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Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Ringing in A Very Merry Traditional Christmas… Tradition

  • 17 November 2021
  • and more

“It’s time

to

celebrate

As we ring in

the Season

… at last”

Lyrics from Olaf’s search for the very best Christmas traditions in “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure” (2017)

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Dew-Drop Crystals
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
Wreath-Rim a Vase with sparkling foxtail and twigs
17 November 2021
Wreath-Rim a Vase with sparkling foxtail and twigs

Add a collar around a vase to hint at a wreath for an early Christmas floral design.
Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals
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.
Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening
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.
Foxtail in a bud vase forest floor
29 July 2020
Foxtail in a bud vase forest floor

Create a sturdy platform from bark to design an entire forest floor on a single foxtail fern frond
Cardboard base for a roasting-by-an-open-fire fishbowl vase snow globe
16 December 2020
Cardboard base for a roasting-by-an-open-fire fishbowl vase snow globe

… ideal for fresh floral displays because it has a hidden water source that can be refilled and the candle can be switched on and off without disturbing the design.
Eucalyptus tinsel garland
2 January 2019
Eucalyptus tinsel garland

Wire seeded Eucalyptus into a long tinsel garland.
Silver bell Christmas Greenery kissing ball
2 December 2015
Silver bell Christmas Greenery kissing ball

Use delicate sprigs of cypress or juniper, fir, pine, eucalyptus, ivy or a combination of them all to create a winter themed kissing bough
Snow puddle armature
6 March 2019
Snow puddle armature

Connect twigs with puddles of artificial snow to craft a winter armature for your flowers.
Lost and found snow mittens
2 December 2020
Lost and found snow mittens

Artificial snow covered cardboard mittens to add to a winter themed design.
Incise waxy Gardenia foliage to decorate the edge of a container
9 May 2018
Incise waxy Gardenia foliage to decorate the edge of a container

Cut a small wedge out of a stack of waxy leaves to keep the flower and twig in place.
Create a tighter fit with pebbles so that you can wedge a twig securely into a vase
26 August 2020
Create a tighter fit with pebbles so that you can wedge a twig securely into a vase

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...
Placing orchids in test tubes
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.
Balance a cake stand lid on it’s side to create a leaning design
24 April 2019
Balance a cake stand lid on it’s side to create a leaning design

Suspend a flower for an unusual but minimalist design over a leaning container lid.
Standing a water tube at an angle in lumber
30 August 2017
Standing a water tube at an angle in lumber

Create a minimal design by placing a single flower on a platform
Related Designs
On a Grand Scale
9 December 2015
On a Grand Scale

My article and a floral panel design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
In Summer!
23 May 2018
In Summer!

A contemporary cascade of rosary vine and dried petals.
Tail end of the story
29 July 2020
Tail end of the story

Craft a bark platform to design on in a foxtail fern frond.
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Snow Globe
16 December 2020
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Snow Globe

...ok not really that fancy- it’s paper pulp. Cardboard boxes, really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered. This week it's a snow globe platform that is quick to make and hold a hidden water source and an easy to get to the on off switch battery candle button.
One New Year’s Wish
2 January 2019
One New Year’s Wish

Wire a sparkling tinsel garland to dress up a single, elegant Arum lily.
Stacking the odds in your favour
2 December 2015
Stacking the odds in your favour

Cover a wire frame for a winter kissing bough.
It almost happened today!
6 March 2019
It almost happened today!

Craft snow puddles to keep your flowers upright
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Lost and Found Snow Mittens
2 December 2020
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Lost and Found Snow Mittens

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box snow mittens… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered.
Happy Coincidence!
3 January 2018
Happy Coincidence!

Some designs really do just make themselves. I received this tiny vase for Christmas from Marius (thank you, Marius!) and while cleaning out my design room I found this little twig with a fork in it. Add a ranunculus with a ridiculously gorgeous curve in it's stem... done.
What is the meaning of this?
9 May 2018
What is the meaning of this?

Create a minimal design with a few leaves to keep is all upright.
The circle of making new things:
16 September 2020
The circle of making new things:

A wreath armature design for early Autumn... this takes the split armature Tutorial I showed you last month a little bit further.
It starts with WHY
26 August 2020
It starts with WHY

Add design elements that serves a purpose for a minimal summer inspired floral design.
Put aside
24 April 2019
Put aside

Urgh… my glass cake stand broke leaving me with a still beautiful, but now mismatched and extremely inspirational lid...
If
30 August 2017
If

Place a water tube at an angle in lumber so that the Zantedeschia float just above the base to show off the delicate grass snippets scattered up the stem
Favourite Flowers
Cymbidium
Cymbidium

Cymbidium orchids for my Designing your way to profits article that was featured in the Canadian Florist Magazine