My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Take it for a Spin

Whirl-a-twig

Swirl-a-stick

Twirl-a-willow

Pivot-a-post

Twist-a-stalk

Curl-a-wand

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Tutorials
Turning the sellotape over the vase trick up-side-down for a sticky side out frog
2 April 2014
Turning the sellotape over the vase trick up-side-down for a sticky side out frog

Tape a grid over a vase to keep the floral details in place
Clearly invisible taped Grid
2 July 2014
Clearly invisible taped Grid

This is the easiest way to keep flower in place
Wrap a line grid to support plant material in a shallow, stemmed container
10 July 2013
Wrap a line grid to support plant material in a shallow, stemmed container

Fishing line creates an invisible grid over a shallow glass cake stand to support the plant material
Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening
19 February 2013
Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening

Most stems, twigs and even sturdier branches can be bend into shapes. It takes practice and more than a bit of patience. The main idea is to slowly manipulate the branch without breaking it.
Bite and snap a sturdy twig
22 May 2012
Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.
Balancing a Twirled Willow Armature
25 February 2015
Balancing a Twirled Willow Armature

Twirl twigs to create a balanced nest to display the beautiful orchids on
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.
No Mow May Scattered Grass and Erigeron Meadow design
31 May 2023
No Mow May Scattered Grass and Erigeron Meadow design

Tape a grid to create a barely there scattered grass display for a cooling summer display.
Take your time to craft a Bulrush Dial Armature
29 June 2022
Take your time to craft a Bulrush Dial Armature

Slowly build up a dial armature from dried bulrush
Sparkling dew drop puddle to keep flowers hydrated even during a heatwave
30 June 2021
Sparkling dew drop puddle to keep flowers hydrated even during a heatwave

Done in no time design... and it is rather refreshing to make.
Weave a Ceropegia Woodii Vine grid to catch your flowers
3 February 2021
Weave a Ceropegia Woodii Vine grid to catch your flowers

Suspend flowers over a water filled container by weaving a natural grid.
Mesh bag net armature to keep your flowers in place
30 September 2020
Mesh bag net armature to keep your flowers in place

Instead of vegetable net bags becoming trash wrap it around your container for an instant armature. It even looks a bit like a spider web- perfect for a long lasting design as we count down to Halloween.
A Sticky-tape way to keep blossom petals from dropping
15 April 2020
A Sticky-tape way to keep blossom petals from dropping

Capture Spring for just a little bit longer by sticking blossoms down, in place.
An almost not even there grass grid
1 May 2019
An almost not even there grass grid

... with the help of an old staple technique.
Willow birdcage
14 March 2018
Willow birdcage

Weave a willow birdcage to use as a wedding ring box
Coil wire and grass to create a spring frog
1 February 2017
Coil wire and grass to create a spring frog

Twirl and wrap wire and lily grass around a dowel stick to create a spring frog
Related Designs
Star of Wonder
17 December 2014
Star of Wonder

Glue pine needles into star shapes
So Fine
15 July 2015
So Fine

Use transparencies to create floating devices for the flower material
Apricity
2 April 2014
Apricity

Turning a stand-by floral technique sticky side out
Never saw such a lovely day...
16 April 2014
Never saw such a lovely day...

Weave a palm thorn garland to decorate for Easter
Summer
20 August 2014
Summer

A quick and easy design for summer
Growing Gratitude
8 October 2012
Growing Gratitude

Thank you.
Pink
10 July 2013
Pink

Weave an invisible grid to float the plant material on
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.
Notice That?/!
31 May 2023
Notice That?/!

Light and airy... like a wonderful breeze on a hot summer day grass and erigeron display.
But for this… let’s not rush
29 June 2022
But for this… let’s not rush

A take your time and mindfully craft a pretty design to celebrate the summer solstice- it is officially summer here in Canada.
Into a Puddle!
30 June 2021
Into a Puddle!

Heat proof floral design for summer.
here’s the catch
3 February 2021
here’s the catch

Weave an all natural net to place over a vase to keep your flowers above water.
This season all the stylish pumpkins will be wearing them!
30 September 2020
This season all the stylish pumpkins will be wearing them!

A simple way to keep the plastic mesh the pumpkins are sold in from becoming trash: wrap it around the container as an armature for a quick Fall design. Replace the flowers as they fade and top up the water as needed.
Helping Spring Stick Around
15 April 2020
Helping Spring Stick Around

Blossom petals drop so quickly! Here's a way to make them last just that little bit longer.
Can you see the tiny hint of Sunshine on the tips of the grass?
1 May 2019
Can you see the tiny hint of Sunshine on the tips of the grass?

I left the grass to mature so that the tips mirror the sun bleached yellow of the orchids.
Old, new trends
14 March 2018
Old, new trends

My article and willow birdcage design for wedding rings featured in DIY Weddings Magazine.
Around again
13 September 2017
Around again

Tape a grid at the edge of a container
Sparkler
12 July 2017
Sparkler

A radiating twig design
Dream, Job
7 June 2017
Dream, Job

Create a grid to rest some plant material so that it floats and some with their stems to rest in the water below
Not yet Spring, Spring but a spring
1 February 2017
Not yet Spring, Spring but a spring

Coil wire and grass to create a spring
Favourite Flowers
Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"
Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"

I wove three willow spheres for my Floral Art design Three Drops of floral chocolate.