My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Serendipity

(ser-en-dip-i-ty) noun

An aptitude for making

desirable

discoveries

by

accident

Serendipity

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Tutorials
Rethinking the traditional Komiwara technique
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.
Secure a pliable stem accross a design
7 May 2014
Secure a pliable stem accross a design

I wanted my Lily of the Valley stem to lean across the design, and simply tied it with grass.
Bring out the pretty spots on the lip of this tiny orchid with a dotted twig stump armature
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.
Traditional book folding craft technique turned into an armature… with a me twist
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.
New growth Spring frog
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.
A flower, flower frog to keep your design details perfectly put
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
Controlled breaking a thin reed to create a grass spiral armature
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.
Gently peel leaves from the stalk to create a twisted stem end
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
A round, around a round foliage… spiral in a vase
30 January 2019
A round, around a round foliage… spiral in a vase

Stack foliage to create a rose spiral in a container.
Bundle Support
4 July 2018
Bundle Support

Tie a bundle of lily grass in a bundle to offer support for your flowers.
Stem line-up
21 February 2018
Stem line-up

Line up stems to create a base for the heavy Hanging Heliconia stems
Two vase, two level Phormium snippets
2 August 2017
Two vase, two level Phormium snippets

Design in two levels by using two vases, the smaller slipped into a bigger one.
Bamboo frog for a shallow container design
10 August 2016
Bamboo frog for a shallow container design

Cut short bamboo lengths to keep your flower material upright in a shallow and narrow container
Lily grass spiral in a vase
22 June 2016
Lily grass spiral in a vase

Twist lily grass slightly to create a spiral for the orchids to nestle in
Related Designs
Spot on!
22 January 2025
Spot on!

Connect the dots with round willow cuts and the spotted lip of the tiniest mini miniature Phalaenopsis orchids
I am a fan!
13 September 2023
I am a fan!

Giving my book a super fan make-over.
Oh So Me
26 April 2023
Oh So Me

Snip and grow willow to create a Spring new growth support for your tall flower stems.
In the little gap
19 May 2021
In the little gap

Use the petals of your flower to cleverly keep all the other floral details of your design firmly in place.
From here in out
17 February 2021
From here in out

An all natural, zero waste design using only plant material.
Putting your own spin on it
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.
Around Here
30 January 2019
Around Here

Wind lily leaves to spiral around in a water filled container.
Wonder
4 July 2018
Wonder

Tie a bundle of grass to support your floral details
Impossible things
21 February 2018
Impossible things

A cut stem flower frog for the heavy Hanging Heliconia flowers
Grace
2 August 2017
Grace

Use snips and snippets and leftovers to create a design of it's own
Saved up
10 August 2016
Saved up

Cut lengths of bamboo to place in a shallow container as a flower frog
Sprout
27 April 2016
Sprout

A sneaky way to condition new growth to add into your Spring design