My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Oh So Me

26 April 2023
and more

Your design is done

when you can say:

see that bit over there…

where I made the thing do it's thing...

that is just

oh… so me!

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Gather what you'll need

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Dew-Drop Crystals

I created the Tutorial for how I add these crystals to my floral designs 11 years ago! Since then I have tried, tested and searched for the perfect crystals that would go from studio‑table picture perfect to show‑day‑dependable and I always come back to these. They remain the absolute best. They’re inexpensive yet have a refined, high‑quality crystal brilliance; they don’t tarnish and their adhesive backing stays reliably tacky even after they were exposed to water.

Tutorials

26 April 2023

New growth Spring frog

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.

22 May 2012

Filling a vase with water without disturbing the design details

Break the water flow when you fill a vase with details in that can move with the stream of water

22 May 2012

Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.

22 May 2012

Spiral twig frog

Multiple tiny twigs create a flower frog to keep the delicate buds and leaves in the exact spot you want.

22 June 2016

Lily grass spiral in a vase

Twist lily grass slightly to create a spiral for the orchids to nestle in

7 May 2014

Rethinking the traditional Komiwara technique

Komiwara is a classic and traditional Ikebana technique used in a Rikka design. Designers would usually bundle straw to keep the flowers in place.

2 August 2017

Two vase, two level Phormium snippets

Design in two levels by using two vases, the smaller slipped into a bigger one.

27 April 2016

Hiding a secret water source in a twig frog

New growth is really difficult to design with and definitely needs to be conditioned and placed in a water source

4 July 2018

Bundle Support

Tie a bundle of lily grass in a bundle to offer support for your flowers.

21 February 2018

Stem line-up

Line up stems to create a base for the heavy Hanging Heliconia stems

16 November 2022

Magnolia Rose Bowl with the brightest Holly berries and Kalanchoe flowers

Long lasting berries, magnolia leaves and succulent (kalanchoe) flowers that can remain without any water or maintenance for... well... all the way to Christmas!

5 February 2020

Pour glue over a stick Bundle to craft a Poke Out Spring stick Armature

Fake an early Spring by crafting a long lasting stick bundle that has a blossoming branch of succulent flowers.

18 June 2014

Sticking a stick curve to create a hollowed out crescent armature

An easy way to create a neat curve in a very short time

27 May 2026

Bundled together to create a naturalistic looseness that appears to be light as air

Level up your budvase designs by adding something that makes the onlooker lean in closer to try to figure out you exactly you did this.

4 March 2026

Growing forced bulbs to get extra long leggy nest weaving material for a Spring flower frog

Using the natural responses of plant material to their fullest creative potential.

18 February 2026

Knotted parcels to position your plant material in a design

Tie a few Papyrus stems into bundle-parcels with lily grass.

21 January 2026

Close an open pinecone to use as a flower frog

Use the natural way pinecones close their scales when wet or cold to protect the little seeds from moisture and damage to display your winter flowers in a small container.

30 April 2025

Whittle a stumpy stopper to peg precious tiny floral details in place

An easy way to create a design using only a few bits of plant material that can be maintained... effortlessly.

22 January 2025

Bring out the pretty spots on the lip of this tiny orchid with a dotted twig stump armature

Create a delicate floating and natural display without using floral foam with a twig frog armature.

6 March 2024

A secret and so pretty stay open support for a growing willow birdcage

Grow your own willow birdcage in a small pot to display Spring flowers in.

13 September 2023

Traditional book folding craft technique turned into an armature… with a me twist

Fold a book into a floral armature... with tricks there to keep the floral material hydrated and suspended.

Related Designs

22 May 2012

Lean

Place short twigs, leaning to one side to create a flower frog

22 June 2016

Perfection

Spiral grass to create a nest for the lady slipper orchids

22 May 2019

Putting your own spin on it

I would definitely describe my own personal style as minimalist classic... but with an edgy twist.

7 May 2014

Serendipity

Be inspired by traditional Ikebana techniques

11 September 2013

Making it last

Split and spiral a few gladiolus flowers in a way that the stems remain intact, to spiral in a water filled filled vase for a long lasting composite flower