My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Butterfly feeler hooks for swinging test tubes

I don't always want to wire my test tubes in to the design. I like to create a bit of movement by simply hooking the tubes to gently swing.

Wrap the wire very tightly around the tiny tube to secure

Bend both ends of the wire down and over your finger to make a round swinging hook

I add an extra feeler curl to the wire ends. This stops the test tube from swinging too wildly and it also creates an extra catch to secure the tubes to the twigs

Each tiny tube can now be hanged on the twig. It is not tightly wired and moves naturally in the slightest breeze

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Tutorials
Balanced branch with dangling macrame vases
17 August 2022
Balanced branch with dangling macrame vases

Create a display branch for ever changing fresh flowers and foliage... or vines.
Threaded stem and wire spacer wire garland
10 August 2022
Threaded stem and wire spacer wire garland

Thread stems into a wire to create dangling garlands
Twig cloud mobile
10 April 2019
Twig cloud mobile

Wire a sturdy cloud shaped armature to hang a heavier water source for thirsty Wisteria flowers.
Clips to hang flowers vertically
17 October 2018
Clips to hang flowers vertically

I designed and printed these clips on a 3D printer as a fast, secure and convenient way to hang water tubes vertically down fishing line.
Twig support to rest test tubes on a surface
23 November 2016
Twig support to rest test tubes on a surface

Sink the tube in the design to rest on a few twigs
Folded Bleached Baby’s Breath Wreath Armature
26 October 2016
Folded Bleached Baby’s Breath Wreath Armature

Glued Baby's Breath Wreath, folded in half to create a moon shaped armature
Veiled Tillandsia glass container armature
13 April 2016
Veiled Tillandsia glass container armature

Create panels of Spanish moss to cover a glass container
Long legged wire hooks to hang a hidden water source
13 April 2016
Long legged wire hooks to hang a hidden water source

Hang tubes from the rim of a glass container to drape down with design details
Balancing the curved stems of dried Autumn leaf tubes
11 November 2015
Balancing the curved stems of dried Autumn leaf tubes

Long stemmed autumn leave tubes as a floral armature
Layered sisal and twig armature
9 September 2015
Layered sisal and twig armature

small sisal fibers create a mat like armature
Twig test tube swing
9 April 2014
Twig test tube swing

Hang test tubes so that they gently swing in a design.
Funnel shaped pick-up-sticks armature
30 January 2013
Funnel shaped pick-up-sticks armature

By making a very secure armature, it is possible to stack and suspend loose twigs on top of it building on the stable foundation
Wire spider legs for tiny glass test tubes
30 October 2012
Wire spider legs for tiny glass test tubes

Give small test tubes long legs to stand on
Hanging flowers rightside-upside-downside
7 September 2012
Hanging flowers rightside-upside-downside

I love hanging flowers to loosely dangle and move in a design
Twig lattice to cover a basket
23 March 2012
Twig lattice to cover a basket

Make a lattice or grid cover for a basket by pressing sticks through the basket
Drinking straw "test tubes"
4 January 2011
Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.
Related Designs
Branch Manager
17 August 2022
Branch Manager

Managed to find an utterly gorgeous branch... perfect contrast to the minimal orchids.
Space holder
10 August 2022
Space holder

Creating a bit of space in a summer design to allow for the plant material to naturally fall as it wants.
Just Like Wisteria Rain
10 April 2019
Just Like Wisteria Rain

Craft a ethereal design from twigs and wisteria flowers
But wait… there's more!
17 October 2018
But wait… there's more!

Tucked into the box with every advance copy of the book, the effortless floral craftsman is a packet of clips. This design and Tutorial is a bit of inspiration... what will you create with your clips?
Harvest Moon
26 October 2016
Harvest Moon

Fold a fine twig wreath in half to create a moon shaped armature
Celebrate!
23 March 2016
Celebrate!

A closer look at my design at the 20th anniversary of Canada Blooms and The Toronto Flower Show
On a Grand Scale
9 December 2015
On a Grand Scale

My article and a floral panel design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
Balancing Act
11 November 2015
Balancing Act

Bend dried fall leaves to balance on the edge of a glass container
Fall Treasures
9 September 2015
Fall Treasures

A sisal mat armature for fall twigs flowers and leaves
Just So
25 February 2015
Just So

Twirl a few willow twigs to create a balanced armature to display orchids
Frightfully Pretty
29 October 2014
Frightfully Pretty

Weave a single strand Spanish Moss spider web
Fine Tune
25 June 2014
Fine Tune

Thread cane through sticks to make a music inspired armature
All To Myself
14 October 2013
All To Myself

Cut and stain old books to create a paperback nook pumpkin armature
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with wire techniques
30 January 2013
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with wire techniques

This was my last two designs for my It's High Time for Tea Floral Craft and Art Demonstration at The Capilano Flower Arranging Club meeting
A Floral Fable: Approach Design
27 March 2012
A Floral Fable: Approach Design

This is a detailed look at my third Floral Fable design. When you design, every detail you add matters and the smallest element can change the design completely.
A Floral Fable: Colour Design
23 March 2012
A Floral Fable: Colour Design

This is a detailed look at my second Floral Fable demonstration design
Winter’s Green
18 January 2012
Winter’s Green

This contorted hazel twig reminded me of an ancient and wise bonsai tree. It definitely has a story of its own to tell. I wanted to capture that in my design. All it needed was to be aged with a beard of lichen and moss. And I couldn’t resist adding a lighter touch of fragrant paper white snowflakes to swing gently on its bare winter branches in the chilly breeze.