My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Shine Shade

Shine Shade floral design by Christine de Beer

“Spring

Handcraft a globe for a flower arrangement

is the time

Phalaenopsis in a contemporary flower arrangement

of year,

Phalaenopsis orchids sheltered in a grass snippet globe

when it is

Sustainable floristry inspiration and tutorials

summer in the sun

Craft with nature to create a greener space

and

Earth day flower arrangement

winter in the shade”

Quote by Charles Dickens

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

Tutorials

27 April 2022 Grass snippet globe with T-connections for a (shaded) second layer

Craft two snippet half moons to connect... and... then add a second layer of grass snippets here and there to shade the flowers.

24 July 2012 Blow away hot glue strands

When you glue a structure with hot glue there are always a few stray strands of glue stuck all over the design. Blow it away with a hairdryer.

28 March 2011 Spinning a Hot Glue Spider Web or silk for a Floral Cocoon

How to spin (and remove) hot glue spider web or floral cocoon

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

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

18 January 2017 T-connect twigs to shadow a design

Split a twig to create a t connection to hover a twig over the design

19 June 2019 Creating a secure grass snippet here and there grid

This grid helps secure flowers in place... and add visual interest by being over rather than under the flowers.

3 February 2016 Connect the dot grass Armature

Connect the ends of grass snippets to create a spherical grass armature

30 May 2018 Snippet grid

Glue grass stem snippets to create a natural grid over a shallow container

30 April 2014 Scattered grass armature

An grass armature that looks scattered but is actually very secure

30 August 2017 Standing a water tube at an angle in lumber

Create a minimal design by placing a single flower on a platform

14 August 2013 Haphazard twig Rectangle

Glue a few twigs into a rectangular shape to hang as a space or room devider

28 August 2013 Barely there Mad Hatter's Top Hat

Glue sisal fibers to create a floral top hat

9 September 2015 Layered sisal and twig armature

small sisal fibers create a mat like armature

27 March 2019 An eggshell stack and grass snippet arch with a hidden water source for a Spring or Easter design

An almost nest like design with a hidden water source.

16 October 2012 Taco-shaped twig armature

Make a half-moon shaped armature to fill with flowers

8 June 2016 Popsicle Stick Square Armature

Glue Popsicle sticks to create a double layered, upright armature

Favourite Flowers

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid

Related Designs

4 January 2023 Around and about the new year

A glowing cranberry ball for frosty evening decorating.

25 January 2023 Even More

This orchid developed at the very end of a long stem... right as the rest of the flowers started to die back so I made a special armature to display the cut stem.

7 August 2024 Bring in some of the magic of summer rain

Design drops of grass to dangle down a hydrangea flower for an effortless summer floral display.

3 February 2016 Connect the dot

Connect snippets of grass to create a shelter for your flowers

30 May 2018 You see... here is the Thing:

Glue a grass snippet grid for shallow container design

30 April 2014 Scattered

Scatter some dried grass to make a floral armature

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

14 August 2013 Something Like This

Stack and glue a large twig rectangle to hang as room divider

28 August 2013 Losing some of that Muchness

A barely there sisal Mad Hatter's floral hat

9 September 2015 Fall Treasures

A sisal mat armature for fall twigs flowers and leaves

27 May 2015 RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015 Limelight Floral Art Design

Looking back at the preparations and staging of a design in the Floral Design Studio Marquee at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

27 March 2019 Like trying to find a water tube in a eggshell stack

A fun Spring and Easter design with stacked eggshells.

19 June 2019 Club together

Last Wednesday I had such a flowery fun evening teaching a collaborative floral carpet workshop focusing on braiding and weaving ideas from my book the effortless floral craftsman...

16 October 2012 Bright, brighter… brightest!

Celebrate the bright colours of autumn with lilies and Chinese lanterns

8 June 2016 When the wind whisper

Glue a fantasy forest from Popsicle sticks, grape vine tendrils and willow tips