My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Tail end of the story

Breaking news in the Forest Floor Newspaper … read all about it!!!

This morning the Mushrooms mushroomed right here on the forest floor

The perfumed woody scent of the Tree (age 600)

reported the incident from that place

there where the Leafy Shadows always meets the cool Dark Dirt.

“Bark” he said.

Tree goes further explaining

he was told by the rain-soaked Mosses who were told by the uncoiling Ferns

who saw it with their own fronds…

the Mushrooms just lifted their caps… and mushroomed!

“It’s happened before,” said the Gnarly Roots. “We were there”.

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Tutorials
Foxtail in a bud vase forest floor
29 July 2020
Foxtail in a bud vase forest floor

Create a sturdy platform from bark to design an entire forest floor on a single foxtail fern frond
Drying Mushrooms for Floral Art
13 April 2012
Drying Mushrooms for Floral Art

I use edible mushrooms in my designs. To preserve them I press a tiny stake into the base and let them air-dry.
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.
Create a centerpiece foundation with lumber and the cellophane your flowers were wrapped in
1 January 2020
Create a centerpiece foundation with lumber and the cellophane your flowers were wrapped in

A winter themed centerpiece with a secret water source (without a container or floral foam)
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.
Snow puddle armature
6 March 2019
Snow puddle armature

Connect twigs with puddles of artificial snow to craft a winter armature for your flowers.
Dowel ring flower holder for the most delicate of stems
22 April 2015
Dowel ring flower holder for the most delicate of stems

The most delicate of stems often disappear in a design. this is an easy way to display really delicate flowering stems without overwhelming them
Stacked eggshell containers that won't topple over.
28 March 2018
Stacked eggshell containers that won't topple over.

Balance a stack of eggshells with a magnet for a tiny Easter design
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
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
Mossy “Moss” Pebble… in the snow
10 January 2024
Mossy “Moss” Pebble… in the snow

Hollow out a faux moss pebble to add... a pebble of moss covered in snowflakes.
Wood chip and sparkle mushroom cornucopia
11 October 2023
Wood chip and sparkle mushroom cornucopia

A horn of plenty... seasonal sparkle.
Foxtail wreath frog with a leg in water
24 May 2023
Foxtail wreath frog with a leg in water

Twirl the fern into a wreath so that it can remain hydrated.
Wreath-Rim a Vase with sparkling foxtail and twigs
17 November 2021
Wreath-Rim a Vase with sparkling foxtail and twigs

Add a collar around a vase to hint at a wreath for an early Christmas floral design.
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.
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.
Related Designs
Spring Has Sprung!
13 April 2012
Spring Has Sprung!

The sprouts are sprouting and the bees are being and the birds are birding. Tempting as it is new growth is hard to condition. Hard, but not impossible
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with veneer techniques
22 January 2013
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with veneer techniques

This was my second two designs for my It's High Time for Tea Floral Craft and Art Demonstration at The Capilano Flower Arranging Club meeting.
Staying connected
24 June 2015
Staying connected

My article and a floral cell phone re-charge station design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
How to freeze a wow moment
1 January 2020
How to freeze a wow moment

Create a long lasting winter inspired floral design that looks like it is frozen in time.
It almost happened today!
6 March 2019
It almost happened today!

Craft snow puddles to keep your flowers upright
Toiling
22 April 2015
Toiling

Convert a dowel stick into a container for delicate flower stems
Walking on eggshells
28 March 2018
Walking on eggshells

Fill eggshells with moss to create an upright container... with a surprising balancing trick.
Wedding Welcome
15 March 2017
Wedding Welcome

My article and wedding direction board design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
Pick your poison
2 November 2016
Pick your poison

A Fun Halloween design with "poisonous mushrooms" tucked between the moss and petals
Snow Glitters and Mossy Glimmers
10 January 2024
Snow Glitters and Mossy Glimmers

A glimmer is the opposite of a trigger... a little uplift. For this design I am lifting up my happiness by starting a tiny mossarium... but enjoying it as a design while it is in quarantine.
Plenty Glow to Harvest
11 October 2023
Plenty Glow to Harvest

Glow and sparkle bark armature to celebrate the first signs of Autumn
everywhere IS nature
24 May 2023
everywhere IS nature

A lush wreath that remains green so that you can design once... and cut and cut and place your violas to make sure you have flowers all season long.
Ringing in A Very Merry Traditional Christmas… Tradition
17 November 2021
Ringing in A Very Merry Traditional Christmas… Tradition

A more than just a hint of Christmas tradition design... in a pre-Christmas design.
… 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.
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.
Favourite Flowers
Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis orchid detail from my Harnessing the Wind design
Ceropegia woodii
Ceropegia woodii

Pompon Chrysanthemum pom-poms and strands of Rosary vine for my floral lariat necklace in the Canadian Florist Magazine
Lentinula edodes
Lentinula edodes

Shiitake Mushroom detail of my Floral Trends Design Group- opening demonstration 2010.