Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Of should and must
- 30 April 2025
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This? It’s made up,
You see… I imagined it last week
... and told my hands to make it.
and now it exists here for far beyond the lifetime of the orchids… the twig stump and the vine;
– here where this twig, every bit as unique as me,
wears its handmade whittled down angle proudly,
… resulting in a unique kind of luxury that we get to share that feels somewhat magical (as the secrets behind craftsmanship should) and very, very personal (as meaningful work must be).
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Tutorials
An easy way to create a design using only a few bits of plant material that can be maintained... effortlessly.
Strip the green bark from the stems to expose the smooth wood
It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
Keep flowers in place by placing a lemon on the narrow rim of the container.
Weave a canopy or parachute shaped armature in a way that you can place the stems in two vases to keep it hydrated.
Cut the Phalaenopsis orchid with a bit of green stem attached. This will make them last longer.
Weave a small panel that fits snugly in a container for a minimal, foam free design that is quick to make but looks spectacular.
Tie a bundle of lily grass in a bundle to offer support for your flowers.
Design in two levels by using two vases, the smaller slipped into a bigger one.
Hide the prettiest of flowers in the entire bunch in plain sight by framing it with elegant grass.
Willow cutting left in water will root and sprout... perfect for a all natural flower frog to admire as is or to keep long stem flowers upright.
Craft a platform to highlight small flowers
It all started with my twig being just too small to wedge into the glass vase tight enough to keep my orchid stem in place...
Lean a large pebble in a display container to keep your summer floral details exactly where you want them.
A radiating design that has the freedom of movement to add a bit of a cooling effect on the warmer days of summer.
Both pretty and pretty effective. Keep the flowers exactly where you want them by weaving a stopper for your bud vase.
Favourite Flowers
Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid
Curly Willow, Chinese Willow, Tortured Willow, Globe Willow, Dragon's Claw, Hankow Willow
Related Designs
I would definitely describe my own personal style as minimalist classic... but with an edgy twist.
A design that visually plays with good proportions to allow the sheltered flower to be the focal point.
Snip and grow willow to create a Spring new growth support for your tall flower stems.
Add design elements that serves a purpose for a minimal summer inspired floral design.
Weave a spherical support to place long stemmed flowers into a bud vase.
It deserves a bowl all of it's own... right? I am (of course!) talking about these spectacular little sweet peas called King Tut. Not much else is needed. But add a cute little...
