My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

this NEEDS to be at the top of my (our?) to-do list

27 September 2023
and more

“Everyone

must

take time

to sit...

... and watch

the leaves turn.”

Quote by Elizabeth Lawrence

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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.

Tutorials

27 September 2023

Turn some gladiolus leaves into a pumpkin vase collar

A collar for a vase that you can use throughout the season... simply replace the water and the flowers inside the vase.

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.

14 January 2011

Ripping Flax

Flax can be ripped into fibres creating long and versatile strips

1 May 2012

Cinderella Spiral Pumpkin from Midelino Cane Coils

Tie Midelino Cane coils to make a spiral armature

14 October 2015

Roll hundreds (yes! hundreds) of autumn leaves so create a natural, upright flower frog

Rolled leaves offer support for floral stems

22 October 2014

Roll a folded leaf coil

Fold and then stitch a long fall leaf garland to roll into a coil

27 September 2017

Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin

Reshape a vine wreath into smaller wreaths to combine as a pumpkin

4 December 2019

Eucalyptus collar for a snow-covered Christmas candle

Not only will your home smell wonderful while crafting this design you will also have a ethereal and long lasting design to enjoy.

24 July 2019

Grass Twirling Up to Dress a Stem of Lilies

A single stem of lilies turned into a celebration just by twirling a handful of lily grass around it.

6 November 2012

Stalk and Husk Scarecrow

Use husks or dried leaves to make a scarecrow or doll

15 June 2022

Swing ripped foliage over a mop-head of hydrangeas to follow the natural curve

Gently curve ripped foliage over flowers to add a cooling movement to a minimal summer design.

12 June 2019

Loop-over grass veil for a cool summer design

A cool and minimal floral design for summer.

13 October 2011

Spiral Wire Cages

The cage spirals to form a basket that wrap around the plump ripe berries (or you can slip in a flower) to hang as connections between the twigs.

4 May 2016

Loosened Wreath Armature

Snip a dried twig wreath to undo the spirals to hang around a glass container

25 January 2012

Weaving Willow spheres

I build up the spheres by weaving willow wreaths and then use those to shape the ball

7 March 2018

Phormium bubble frame

Curl and secure a few blades of flax into a bubble to frame your flowers

19 July 2017

Interweave a messy grass tumble

Loosely wrap and weave lily grass to create a planned-messy looking armature

24 February 2016

Willow Spring

Set willow tips into a spiral to create a spring design

15 October 2025

Hydrangea pomander with just a hint of pumpkin in its ribbon layered to hide a secret (refillable) water source

A floral sphere, or kissing ball, a pomander is designed to be hung or carried as decorations for weddings and holidays... especially festive if you can skip the floral foam, right?

21 August 2024

Light as air puffy grass and elegantly curved gladiolus summer display that hints at all things pumpkin

Create two separate containers to minimize clutter in a light and airy floral display.

21 August 2024

Curve fountain grass... a bit... or a lot... and how to choose grass that is straight for more height

Curving long and elegantly sweeping purple fountain grass

20 August 2024

Figure eight willow spacer for a water tube in a double vase display

Create a bit of a buffer to keep a water tube upright in a light and airy suspended display.

7 August 2024

Dangling Quaking Grass drops threaded through a hydrangea flower head for support

A quick craft with quaking grass to turn it into dangling droplets.

Related Designs

27 September 2017

As tendrils tend to do

Curl a wreath with tendrils to create a twig-pumpkin

1 May 2012

Center the more adventurous design ideas on your centerpieces

Designing adventurous Contemporary Floral centerpieces Article in the Canadian Florist Magazine.

11 April 2011

Veiled Sunshine:50th Anniversary of the South African Orchid Society at the Cape Town Convention Centre.

Bright and sunny cymbidium orchids and roses, lilies, lisianthus and pincushions

14 October 2015

What a find!

Roll autumn leaves to create a frog to keep flowers upright

22 October 2014

Stand Around

Fold and roll leaves to create an Autumn swirl

4 December 2019

A Very Merry eucalyptus-collar-candle Christmas!

An easy and naturally fragrant winter white candle decoration to bring nature into your house this Christmas.

24 July 2019

Up to much?

Dress up a single lily stem with a few blades of grass.

6 November 2012

Mr. Stalk, the Seriously Terrifying Scarecrow, on his Day Off

An easy going design of ripped grass and calla lilies. But look a bit closer. See if you can find Mr. Stalk relaxing somewhere between the blades of grass.