My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Still

My bark bowl design and tutorial featured in the

Centrepiece Wedding Magazine

"I

am

still

learning"

Quote by Michelangelo, age 85

Thank you Centrepiece Wedding Magazine for inviting me to contribute.

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Tutorials
Bark Bowl
17 September 2014
Bark Bowl

Glue bark onto a bowl to create a dome shape
Lilies
2 January 2011
Lilies

How to keep Lilies in bud for longer. Removing the pollen. Stringing a Lily Garland.
A bark design surface that suspends the first Spring flowers to rest just below the surface.
19 February 2025
A bark design surface that suspends the first Spring flowers to rest just below the surface.

Glue two large bark chips to craft a large design platform to suspend the most delicate of floral details in a "I wish it was Spring already" arrangement.
A cluster bunch of just enough floral ingredients to spike into a Kenzan for a larger display
31 July 2024
A cluster bunch of just enough floral ingredients to spike into a Kenzan for a larger display

A larger summer display in a Kenzan
Stand bark on pointe to display the sweetest sweet peas
19 June 2024
Stand bark on pointe to display the sweetest sweet peas

Create a natural armature for a summer display
Wood chip and sparkle mushroom cornucopia
11 October 2023
Wood chip and sparkle mushroom cornucopia

A horn of plenty... seasonal sparkle.
Two layer table top forest floor armature that Transition from Autumn to Christmas
10 November 2021
Two layer table top forest floor armature that Transition from Autumn to Christmas

Don’t you just hate short cuts?<br> ... because the longer your design elements will last the more effort it will take for you to make them look vibrant again.
Kenzan peg bark curls into a hollow and bottomless log vase
11 November 2020
Kenzan peg bark curls into a hollow and bottomless log vase

Craft a bottomless vase out of bark so that the floral stem is supported but can still stand in water to remain hydrated.
Beaded wire Leaf
25 September 2019
Beaded wire Leaf

This week I show you the Tutorial for the wire leaf shown in my book on page 14 ... this time in copper.
Spin a tiny glue bead around a thin stem to secure it at an angle in a design
25 September 2019
Spin a tiny glue bead around a thin stem to secure it at an angle in a design

This is a trick for attaching fine details at exactly the right angle.
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.
Kenzan leaf rack
15 November 2017
Kenzan leaf rack

Line and position pretty autumn leaves.
Muted Side Up Autumn Leaf Pod
18 October 2017
Muted Side Up Autumn Leaf Pod

Turn the leaf so that the muted underside faces outward to create a more understated Autumn colour scheme .
Papier Mache pumpkin half
18 October 2017
Papier Mache pumpkin half

Glue thin tissue paper layers to a pumpkin to create a shape to design with
Wedding welcome and direction sign
15 March 2017
Wedding welcome and direction sign

Hang a twig and wood mobile at your weeding as a direction board
Potted bark pod for a flowering plant
11 January 2017
Potted bark pod for a flowering plant

Cover a Styrofoam shape with bark to create a bowl for a potted design
Driftwood base for a floral foam pebble design
2 November 2016
Driftwood base for a floral foam pebble design

The flat surface of a piece of driftwood creates a base to design on
Weave green strips of willow bark into a nest
15 June 2016
Weave green strips of willow bark into a nest

Strip bark from willow to eave and set into a shape
Related Designs
When the Pretty much Pretty flows, it lingers in our hearts
19 February 2025
When the Pretty much Pretty flows, it lingers in our hearts

A bark support to display the most delicate Spring floral treasures.
Have a floral adventure, really
31 July 2024
Have a floral adventure, really

Creating a larger sustainable floral design by clustering the floral details into bunches.
Do you know what the point is?
19 June 2024
Do you know what the point is?

A bark armature standing on pointe for some gorgeous blue King Tut sweet peas
Plenty Glow to Harvest
11 October 2023
Plenty Glow to Harvest

Glow and sparkle bark armature to celebrate the first signs of Autumn
… any day now
10 November 2021
… any day now

Using dried floral material is so trendy right now. But the longer lasting the design elements the more effort you have to put in to stop it from looking lifeless.
What goes around
11 November 2020
What goes around

Display a single stem flower in an Autumn leaf twirl
It’s one and a half to two times... but to the side
25 September 2019
It’s one and a half to two times... but to the side

Soft minimal... this is exactly the kind of design I place in our apartment. Use a few fall treasures picked up on a walk and add a copper leaf to up the effort and love you add into your designs.
Almost... all over!
12 June 2019
Almost... all over!

Loop a grass veil over a lily stem to create a minimalist summer design.
Alchemy
15 November 2017
Alchemy

Gently stand leaves upright in a Kenzan
On the inside
18 October 2017
On the inside

For a softer autumn leaf pod turn the leaves so that the bright side faces in when making the pod.
Wedding Welcome
15 March 2017
Wedding Welcome

My article and wedding direction board design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
As special as an almost never find
11 January 2017
As special as an almost never find

Sometimes you find such a beautiful plant that you just can't bring yourself to cut it. This design explores using the entire plant, pot and all, in a design
Pick your poison
2 November 2016
Pick your poison

A Fun Halloween design with "poisonous mushrooms" tucked between the moss and petals
One tug
15 June 2016
One tug

Weave willow bark strips into a nest and weave a bird from flax
Favourite Flowers
Lilium
Lilium

A Rock by any other name, lily design