My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

What a find!

I find...

... to be found...

and to find

can be found

to be...

...quite a find!

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Tutorials
Roll hundreds (yes! hundreds) of autumn leaves so create a natural, upright flower frog
14 October 2015
Roll hundreds (yes! hundreds) of autumn leaves so create a natural, upright flower frog

Rolled leaves offer support for floral stems
Removing Oasis Floral Adhesive glue spills
30 August 2011
Removing Oasis Floral Adhesive glue spills

The finish of every design should be flawless. Make sure there are no bits of glue visible in your design by carefully removing all traces of spills.
Filling a vase with water without disturbing the design details
22 May 2012
Filling a vase with water without disturbing the design details

Break the water flow when you fill a vase with details in that can move with the stream of water
A summer treat inspired tweak to a leaf-roll technique to display the last cut flowers (or left-overs) picked from your warm weather garden
28 August 2024
A summer treat inspired tweak to a leaf-roll technique to display the last cut flowers (or left-overs) picked from your warm weather garden

Give a summer look to a leaf roll by lifting the middle slightly out like an ice cream.
Turn some gladiolus leaves into a pumpkin vase collar
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.
Use the pull tab of a can to keep your floral details in place
16 August 2023
Use the pull tab of a can to keep your floral details in place

Love anchovies cans. And if you fold over the pull tab just so it is perfect for keeping even longer stem flowers upright.
Knot a dragonfly
19 July 2023
Knot a dragonfly

The easiest critter ever. All you need to do is make a few knots...
Counterbalance elegantly leaning Calla lilies with dressed up Dried Autumn Details
21 September 2022
Counterbalance elegantly leaning Calla lilies with dressed up Dried Autumn Details

Using those much treasured dried autumn details to bridge the gap between the bright green of summer and the brightness that is yet to come.
Counterbalance elegantly leaning Calla lilies with dressed up Dried Autumn Details
21 September 2022
Counterbalance elegantly leaning Calla lilies with dressed up Dried Autumn Details

Using those much treasured dried autumn details to bridge the gap between the bright green of summer and the brightness that is yet to come.
Balloon out grass to craft a framed armature
24 August 2022
Balloon out grass to craft a framed armature

Carefully bubble out a tied bunch of grass to make a cavity to display gorgeous flowers.
Double water source to keep Carnations hydrated in foliage cones
30 March 2022
Double water source to keep Carnations hydrated in foliage cones

Quick and easy design... perfect for something tiny to celebrate spring.... everywhere!
Over the edge flower, floral support
29 September 2021
Over the edge flower, floral support

Hook the calla lilies over the edge of a vase to create a support for your taller floral details.
Rolled leaf shelter for a lean-in-closer tiny bud vase design
6 January 2021
Rolled leaf shelter for a lean-in-closer tiny bud vase design

Create a tiny visual tunnel to focus attention.
Kenzan peg bark curls into a hollow and bottomless log vase
11 November 2020
Kenzan peg bark curls into a hollow and bottomless log vase

Craft a bottomless vase out of bark so that the floral stem is supported but can still stand in water to remain hydrated.
Quarter fold and Thread an Autumn leaf tube armature
9 October 2019
Quarter fold and Thread an Autumn leaf tube armature

This armature is actually made of four times as many leaves as what it looks like to create a hinge to fan the entire leaf-tube open yet keep it's shape.
Gently peel leaves from the stalk to create a twisted stem end
22 May 2019
Gently peel leaves from the stalk to create a twisted stem end

Roll leaves to create a stopper to keep flowers in place in a bud vase
Foliage tube armature for long stemmed freesia buds
27 June 2018
Foliage tube armature for long stemmed freesia buds

Curl and pin a few leaves into a tube to create an armature for those "left over" freesiabuds.
Pierce and stack fall leaves to rest on the edge of a container
1 November 2017
Pierce and stack fall leaves to rest on the edge of a container

Use one leaf to keep the next in place
Two vase, two level Phormium snippets
2 August 2017
Two vase, two level Phormium snippets

Design in two levels by using two vases, the smaller slipped into a bigger one.
Skewer leaf rolls to support a tiny water source for fresh flowers
28 June 2017
Skewer leaf rolls to support a tiny water source for fresh flowers

Hide the water source in a rolled leaf
Bamboo frog for a shallow container design
10 August 2016
Bamboo frog for a shallow container design

Cut short bamboo lengths to keep your flower material upright in a shallow and narrow container
Related Designs
When Autumn Fall
6 September 2011
When Autumn Fall

