My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Standing in frond

I’m also just a girl,

Standing in front of a frond

Asking it to support

these grasses…

and pretty pink Schizanthus pinnatus

Almost like what Anna Scott said that time in “Notting Hill” (1999), right?

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Tutorials
Frond Support for short stemmed flowers
12 July 2023
Frond Support for short stemmed flowers

Create an all natural fern grid to arrange your flowers for a summer display.
Stretching leaves and foliage into a ringlet curl
15 April 2015
Stretching leaves and foliage into a ringlet curl

Most leaves and foliage can be slightly manipulated to curve or curl.
Suspended, suspended buds in a zig zag grass thread
31 August 2022
Suspended, suspended buds in a zig zag grass thread

Suspend flowers in tight bud to slip over a folded and threaded grass grid
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.
Stack a Stack of Stems to create a sturdy grid Armature... with some height
5 June 2019
Stack a Stack of Stems to create a sturdy grid Armature... with some height

Stack green lily stems to create an upright mechanic to keep shorter stems in place.
Skewered Eucalyptus leaf line-up armature
10 May 2017
Skewered Eucalyptus leaf line-up armature

Thread leaves through wire
Standing flower stems upright In Perlite
3 May 2023
Standing flower stems upright In Perlite

I use perlite to root my cuttings... and to support flower stems in an upright position in designs without using floral foam.
Reusable Table Top Lei Armature
17 June 2020
Reusable Table Top Lei Armature

An easy to do, budget friendly, craft ahead- use many times floral armature.
Racked up dried Twig Snippets to display a few flower buds
18 August 2021
Racked up dried Twig Snippets to display a few flower buds

Combining dried and fresh floral details for a easy breezy summer design.
Tap in a Twig Support
4 April 2018
Tap in a Twig Support

Wedge snipped twigs into a glass vase to act as a support for your flowers
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
Stacked Grass Pyramid Armature
13 January 2016
Stacked Grass Pyramid Armature

Stack snippets of grass on a wire frame to make a floating pyramid armature
Loop and Twist a Wire and Twig Tangle Grid
25 August 2021
Loop and Twist a Wire and Twig Tangle Grid

Wire twigs and wire around a shallow container to keep your floral details suspended in water in a shallow container.
Not quite a wreath, not quite a basket armature
16 October 2019
Not quite a wreath, not quite a basket armature

Easy to weave design that can hold your prettiest autumn design treasures.
Baby’s Tears spill-over for a water-drop vase
7 May 2025
Baby’s Tears spill-over for a water-drop vase

Spend a bit of time styling the Pilea Glauca in your container... well worth it! It will root and you can simply replace the flowers (in their own secret water source) as needed.
Related Designs
Add up!
5 June 2019
Add up!

Stacking green stems to create an armature for short stemmed flowers.
About a line
10 May 2017
About a line

Skewer and line up leaves to create an armature
Spring Row
3 May 2023
Spring Row

Viola and chives cleverly dancing upright in a row.
Lei-way
17 June 2020
Lei-way

Allow for a bit of variation by crafting a sturdy armature.
At Play
18 August 2021
At Play

A quick-to-do-but-looks-impressive way to display a beautiful cut garden vine for an effortless summer design.
Grow on it
4 April 2018
Grow on it

Wedge twigs into a vase to create a grid.
Saved up
10 August 2016
Saved up

Cut lengths of bamboo to place in a shallow container as a flower frog
Once Upon A Time
13 January 2016
Once Upon A Time

Stack and glue a Grass Pyramid Armature
Doing a loop tangle twist
25 August 2021
Doing a loop tangle twist

oh yes, a light an airy design showing off those very first autumn leaves.
Center Peace
16 October 2019
Center Peace

A visual breather from all the bright and festive designs to come when designing for Autumn.
To design to our point
7 May 2025
To design to our point

Show off the most delicate alpine poppy by placing it in a veil of baby's tears (Pilea glauca)