My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Look at you!

“chrysanthemum” is also the word used to describe a firework pattern with spreading sparks that looks just like the flower petals...

Vibrantly bold

Exuberantly memorable

Dazzlingly colourful

Strikingly lively

Impressively vivid

… can’t argue with that.

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Tutorials
Weave a willow twig blind
26 April 2011
Weave a willow twig blind

Weave twigs in parallel to create a twig blind with strong but natural horizontal lines.
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
T-connect twigs to shadow a design
18 January 2017
T-connect twigs to shadow a design

Split a twig to create a t connection to hover a twig over the design
Bite and snap a sturdy twig
22 May 2012
Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.
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.
Syringe with tube
3 January 2011
Syringe with tube

Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase
Ladder-frog
31 July 2013
Ladder-frog

Lash the orchid stems together to create a ladder for the flower to rest on.
Willow twig Corsage Platform
30 April 2015
Willow twig Corsage Platform

To create a layered look for a corsage tie a foundation of twigs with fresh willow stems
Stack a Twig Enclosure
17 February 2016
Stack a Twig Enclosure

Loop and tie a few stacked twigs to create an enclosed floral armature
Jiyek Braiding a Pussy Willow Twig Blind
25 March 2015
Jiyek Braiding a Pussy Willow Twig Blind

A design inspired by traditional Jiyek braiding techniques
Twig Tumbler
8 January 2014
Twig Tumbler

Wire and glue a stack of sticks into a cylindrical or tube shape
Stripping foliage from weaving stems
11 February 2015
Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with
Hana-kubari Bamboo
1 April 2015
Hana-kubari Bamboo

Hana-Kubari is an Ikebana flower mechanic. Only natural materials such as pebbles, sticks and branches can be seen to support the flowers. Traditionally no twine or wire, nails, or screws or any other man made materials are used
Free standing Willow twig armature with a hidden water source
20 April 2016
Free standing Willow twig armature with a hidden water source

Cut a few willow twigs to split to create legs for the armature
Hana-Kubari chopsticks
19 October 2011
Hana-Kubari chopsticks

Splitting the chopsticks or a wooden branch, such as a willow twig creates a natural (and glue-less!) clamp.
Racked up dried Twig Snippets to display a few flower buds
18 August 2021
Racked up dried Twig Snippets to display a few flower buds

Combining dried and fresh floral details for a easy breezy summer design.
Catch Blossom Petals in a Pussy Willow tray basket
2 March 2021
Catch Blossom Petals in a Pussy Willow tray basket

An easy to assemble yourself harvest basket to carry home and display Spring blossoms.
Hanging Twig Line-Up
25 April 2018
Hanging Twig Line-Up

Craft a twig mobile for Spring
Using a fork in a twig to “peg” a stem in place
3 January 2018
Using a fork in a twig to “peg” a stem in place

A easy to use Hana Kubari technique
Autumn Screen
29 November 2017
Autumn Screen

Craft a hanging twig and autumn leaf design
Related Designs
Everlasting
23 October 2012
Everlasting

Design Inspiration Video: Take a few twigs, snippets of air plants and succulents and combine both traditional wire and tape techniques with more contemporary methods to embed a Boutstix Magnet Stix right into the foundation of the design for a strong and secure way to attach corsages and boutonnieres.
A Point of Support
30 March 2016
A Point of Support

My contemporary floral art design demonstrated at the Canada Blooms flower show in Toronto.
Direct Contrasts
13 October 2011
Direct Contrasts

I have always been fascinated, as a designer, by the idea that there is a point when extremes or direct contrasts flip into its opposite.
Drinking straws become flower test tubes
25 April 2011
Drinking straws become flower test tubes

Design 2: Up-cycle drinking straws to make tiny test tubes to hold the orchids on my willow twig blind.
The Space Between
1 April 2015
The Space Between

Traditional Hana-Kubari flower mechanic
That Will Be
20 April 2016
That Will Be

Freestanding willow twig armature design
Happy Dance
2 September 2015
Happy Dance

Split a few bamboo sections to create a happy water source for miniature orchids
Layer
30 April 2015
Layer

Design One from my Inspiration Video: Use the same floral ingredients, willow twigs, Lichen, Spanish Moss, Kalanchoe and Gypsophila to make three distinctly different contemporary corsages
At Play
18 August 2021
At Play

A quick-to-do-but-looks-impressive way to display a beautiful cut garden vine for an effortless summer design.
Spring Tray-ning
3 March 2021
Spring Tray-ning

A Spring basket design for catching falling blossom petals.
Get in line!
25 April 2018
Get in line!

Line up a few pussy willow twigs for a hanging armature
Happy Coincidence!
3 January 2018
Happy Coincidence!

Some designs really do just make themselves. I received this tiny vase for Christmas from Marius (thank you, Marius!) and while cleaning out my design room I found this little twig with a fork in it. Add a ranunculus with a ridiculously gorgeous curve in it's stem... done.
Marcescent
29 November 2017
Marcescent

Glue a delicate autumn room devider
Step Along
15 February 2017
Step Along

Create twig steps to display the orchids
Favourite Flowers
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum Design: the Floral Hour glass was made as part of my wax series