My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

A little nest for Easter chocolates that naturally hooks over the edge of a container

Strip the foliage from Eucalyptus stems

Strip the foliage from Eucalyptus stems. Use non toxic stems especially if you are placing unwrapped chocolate in the nest.

You can use any pliable weaving stem. See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions on how to strip weaving stems

Start weaving a small wreath

Start weaving a small wreath

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how to weave a wreath

Continue to weave to create a sturdy little wreath with plenty of twigs that form small gaps all around

Continue to weave to create a sturdy little wreath with plenty of twigs that form small gaps all around

Cut a stem with a hook in short

Cut a stem with a hook in short. Press the thicker stem through a gap in the wreath weave and twist the other stem to point away from the wreath.

Weave in thinner stems through the gaps and extend to create a lining for the nest

Weave in thinner stems through the gaps and extend to create a lining for the nest

Weave the stems through and cut the ends short

Weave the stems through and cut the ends short

Make sure the twig hook is secure by weaving in extra stems

Make sure the twig hook is secure by weaving in extra stems

Adjust the hook to make sure the basket hangs securely

Adjust the hook to make sure the nest hangs securely

Hang the nest over the edge of a container

Hang the nest over the edge of a container

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

11 February 2015 Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with

1 November 2011 Weaving a twig wreath

For my design I wanted the wreath to look wind blown so I added a few loosely woven twigs into the weave. I also wanted to emphasize the autumn colours so I added a twirling...

15 April 2015 Stretching leaves and foliage into a ringlet curl

Most leaves and foliage can be slightly manipulated to curve or curl.

25 January 2012 Weaving Willow spheres

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

29 May 2013 Tiny Rattan Basket

Weave a thin and delicate rattan basket

11 February 2015 Willow Heart Wand

3 August 2016 Hanging Willow Nest

Bend and weave a nest shape from fresh willow stems

7 September 2016 Willow flower crown

Loosely weave willow tips to create an ethereal crown

8 April 2015 Cane and Willow Nest Shaped Basket

Weave a nest for Easter eggs

16 May 2012 Mikado Reed drop shaped nest

A sturdy shape made by binding Mikado reeds keeps the thin strands of flax in place.

30 October 2012 Midelino Harvest Moon Basket

This is a great flat and open basket to take outside when “harvesting” your fall leaves, pods and flowers. Who knows, you might even find a ghost pumpkin or three…

14 August 2012 Midelino cane coil basket

Weave a hand basket from Midelino cane coils

Related Designs

11 April 2017 Well… we did it again!

Blossoms and chocolates for Easter

21 March 2018 Bring some Spring

Just like the weather is only hinting at spring, so is this design only hinting at being a basket

18 April 2018 Swing Vine

Weave a delicate vine swing to nestle a small vase with spring flowers in

20 March 2019 It’s all ===> right

Hang a dangling eggshell in a Spring blossom design.

3 March 2021 Spring Tray-ning

A Spring basket design for catching falling blossom petals.

31 March 2021 Criss-crossed

Hide an egg inside a interwoven nest for a dainty Easter decoration design.

12 May 2021 It’s up there

Whether it’s a solid foot for floating flowers, the tips of new growth or the curve of a dried twig your design needs help to stay upright.

29 March 2023 To grow a patch of grass of our very own

The first of my new monthly articles about growing the material you need to design with. This month we are taking stock of what we need... and growing wheatgrass.

5 April 2023 Where do you even start looking?

Easter egg... egg for Easter eggs

19 April 2023 Short Cut

A tiny carry basket to gather the shortest stems from your cutting garden... with a place for water and your cutters.

28 June 2023 Catch and Release

Ah... yes summer time designing. Anyone else seeing more insects hiding between the petals this year?

20 January 2011 The last Vine Wreath

Every designer knows how to stretch their supplies. We use and re-use our dried plant material until our fellow designers feel like hiding it from us. I formed such an...

10 April 2011 Feeling Funky

I wove vine wreaths to form a pyramid, one just slightly larger than the next. In the natural cavities between the wreaths I placed the roses and lisianthus in plastic covered...

30 March 2011 Garden Wreath Workshop and Demonstration

Contemporary Wreath Design demonstration as part of the Durbanville Garden Club's annual Garden Festival, Western Cape, South Africa

11 February 2015 Love Spell

Weave willow to create a heart shaped wand design

8 July 2015 How To Catch A Dream

Take inspiration from a traditional Dream-catcher design to create a floral armature

3 August 2016 Practice

Weave a willow bird nest

7 September 2016 You are all invited!

My article and Willow Crown design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

8 April 2015 Just think!

Weave a nest for chocolate Easter eggs

16 May 2012 On the first warm day in May

A ripped flax, Ranunculus and Mikado Reed drop shaped nest

12 October 2016 I found it this way: Bird nest design

This was the fourth design I did in my "I found it this way" floral art demonstration

8 April 2011 Large Open Weave Twig Basket

Easter Basket used in the Durbanville Flower Club Easter Parade Demonstration