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My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Turn, tuck, test… and refine

  • 11 March 2026
  • and more

... turn,

tuck,

test,

and refine…

Creativity comes from noticing and gathering what is available not waiting for what is perfect.

Today's design lesson was brought to you…

… by the tiny hummingbird attempting to nest outside my design room.

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Dew-Drop Crystals
Dew-Drop Crystals

I created the Tutorial for how I add these crystals to my floral designs 11 years ago! Since then I have tried, tested and searched for the perfect crystals that would go from studio‑table picture perfect to show‑day‑dependable and I always come back to these. They remain the absolute best. They’re inexpensive yet have a refined, high‑quality crystal brilliance; they don’t tarnish and their adhesive backing stays reliably tacky even after they were exposed to water.
Tutorials
Turn, tuck and refine a papyrus disk bird’s nest armature
11 March 2026
Turn, tuck and refine a papyrus disk bird’s nest armature

Twist the edge of a papyrus together to craft a neat little nest for a bird for your Spring floral display.
Weaving a bird
21 July 2011
Weaving a bird

I wove my bird from shaved wood but you can also use flax, coconut palm (more traditional) or paper or ribbon
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.
Foliage Weaving
8 June 2011
Foliage Weaving

For this tutorial I focus on a simple weave pattern that does not require you to soften or prepare the leaves to be more durable or flexible. This is the starting point in weaving techniques. You can build on this technique to make floral handbags, gift boxes, and baskets, sew it into a curve or wrap it around a vase or cover a test tube.
A plait, a braid or a French knot grass collar
25 April 2012
A plait, a braid or a French knot grass collar

"Plaid" and "braid" are synonyms, and where you are from will most likely dictate whether you use plait (British) or braid (American or Celtic). Some people also refer to cornrows as braids or refer to pinned up plaits as braids. A French braid is a braiding technique.
Three Twig Bundle Braid
3 May 2017
Three Twig Bundle Braid

Braid bundles of twigs to create an armature for flowers to dance in
Tape a grid around the edges of a container for a table top wreath
13 September 2017
Tape a grid around the edges of a container for a table top wreath

Suspend flowers with an almost invisible taped grid
Ripping Flax
14 January 2011
Ripping Flax

Flax can be ripped into fibres creating long and versatile strips
Bundled Phormium with a secret water source
20 June 2018
Bundled Phormium with a secret water source

Rip Phormium to create a freestanding bundle armature design.
Folding a Frog
24 September 2014
Folding a Frog

Fold and weave a frog from grass
Knot a delicate hammock from ripped foliage
21 July 2021
Knot a delicate hammock from ripped foliage

Light and airy addition to a floral design to celebrate summer
Easy twist to a tulip spiral to nestle a “we are still building this” bird’s nest in
22 March 2023
Easy twist to a tulip spiral to nestle a “we are still building this” bird’s nest in

The easiest unfinished nest idea... simply shaped from roots discovered while Spring cleaning and preparing to plant.
Weaving a ring basket
4 June 2014
Weaving a ring basket

Create a wire frame and weave ripped foliage around it
Turning a pumpkin to hover for a sway in the lightest autumn breeze display
1 October 2025
Turning a pumpkin to hover for a sway in the lightest autumn breeze display

A pretty pumpkin deserves some fancy mechanics to create an impossibly ethereal display.
Swing ripped foliage over a mop-head of hydrangeas to follow the natural curve
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.
A green plaited willow way-over for small flower details
2 October 2024
A green plaited willow way-over for small flower details

Here it is: the first of my first autumn harvest of willow from my willow coppice I am growing in my balcony garden. It is working spectacularly well!
Braiding three Tulip stems
21 January 2015
Braiding three Tulip stems

Plait Tulip stems
Fold a Foliage Fish
6 February 2013
Fold a Foliage Fish

Fold and weave a fish from two blades of grass
Grass Spiral Snail
18 February 2015
Grass Spiral Snail

Fold a foliage snail
Related Designs
"On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... two turtle doves"
12 April 2011
"On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... two turtle doves"

Flax Christmas tree "cake" for the Floral Trends Design Group end of the year function.
Words Matter.
24 April 2012
Words Matter.

Braiding and plaiting and knotting hair is a huge trend in hairdressing at the moment. Intricate little plaits are draped over long flowing hair to add complexity and quirk. It’s a lovely design trend to add to floral art.
Oh just...
3 May 2017
Oh just...

Braid a few twigs to dance around your flowers
Around again
13 September 2017
Around again

Tape a grid at the edge of a container
A Bundle of Pretty
20 June 2018
A Bundle of Pretty

A dried bundle of ripped flax hides a secret water source for the orchids
Brewing some inspiration
2 October 2024
Brewing some inspiration

Autumn harvest willow for a double the pretty plaited flower support
Leapfrog
24 September 2014
Leapfrog

Fold and weave a frog from grass
Step It Up
22 July 2020
Step It Up

Dress up a pair of hand coiled flip-flops with succulents.
High-Strung
21 July 2021
High-Strung

String up a tiny hammock for a dreamy summer vacation design
Tradition and Technique, Technique and Tradition
21 July 2011
Tradition and Technique, Technique and Tradition

When you need inspiration for a design problem study a Traditional Craft- you will be amazed!
... and just like that we spiral back to... Spring!
22 March 2023
... and just like that we spiral back to... Spring!

A spring spiral design... with a hint of a root nest. Easy to do
All white, just not quite
4 June 2014
All white, just not quite

My article and woven ring basket design featured in the summer issue of DIY Weddings Magazine
On the net
8 August 2018
On the net

Knot a net to rest short stem orchids on.
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:
And just like that, it is The Pumpkin’s Turn
1 October 2025
And just like that, it is The Pumpkin’s Turn

An impossibly minimal autumn display that sways in the slightest breeze... as if by magic!
Book Launch Day!
7 November 2018
Book Launch Day!

Oh yes! Today is officially my book launch day!
A lots of stuff and things
20 January 2016
A lots of stuff and things

Sticks and twigs create a resting spot for palm and rose butterflies
DIY a Could Be
20 May 2026
DIY a Could Be

It's once again critter season... and a tiny detail is all you need to add to a flower this pretty.