My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Perfection

22 June 2016
and more

Pleasure

the

job

puts

Perfection

the

work

Quote by Aristotle

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Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

22 June 2016

Lily grass spiral in a vase

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

15 April 2015

Stretching leaves and foliage into a ringlet curl

Most leaves and foliage can be slightly manipulated to curve or curl.

25 August 2011

Placing orchids in test tubes

Cut the Phalaenopsis orchid with a bit of green stem attached. This will make them last longer.

5 September 2012

Curling Kyogi Paper

Kyogi paper can be curled if you work with it wet.

28 May 2013

Curling Rattan

Curl and twill rattan tendrils

19 February 2013

Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening

Most stems, twigs and even sturdier branches can be bend into shapes. It takes practice and more than a bit of patience. The main idea is to slowly manipulate the branch without breaking it.

17 July 2012

Guacamole Green Coiled Grass Chameleon

My Chameleon is mono-botanical. Made from coiled grass

14 September 2011

Looping the lily grass shape

Loop lily grass around a basic structure or shape made from paper.

14 September 2011

Making the lily grass harness

Loops and straight sections of lily grass connected into a grass harness

25 April 2012

A plait, a braid or a French knot grass collar

"Plaid" and "braid" are synonyms, and where you are from will most likely dictate whether you use plait (British) or braid (American or Celtic). Some people also refer to cornrows as braids or refer to pinned up plaits as braids. A French braid is a braiding technique.

17 July 2012

Prevent scratches, rust and water stains on display surfaces

This is a great, non permanent way to protect surfaces from damage

1 May 2012

Cinderella Spiral Pumpkin from Midelino Cane Coils

Tie Midelino Cane coils to make a spiral armature

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.

4 June 2025

Tiny wreath to balance a water tube… with a twist

Weave small wreath as a support for water tubes.

12 March 2025

Clip a neat design strip right through 38.46 g (or a thousand!) sprouting wheatgrass for a ethereal Spring display

Mow a gap through growing wheatgrass to display Spring treasures.

5 February 2025

Delicate snow willow twirl around a growing Slipper orchid plant display

Arrange sprouting willow twigs to twirl and frame a beautiful Paphiopedilum (slipper) orchid

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.

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 March 2023

Easy twist to a tulip spiral to nestle a “we are still building this” bird’s nest in

The easiest unfinished nest idea... simply shaped from roots discovered while Spring cleaning and preparing to plant.

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!

20 July 2022

Breezy lily grass ripple

A radiating design that has the freedom of movement to add a bit of a cooling effect on the warmer days of summer.

19 May 2021

A flower, flower frog to keep your design details perfectly put

Use the firm petals of a flower to keep your design details upright

17 February 2021

Controlled breaking a thin reed to create a grass spiral armature

Carefully break... but don't snap a reed to create a curved base for a fanned out grass armature.

8 July 2020

Adding tendrils to an already fluffy papyrus puff ambel

There's no need for a quick and easy summer design to be boring... look closer!

28 August 2019

Hula skirt for a glass vase

Hawaiian Hula skirt for a Luau inspired flower arrangement.

22 May 2019

Gently peel leaves from the stalk to create a twisted stem end

Roll leaves to create a stopper to keep flowers in place in a bud vase

30 January 2019

A round, around a round foliage… spiral in a vase

Stack foliage to create a rose spiral in a container.

21 February 2018

Stem line-up

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

2 August 2017

Two vase, two level Phormium snippets

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

19 July 2017

Interweave a messy grass tumble

Loosely wrap and weave lily grass to create a planned-messy looking armature

Related Designs

15 April 2015

Bowled Over

Weave a sphere armature to complement delicate oncidium orchiods

10 August 2011

Pleated Pleasure

Pleats are accordion like folds of equal width in alternating opposite directions in any kind of fabric. I absolutely love the tight buds of Allium and they represent the "pleasure" part of my design

14 September 2011

Cool, Collected and Contemporary

My take on harnessing elegance, simply looped from lily grass. Cool, as in attention-grabbing idea. Collected, as in held together. And contemporary as in the latest thing

1 February 2012

Steeling yourself against stealing creativity

I wrote this article for Wedding Business Success (an online meeting place for the wedding industry) exploring a positive way of looking at creativity and... stealing!

24 April 2012

Words Matter.

Braiding and plaiting and knotting hair is a huge trend in hairdressing at the moment. Intricate little plaits are draped over long flowing hair to add complexity and quirk. It’s a lovely design trend to add to floral art.