My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Point Witch (or Wizard) Way

19 October 2022
click to send Christine a smile
and more

Question: How long did this take you to make?

Me: Yes,

that really is it!

That really

the

whole

... point

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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

19 October 2022

A witch... or wizard... hat that you can shape any which way you like

Take your time to weave a pointy hat from what you find in nature.

8 June 2011

Foliage Weaving

For this tutorial I focus on a simple weave pattern that does not require you to soften or prepare the leaves to be more durable or flexible. This is the starting point in weaving techniques. You can build on this technique to make floral handbags, gift boxes, and baskets, sew it into a curve or wrap it around a vase or cover a test tube.

4 January 2011

Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

15 October 2014

Thanks Weaving Hat

This is the basic pattern used to weave a hat

20 July 2016

Twisted Lily Grass sun hat

Twist and weave a sun hat from blades of lily grass

28 August 2013

Barely there Mad Hatter's Top Hat

Glue sisal fibers to create a floral top hat

5 April 2017

Weaving a Pillbox hat from grass

Use the "over and under" weaving pattern to weave a round, upright hat with a flat top and no brim.

14 January 2015

Weaving Slippers from Foliage

Weave slip on shoes from palm leaves

29 August 2018

Coil slip on sandals

Braid ripped flax and coil it into shaped slip on sandals.

22 April 2020

Weave a trendy oversized clutch purse with a hidden magnetic closure

A three in one Tutorial to show you how to weave a clutch purse, how to add a magnetic closure AND how to incorporate a ribbon into a weaved design.

13 April 2022

Handcrafted grass and twig basket to hold some Easter flowers

Easter basket filled with (almost... almost chocolate) anthuriums.

29 May 2019

Weaving and Interweaving for contrast

My block design is shaped around a Styrofoam block. It is bulky but lightweight and a great way to reuse packaging.

22 May 2012

Harvesting cyclamen flowers and foliage

Cyclamen stems are so close together that it is easy to damage the plant when cutting stems.

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.

23 March 2012

Drying Physalis sepals

Every Autumn we see the beautiful Physalis pods everywhere but they are easy to dry and preserve to use year round.

16 August 2011

Fast way to fill a lot of test tubes in awkward places

I do not believe in arranging flowers without a water source of some kind. I want my flowers to remain as beautiful for as long as possible and I often get quite creative to ensure a water source for even finer stems and blossoms.

13 November 2024

Double down on the Fall magic with the earliest hint of bare (but sparkly) Twig Season

A double vase to keep the bit of sparkle you add to transition a Fall design into Christmas nice and dry... while the fresh plant material remain hydrated.

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.

25 October 2023

Interweave a fairy light and grass glow vase

Wrap a fairy light grid around a fishbowl vase to interweave dried grass for an almost basket display.

Related Designs

15 October 2014

Thanks-Weaving

Weaving a hat with an autumn leaf and rose hip garland

20 July 2016

A Shade of Summer

Twist and weave a lily grass summer hat

28 August 2013

Losing some of that Muchness

A barely there sisal Mad Hatter's floral hat

5 April 2017

Easter Bonnet

Weave a delicate Pillbox hat

14 January 2015

Take a load off

Weave slippers from foliage

29 August 2018

It’s not that it is inexpensive… it’s priceless!

Yes, this Coil slip on sandals design is in my book: the effortless floral craftsman, a floral crafter’s guide to crafting with nature ... it is also the first design from the book featured in a magazine: Thank you DIY Wedding Magazine , I am so happy to share finally the this with you:

17 June 2015

This Summer

Weave slip on summer sandals

13 March 2019

How to avoid your wedding treasures from becoming “after the event trash”

My article and grass wedding basket design.

29 May 2019

Creative Competition

This week I am so excited to share my article and design that was published in the recent issue of the Floral Art Society of New Zealand's Academy Magazine for NZ qualified teachers, judges and demonstrators. It's all about good competition.

22 April 2020

Yes… but what would she put in it?

Some floral fashion inspiration: weave a pretty clutch purse

13 April 2022

Hop on… it’s Easter!

A cheery Easter basket for a new beginning

24 April 2011

The plastic inside of a roll of Florist tape becomes a Wrist Corsage

Up-cycle the inner plastic ring from a roll of floral tape to make a wrist corsage. This design was also featured in the Italian floral design magazine Blossom Zine

13 November 2024

Fall-a-la-lah!

Transitioning into the Christmas season... gently

15 November 2023

Freeze… just for a moment!

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

25 October 2023

Go on Autumn… glow!

Mixing permanent and fresh design ingredients to celebrate just how clever the glow of Autumn is.

Favourite Flowers

Physalis

Spiral flowers from Chinese lantern sepals for my Thanksgiving Harvest design.

Cyclamen

Cyclamen flower bud and leaf in my Lean design