My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Staycation

30 July 2025
and more

Find yourself

getting lost

reflective waters,

rolling pebbles

…and

the coolness

of being

right at home.

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

Gather what you'll need

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Dew-Drop Crystals

I created the Tutorial for how I add these crystals to my floral designs 11 years ago! Since then I have tried, tested and searched for the perfect crystals that would go from studio‑table picture perfect to show‑day‑dependable and I always come back to these. They remain the absolute best. They’re inexpensive yet have a refined, high‑quality crystal brilliance; they don’t tarnish and their adhesive backing stays reliably tacky even after they were exposed to water.

Tutorials

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.

17 January 2018

Creating contrasts in shallow containers with pebbles and water

Such a peaceful design with just enough float and "stay put" elements

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.

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.

8 May 2012

Nestled grass pebble

Weave a grass pebble for flowers to nestle in

31 August 2016

Everlasting succulent and moss display

Glue snippets of moss and succulents to rocks as a long lasting table-scape display

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

31 January 2018

Rock Rest for a heavy Protea Flower Head

Create a contrasting base to lift the heavy flower-head to design in

18 July 2018

Miltonia orchid and cherry plate

Keep a small space open on a serving platter to display gorgeous cherry red Miltonia orchids

24 July 2018

Lemon Aid Container Stopper

Keep flowers in place by placing a lemon on the narrow rim of the container.

12 June 2019

Loop-over grass veil for a cool summer design

A cool and minimal floral design for summer.

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

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.

8 February 2023

Hover winter twig armature with an acetate platform

Crystal clear floral design for winter styling

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.

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.

12 December 2012

Piled Pine Needle Tabletop Wreath

Use wood glue to make a light as air table top wreath from pine needles

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.

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.

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

17 January 2018

Flowering Between a Rock and a Hard place

Create a subtle contrast by floating or anchoring some of your design elements.

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.