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Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Magic Spell Number 614: How to make absolutely any task you need to do fun

  • 28 October 2020
  • and more

For this spell you will need to have ONE of these...

… a spark from a dragon’s breath

the glint cast by a unicorn horn

the twinkle from the eye of toad

that flappity-flap echo of a wing of a bat

the ripple on water caused by an enchanted stone

a care label cut from a spider silk web

the flight found inside a phoenix feather

… or the intention to do a really, really, really great job.

Note: happy to report that to date this spell has had a 100% success rate!

Happy Halloween, flower friends.

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Tutorials
Vase topped with a Hollow Wreath for Halloween
28 October 2020
Vase topped with a Hollow Wreath for Halloween

Create a dimensional wreath by assembling wreath vine to hug around an oblong container.
Arachnis Gerbera-petal-legicus
28 October 2020
Arachnis Gerbera-petal-legicus

The easiest Gerbara disk floret spider... ever!
Skeleton Leaves
22 September 2012
Skeleton Leaves

Remove the pulp from leaves so that only the vain framework remain
Spider-mum
31 October 2018
Spider-mum

Craft a spider from twigs and a chrysanthemum
Wired Monkey Vine
30 March 2011
Wired Monkey Vine

This wired rope is inspired by Monkey vine that you see hanging from trees. It is strong, rough and very tough. Covering the rope with mud will add texture and it also insulate the wire from rust by creating a protective layer
Spinning a Hot Glue Spider Web or silk for a Floral Cocoon
28 March 2011
Spinning a Hot Glue Spider Web or silk for a Floral Cocoon

How to spin (and remove) hot glue spider web or floral cocoon
Wire Tendrils
26 July 2011
Wire Tendrils

Curl the wire at irregular intervals to create a natural wire tendril similar to that of a passion fruit plant
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.
Paper covered Wire
1 March 2011
Paper covered Wire

Cover the wire with the raffia
Beaded wire
14 January 2011
Beaded wire

Thread thin wire with tiny beads
Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin
27 September 2017
Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin

Reshape a vine wreath into smaller wreaths to combine as a pumpkin
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.
Spin a spiderweb around skeletons scaling up still sprawling severed nasturtium stems
29 October 2025
Spin a spiderweb around skeletons scaling up still sprawling severed nasturtium stems

Create a glass stack for growing nasturtium foliage for a long lasting Halloween display.
Hug winding wreaths over a glass container for a jaunty gerbera, caladium and chilly almost autumn display
10 September 2025
Hug winding wreaths over a glass container for a jaunty gerbera, caladium and chilly almost autumn display

Using handmade wreaths as mechanics that gives that cozy early autumn vibrance.
A wreath bridge to hint at the transition between the wildness of late summer and the autumn haze to come
3 September 2025
A wreath bridge to hint at the transition between the wildness of late summer and the autumn haze to come

Arrange a selection of freshly cut cosmos flowers to hint at the autumn to come.
Canna seed “pumpkins" nestled on a bed of cafe au lait dahlias
13 August 2025
Canna seed “pumpkins" nestled on a bed of cafe au lait dahlias

Lovely canna seedpods that blush just slightly darker than the dusty pink in the dahlias... a perfect match!
Tap in a thorn support for a delicate flower stem and twirling tendrils
2 July 2025
Tap in a thorn support for a delicate flower stem and twirling tendrils

Peg a dainty flower stem into a water filled summer display to remove all visual clutter.
Use dried roots from a re-potted Monstera to create a root lace-wreath
14 May 2025
Use dried roots from a re-potted Monstera to create a root lace-wreath

Every repotting season I struggle with what to do with my overgrown Monstera plant. It absolutely loves hanging out in my design room... so... let's design, Monstera!
Canary vine tangle in a double vase
1 November 2023
Canary vine tangle in a double vase

Great craft for when you are tidying up the garden before the first frost but would still like to enjoy the vines for a bit longer.
Bored looking Sisal ghost with dangling bell feet
1 November 2023
Bored looking Sisal ghost with dangling bell feet

Quick and so easy... I added the bells so that the ghost looks kinda bored now that Halloween is all over.
Quick and Easy… Add just enough design to a tuft of bunny tail grass to hint at the autumn fun to come
20 September 2023
Quick and Easy… Add just enough design to a tuft of bunny tail grass to hint at the autumn fun to come

