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Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Staycation

Find yourself

getting lost

in

reflective waters,

rolling pebbles

…and

the coolness

of being

right at home.

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Tutorials
Grass and orchid octopus for a beachy summer display
30 July 2025
Grass and orchid octopus for a beachy summer display

A spotted Phaleoctopi (not true) in a pebble beach design mechanic (absolutely true) summer display.
Creating contrasts in shallow containers with pebbles and water
17 January 2018
Creating contrasts in shallow containers with pebbles and water

Such a peaceful design with just enough float and "stay put" elements
A rock solid support for long stemmed Lupine foliage, an absolutely not So-so Bletilla orchid and jasmine vine
25 June 2025
A rock solid support for long stemmed Lupine foliage, an absolutely not So-so Bletilla orchid and jasmine vine

Minimal but oh so remarkable! Easy way to support long thin stems exactly how you want them to create a tropical looking summer design.
A tiny pebble to keep it all in place
10 March 2021
A tiny pebble to keep it all in place

Keep an orchid and a blade of grass on an upturned bowl... with the weight of a tiny pebble.
Nestled grass pebble
8 May 2012
Nestled grass pebble

Weave a grass pebble for flowers to nestle in
Everlasting succulent and moss display
31 August 2016
Everlasting succulent and moss display

Glue snippets of moss and succulents to rocks as a long lasting table-scape display
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
Rock Rest for a heavy Protea Flower Head
31 January 2018
Rock Rest for a heavy Protea Flower Head

Create a contrasting base to lift the heavy flower-head to design in
Miltonia orchid and cherry plate
18 July 2018
Miltonia orchid and cherry plate

Keep a small space open on a serving platter to display gorgeous cherry red Miltonia orchids
Lemon Aid Container Stopper
24 July 2018
Lemon Aid Container Stopper

Keep flowers in place by placing a lemon on the narrow rim of the container.
Loop-over grass veil for a cool summer design
12 June 2019
Loop-over grass veil for a cool summer design

A cool and minimal floral design for summer.
Stacking grass covered pebbles
25 June 2019
Stacking grass covered pebbles

Pebbles are a great way to weigh down or keep your floral material in place. Here's a way to dress them up a bit
Wrap a vine around a tiny vase to suspend it from a balanced twig
2 September 2020
Wrap a vine around a tiny vase to suspend it from a balanced twig

Using the design elements as mechanics to secure the design elements.
Hover winter twig armature with an acetate platform
8 February 2023
Hover winter twig armature with an acetate platform

Crystal clear floral design for winter styling
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.
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.
Piled Pine Needle Tabletop Wreath
12 December 2012
Piled Pine Needle Tabletop Wreath

Use wood glue to make a light as air table top wreath from pine needles
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.
Rock steady for tiny floral details
26 June 2024
Rock steady for tiny floral details

Lean a large pebble in a display container to keep your summer floral details exactly where you want them.
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.
Related Designs
Flowering Between a Rock and a Hard place
17 January 2018
Flowering Between a Rock and a Hard place

Create a subtle contrast by floating or anchoring some of your design elements.
Floating Boat Orchid
7 June 2011
Floating Boat Orchid

The name Cymbidium or boat Orchid is derived from the Greek word Kumbos meaning "hole or cavity", referring to the hollowness in the base of the lip of the flowers.
Any Which Way
7 January 2015
Any Which Way

Using a traditional Ikabana Kenzan to place flowers in a shallow container
So not so So-so after all
25 June 2025
So not so So-so after all

An island holiday (with a beach umbrella, don't you think?) floral display that celebrate a clutter free summer.
The way we curve
10 March 2021
The way we curve

Tiny minimal design that explores curves.
Skipping stone
8 May 2012
Skipping stone

Weave a grass pebble for the orchid to nestle in.
Leftovers
31 August 2016
Leftovers

Using bits and snippets to create an everlasting moss and succulent design
Well, I'll be
27 January 2016
Well, I'll be

Manipulate fresh willow stems to create a sprouting armature for long tulip stems
Saved up
10 August 2016
Saved up

Cut lengths of bamboo to place in a shallow container as a flower frog
Rock, don't Roll
31 January 2018
Rock, don't Roll

Balance the heavy Protea flower head to lean against a rock.
Hi-Lo
6 June 2018
Hi-Lo

Perfect stems, perfect flowers. Needs nothing more.
Is it an Isit?
18 July 2018
Is it an Isit?

Deep cherry red Miltonia orchid in a platter of cherries
Lemon Aid
25 July 2018
Lemon Aid

Use a lemon as a stopper to keep floral material in place
Almost... all over!
12 June 2019
Almost... all over!

Loop a grass veil over a lily stem to create a minimalist summer design.
“Ok wow”
26 June 2019
“Ok wow”

A design so fine you can easily miss it... if it were not for the interwoven pebbles catching your eye.
Last full Moon of summer
2 September 2020
Last full Moon of summer

All natural design using the design elements as mechanics.
Snow… drops
8 February 2023
Snow… drops

A late winter design for minimal floral styling.
It's a swell time…
12 December 2012
It's a swell time…

An exceptional moment frozen in time… 12:12:12 12/12/12
Spring Row
3 May 2023
Spring Row

Viola and chives cleverly dancing upright in a row.
It’s leaps of faith, grasshoppers
26 June 2024
It’s leaps of faith, grasshoppers

A sunny rock to make your design... not rock
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