are not yet out.
And what are you supposed to be?
21 August 2024
And what are you supposed to be?

... a hint of a pumpkin late summer floral display to show off the elegant curve of a gladiolus flower stem.
Refresh-ing
17 July 2024
Refresh-ing

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

Detail of my Blue Harlequin design. An ink blue Gladiolus composite flower nestles snugly between two lily grass cones that curve nimbly into a crescent shape.