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Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Making it work somewhere between a rock and a hard place

  • 14 February 2013

What a predicament!

A real conundrum!

In such a pretty fix!

… and now the cracks are starting to show!!!

And then you start to think…

Maybe a pebble for over here… just add a bit of… curl this twig just so…

Don't you just love creative blunders?

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Tutorials
Pebbles
19 February 2011
Pebbles

Cut and smooth pebbles out of Rainbow Oasis
Sealing floral foam shapes with candle wax to make them water tight
14 February 2013
Sealing floral foam shapes with candle wax to make them water tight

A thin layer of melted wax creates a watertight layer for floral foam
Melting Wax for Floral Art
19 March 2011
Melting Wax for Floral Art

For Floral Art the temperature of the wax rarely exceeds the minimum melting point.
Casting wet cement to have surface cracks
14 February 2013
Casting wet cement to have surface cracks

The goal is to cast the cement in such a way that the surface of the cement dries faster than the sub-surface cement. As the water from the wet cement at the bottom rises it pushes through the dried surface, causing beautiful cracks.
Encouraging Moss and Lichen to grow on a design
7 December 2011
Encouraging Moss and Lichen to grow on a design

This time of year is best for starting a moss garden. It needs to be cool and wet. Lichen and moss becomes dormant when it is too hot and dry.
Large wax snowflakes
4 December 2013
Large wax snowflakes

Artificial snow can be very "chemical" and flowers deteriorate quickly when exposed to it. It also dissolves in water. I use candle wax as "snow"
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
Water dip Wax to match the flame petals of a Cyclamen flower for a layered Twig and Leaf armature
15 November 2023
Water dip Wax to match the flame petals of a Cyclamen flower for a layered Twig and Leaf armature

Dipping wax in a deep bath of water makes the most beautiful streams of wax that looks just like the petals of a cyclamen flower.
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It’s leaps of faith, grasshoppers

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Freeze… just for a moment!

Not quite winter but also a bit late for autumn design that is somewhere between sparkle and flying leaves.
A Jingle Cotton Christmas
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A Jingle Cotton Christmas

Cover a wreath frame with bark and cotton for a textured Christmas wreath design