Autumn leaf composite flower
Lean
22 May 2012
Lean

Place short twigs, leaning to one side to create a flower frog
Leaves by Hundreds came
11 November 2012
Leaves by Hundreds came

A rosette of fall leaves to celebrate the beauty of autumn
Today I'll be
23 March 2013
Today I'll be

Silhouette design using glasses filled with water
One foot at a time
18 September 2013
One foot at a time

Delicate ballet slippers from the first Autumn leaves
All that glitters is gold
25 September 2013
All that glitters is gold

Phalaenopsis Orchid made from Autumn leaves
All To Myself
14 October 2013
All To Myself

Cut and stain old books to create a paperback nook pumpkin armature
As the leaves melt away
30 October 2013
As the leaves melt away

Spike a few hundred fall leaves to create a cauldron for Halloween flowers
Foraging
13 November 2013
Foraging

This week's design is part of a challenge issued by Sherry Donnelly of Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio and Flirty Fleurs, Alicia Schwede, owner of Bella Fiori and Chuck Graham, Floral designer at BLOOM by Anuschka to create a design with anything I can pick up close to my design room. And no flowers allowed...
Stand Around
22 October 2014
Stand Around

Fold and roll leaves to create an Autumn swirl
All In One
5 November 2014
All In One

dry autumn leaves into an acorn shape
Forest Floor
19 November 2014
Forest Floor

Glue a autumn leaf rosette armature
Soft Serve Swirl
28 August 2024
Soft Serve Swirl

A nod to a summer filled with flowers... and the quite possibly the last of the season flowers still there to be picked.
this NEEDS to be at the top of my (our?) to-do list
27 September 2023
this NEEDS to be at the top of my (our?) to-do list

Autumn bud vase collar made from gladiolus foliage.
Canned right after harvest
16 August 2023
Canned right after harvest

Pull tab support for "canned" Calla lilies and bunny-tail grass.
… 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.
Balanced Attitude
21 September 2022
Balanced Attitude

Getting the balance just so... so that you lean into the first sights of Autumn.
Balanced Attitude
21 September 2022
Balanced Attitude

Getting the balance just so... so that you lean into the first sights of Autumn.
Hot air balloon
24 August 2022
Hot air balloon

A grass bubble to frame two of the most beautiful calla lilies.
Cone of Gratitude
30 March 2022
Cone of Gratitude

Sweet spring design to hold some buds
Creative Direction
29 September 2021
Creative Direction

Hang the arum lilies from the edge of a container to support all the other floral details.
I tip my (flower) cap!
6 January 2021
I tip my (flower) cap!

An enclosed design that invites the onlooker to lean in closer to explore the pretty orchid.
What goes around
11 November 2020
What goes around

Display a single stem flower in an Autumn leaf twirl
With a thankful twist in the middle
9 October 2019
With a thankful twist in the middle

Fold and thread an autumn leaf armature for a thankful Thanksgiving design
Putting your own spin on it
22 May 2019
Putting your own spin on it

I would definitely describe my own personal style as minimalist classic... but with an edgy twist.
Look deep
27 June 2018
Look deep

Curl foliage to use as a natural armature for delicate buds.
A Round
1 November 2017
A Round

Create a delicate design that rests lightly on the edge of a container
On the inside
18 October 2017
On the inside

For a softer autumn leaf pod turn the leaves so that the bright side faces in when making the pod.
If
30 August 2017
If

Place a water tube at an angle in lumber so that the Zantedeschia float just above the base to show off the delicate grass snippets scattered up the stem
Grace
2 August 2017
Grace

Use snips and snippets and leftovers to create a design of it's own
Somewhere in the Middle
28 June 2017
Somewhere in the Middle

Skewer Dracaena leaves into a roll that supports a tiny water source for the Oncidium orchids
Let's hang out
31 May 2017
Let's hang out

Skewer some Eucalyptus to suspend between the orchids
New Year's Wreath
4 January 2017
New Year's Wreath

Decorate an artificial wreath with fresh flowers and frosted twigs
Saved up
10 August 2016
Saved up

Cut lengths of bamboo to place in a shallow container as a flower frog
Sprout
27 April 2016
Sprout

A sneaky way to condition new growth to add into your Spring design
Take your time
9 March 2016
Take your time

My article and Japanese paper flower armature design featured in the March issue of The Academy Leader- Academy of Floral Design, published by the The Floral Art Society of New Zealand
Favourite Flowers
Zantedeschia
Zantedeschia

Calla lilies in my Direct Contrast design for the Floral Trends Design Group