My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Sparkler

sparkler floral art design

Spark

Radiating twigs

twinkle

Willow radial

fizzle

Phalaenopsis orchid and willow radial design

sizzle

Sparkling dew drop crystals

crackle

Moth orchid

sputter...

Phalaenopsis orchid and willow twigs sparkler

Pop!

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

Tutorials

12 July 2017 Twig sparkler

Glue twigs to radiate out from a central point

22 May 2012 Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.

12 August 2012 Twist your own Wire Wreath frame

Make a wire wreath frame with wire and cover it with growth mesium or moss to design on

13 April 2012 A secret trick to conditioning new growth

Conditioning new growth and sprouts are difficult because the little sprouts have not had time to fully develop its cellular structure to survive being cut and taking up water on...

19 October 2011 Hana-Kubari chopsticks

Splitting the chopsticks or a wooden branch, such as a willow twig creates a natural (and glue-less!) clamp.

6 March 2012 Glue a round stacked twig platter

Stack and glue tiny twigs to create a round platter

1 May 2012 Cinderella Spiral Pumpkin from Midelino Cane Coils

Tie Midelino Cane coils to make a spiral armature

24 July 2012 Stacked Twig Roundabout

This is a great way to use all those bits of twigs and sticks in your design room to make a floral armature

22 September 2012 Stir-stick Sunburst

Glue a radiating armature from stir-sticks.

16 October 2012 Taco-shaped twig armature

Make a half-moon shaped armature to fill with flowers

30 January 2013 Funnel shaped pick-up-sticks armature

By making a very secure armature, it is possible to stack and suspend loose twigs on top of it building on the stable foundation

2 October 2013 Spiny Twig Porcupine Armature

Glue a few twigs to display Autumn flowers and foliage on

29 January 2014 Twig Shooting Star

Wire and glue a twig armature

26 November 2014 Sticks stuck in a ground covered foundation

Glue potting soil to polystyrene to create a natural looking armature

29 July 2015 Disk Twig Armature

Glue a few wigs to follow the shape of a glass bowl to create a disk armature

Favourite Flowers

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid

Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"

Curly Willow, Chinese Willow, Tortured Willow, Globe Willow, Dragon's Claw, Hankow Willow

Related Designs

27 December 2017 Can it be?

Craft a pine tube to display a soft and snow filled winter scene

14 March 2018 Old, new trends

My article and willow birdcage design for wedding rings featured in DIY Weddings Magazine.

2 May 2018 Over the rainbow

Craft a radiating design that suspends from the orchid stems

6 February 2019 Tread softly on winter

A delicate winter twig armature to show off the delicate beauty of these early spring coloured tulips.

7 August 2019 Point Out: this is a single bunch of gladiolus!

Cut stems of Gladiolus to place in a radiating summer design.

2 October 2019 Cross-hatch a Shadow Bright Autumn

A clever trick borrowed from art techniques to add dimension to a bright and colourful Autumn floral design.

6 May 2020 Forever… incomplete

Craft a pretty armature that can be used again and again.

4 August 2021 Counting Raindrops

Grass crisscross that makes you want to lean in closer to count the late summer raindrops around these gorgeous roses.

8 September 2021 A good September Soaking

Exploring two soaking techniques for a subtle early autumn design

29 June 2022 But for this… let’s not rush

A take your time and mindfully craft a pretty design to celebrate the summer solstice- it is officially summer here in Canada.

19 April 2023 Short Cut

A tiny carry basket to gather the shortest stems from your cutting garden... with a place for water and your cutters.

30 August 2023 Courage, now

A bit of a rethink as the season is getting ready to change. How can I give my design idea a fresh twist?

10 April 2011 Simplicity

Durbanville FlowerClub Arrangement: Chincherinchee on a wire spiral

19 October 2011 In an Oriental Manner

I wanted my parasol design to be thoroughly me, and thoroughly contemporary yet respectful of the guiding rules and methods shared by the different schools of Ikebana.

7 December 2011 Forest Filigree Christmas Wreath

I wanted my Hazel twig wreath to look like forest filigree: mysteriously overgrown, tangled with age and dappled with moss and lichen. The wreath is also dressed with fresh and...

5 January 2012 Designing Your Way to Profits

Floral Craftsmanship Article in the Canadian Florist Magazine

22 February 2012 Nuts and Bolts of Floral Art Mechanics

My design entered for evaluation at the Floral Trends Design Group meeting in South Africa

6 March 2012 Round and Round

Instead of weaving a platter try stacking the twigs from large to tiny small

1 May 2012 Center the more adventurous design ideas on your centerpieces

Designing adventurous Contemporary Floral centerpieces Article in the Canadian Florist Magazine.

24 July 2012 A little bit of Art and Soul

A twig structure with roses

22 September 2012 Turning of the leaves

An Autumn Equinox design that captures the moment before the spectacular colour burst of autumn floats around again

16 October 2012 Bright, brighter… brightest!

Celebrate the bright colours of autumn with lilies and Chinese lanterns

30 January 2013 It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with wire techniques

This was my last two designs for my It's High Time for Tea Floral Craft and Art Demonstration at The Capilano Flower Arranging Club meeting

2 October 2013 Prickly

Build a twig porcupine armature for fall flowers

29 January 2014 Glued to stay just so

Wire and glue a twig armature

2 April 2014 Apricity

Turning a stand-by floral technique sticky side out

26 November 2014 Late Autumn Early Christmas.

Glue a ground foundation for a late autumn design

29 July 2015 Beautiful Things

Glue a few twigs into a disk armature

6 April 2016 Take it for a Spin

Make a clear grid to suspend plant material on