Stand a tuft of bunny tail grass in a small amount of water to dry... and then add a little something that turns it into a little something more.
The horror of flower dye and a spider that sits beside her
26 October 2022
The horror of flower dye and a spider that sits beside her

Weave a spider from lily grass... and reposition it every so often for a creative Halloween twist.
Summer harvest Vine Swirl
14 September 2022
Summer harvest Vine Swirl

A great way have your vines root and enjoy them too...
Weave a willow wreath around a minimal pumpkin display
13 October 2021
Weave a willow wreath around a minimal pumpkin display

It’s amazing how we sometimes try to complicate a design. I tried adding calla lilies… took them out and loved the willow. Added gerberas. Took them out and loved the willow. Added orchids. Took them out and loved the willow. Added Dahlias… and yes, took them out and loved the willow. So finally I just thought- I really do love the willow.
A quick and easy way to Craft a Twig Basket Using Wire Tendrils
6 October 2021
A quick and easy way to Craft a Twig Basket Using Wire Tendrils

The hardest part of this is actually making the tendrils. From there it's a few twists... and we are done!
Wire wrap for a shallow container to keep a twig arch armature neatly in place
15 September 2021
Wire wrap for a shallow container to keep a twig arch armature neatly in place

Wrap a wire around both ends of a shallow container to keep the twigs in place.
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
Spider web covering the design with drops of glittering rain
28 March 2011
Spider web covering the design with drops of glittering rain

Weaving hot glue spider webs
Pick-Up Sticks
29 September 2011
Pick-Up Sticks

A twig and stick design with sweet dumpling pumpkins and rosary vine (Ceropegia woodii). I also made a cherry twig and skeleton leaf Stick Insect
Pick your poison
2 November 2016
Pick your poison

A Fun Halloween design with "poisonous mushrooms" tucked between the moss and petals
On Pumpkin Coloured Days
28 October 2015
On Pumpkin Coloured Days

Create a besom broom to sweep up those Autumn leaves
Prickly
2 October 2013
Prickly

Build a twig porcupine armature for fall flowers
Whipped up in the autumn breeze
4 October 2017
Whipped up in the autumn breeze

Give a loosely woven wreath legs to stand on to hover lightly around a pumpkin
As tendrils tend to do
27 September 2017
As tendrils tend to do

Curl a wreath with tendrils to create a twig-pumpkin
But what’s inside?
3 October 2018
But what’s inside?

This week we are looking at the contents pages of my book... but more specifically at the sweet little pod design on the content page of my book.
Scale up some Halloween chuckles
29 October 2025
Scale up some Halloween chuckles

Playing around with a few growing nasturtium stems for a dramatic Halloween display.
It even sounds like the heat is winding down all the way up to a chill!
10 September 2025
It even sounds like the heat is winding down all the way up to a chill!

Winding up the colour of designs to a vibrant autumn.
Like a hazy serotinal sunset
3 September 2025
Like a hazy serotinal sunset

Capture a hazy late-late summer moment in an abundant floral display.
Canna cafe au lait dahlia be any more hold-your-breath magnificent?
13 August 2025
Canna cafe au lait dahlia be any more hold-your-breath magnificent?

A low and soft late summer display... with just a creative hint of autumn.
Trained
2 July 2025
Trained

Display the most delicate flower stem in a large water filled container with an overgrown vine twirl... perfect for a cooling summer display
Spring Light
14 May 2025
Spring Light

Wrap and weave a lace fine disk.
That day after Halloween feeling
1 November 2023
That day after Halloween feeling

Time to cut down vines... and enjoy them a bit longer in a Halloween display.
Did you see that!?!
20 September 2023
Did you see that!?!

Take a handful of grass... but then add just enough design to make it interesting.
Arachnis Phobicus
26 October 2022
Arachnis Phobicus

A fun woven spider for Halloween decorating
Overgrown S-Autum-mer Swirl
14 September 2022
Overgrown S-Autum-mer Swirl

Designing for somewhere not still summer not yet autumn weather...
Gratitude
13 October 2021
Gratitude

A minimal Thanks Giving design that is a modern take on a wreath
A good measure of Autumn
6 October 2021
A good measure of Autumn

A wire and twig permanent display basket with tiny water sources for a few fresh flowers that can be replaced as needed.
Blowing this way and that
15 September 2021
Blowing this way and that

Craft an arch armature to display those early autumn treasures.
Favourite Flowers
Gerbera
Gerbera

Floral art demonstration design with Gerbera and twigs.