My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

This Summer

"Live

in the sunshine,

swim

in the sea,

drink

the wild air…"

Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Tutorials
Weaving Zori-inspired slip-on Sandals
17 June 2015
Weaving Zori-inspired slip-on Sandals

Sandals made from bamboo, grass and sisal and a bit of satin ribbon for luxury
Zig zag Palm Dragonfly
17 June 2015
Zig zag Palm Dragonfly

Fold a dragonfly from a long strand of grass or palm leaf
Bamboo and Sisal String
17 June 2015
Bamboo and Sisal String

Combine sisal string and flexible bamboo to weave with
Zig zag foliage lantern
16 June 2015
Zig zag foliage lantern

Fold foliage to create a zig zag patterned lantern
Berry dye for sisal fibers
26 June 2012
Berry dye for sisal fibers

Soak sisal fibres in strawberry and black berry juice to stain it purple
Stain wooden skewers with natural dye
24 August 2011
Stain wooden skewers with natural dye

Using fruit, berries, flowers, leaves and grasses to naturally stain design details for floral art relies on the same techniques as using paint or any other dye.
Use dried roots from a re-potted Monstera to create a root lace-wreath
14 May 2025
Use dried roots from a re-potted Monstera to create a root lace-wreath

Every repotting season I struggle with what to do with my overgrown Monstera plant. It absolutely loves hanging out in my design room... so... let's design, Monstera!
Knot a dragonfly
19 July 2023
Knot a dragonfly

The easiest critter ever. All you need to do is make a few knots...
A witch... or wizard... hat that you can shape any which way you like
19 October 2022
A witch... or wizard... hat that you can shape any which way you like

Take your time to weave a pointy hat from what you find in nature.
Fuzzy Willow Caterpillar in a buttercup and jasmine vine swirl
14 April 2021
Fuzzy Willow Caterpillar in a buttercup and jasmine vine swirl

As in… Pussy willow catkins caterpillar… that is super fuzzy.
Adding flowers to those pretty hand coiled flip flops I made for my book
22 July 2020
Adding flowers to those pretty hand coiled flip flops I made for my book

Step up the flip-flop design by decorating it with some long lasting succulent flowers. It might look delicate... but these flowers are robust and long lasting.
Crafting a Hornet of Tranquility (you know… the one with the sparkle butt)
1 July 2020
Crafting a Hornet of Tranquility (you know… the one with the sparkle butt)

Let me explain myself: it’s got a blue sparkle stinger… or you wouldn’t have noticed the little wasp.
No Foam pave design
19 June 2019
No Foam pave design

Here it is: my take on the one design that people argue is "tricky" to design without floral foam. A low pave design. Not tricky at all! It's actually easier to do without foam. And yes, you can pick it up and place it on a wall for a foam free floral wall.
Creating a secure grass snippet here and there grid
19 June 2019
Creating a secure grass snippet here and there grid

This grid helps secure flowers in place... and add visual interest by being over rather than under the flowers.
Coil slip on sandals
29 August 2018
Coil slip on sandals

Braid ripped flax and coil it into shaped slip on sandals.
Related Designs
Spring Light
14 May 2025
Spring Light

Wrap and weave a lace fine disk.
… And his little flower
19 July 2023
… And his little flower

Easy support for a single flower... and knot a special secret admirer just to keep it company.
Point Witch (or Wizard) Way
19 October 2022
Point Witch (or Wizard) Way

A wire framed witch or wizard hat that can be reshaped.
a Yay! You
14 April 2021
a Yay! You

A tiny Spring detail to add to a cute little floral design.
Step It Up
22 July 2020
Step It Up

Dress up a pair of hand coiled flip-flops with succulents.
Oh yes, The Hornet of Tranquility
1 July 2020
Oh yes, The Hornet of Tranquility

A minimal... but then with a tiny bug detail... design that is perfect for warm summer designing.
Club together
19 June 2019
Club together

Last Wednesday I had such a flowery fun evening teaching a collaborative floral carpet workshop focusing on braiding and weaving ideas from my book the effortless floral craftsman … this was my carpet block that I designed for the evening
It’s not that it is inexpensive… it’s priceless!
29 August 2018
It’s not that it is inexpensive… it’s priceless!

Yes, this Coil slip on sandals design is in my book: the effortless floral craftsman, a floral crafter’s guide to crafting with nature ... it is also the first design from the book featured in a magazine: Thank you DIY Wedding Magazine , I am so happy to share finally the this with you: