My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Cone shaped leafy puddle for a short stemmed flower

Book readers turn to page 320 for another example of how a few leaves... used in an unexpected way can completely change the personality of a "single flower in a budvase" design.

Roll a green leaf into a cone shape

Roll a green leaf into a cone shape...

Leaving a gap at the tip for water to fill

Leaving a gap at the tip for water to fill.

Secure the leaf with a sharpened stem

Secure the leaf with a sharpened stem.

Here is an opportunity to bring your work to the next level. Choosing the right techniques not only effects the personality of your design but it also sends a message of who you are as a designer. There's more to talk about here... please refer to your notification email of this week. I tell you why I chose this... you are welcome to reply to the email if you have something to add or any questions. If you are not yet subscribed, the signup is below the post.

Fill a small container with water

Fill a small container with water...

Place the leaf deep into the container

Place the leaf deep into the container.

So that the water seeps in and pools in the bottom

So that the water seeps in and pools in the bottom.

Slip the orchid deep into the leaf so that it is hydrated in the water

Slip the orchid deep into the leaf with its stem tight down to the bottom of the cone so that it is hydrated in the water.

Add a few rosary vines to the edge

Add a few rosary vines to the edge...

Glue in blades of grass to add height

Glue in blades of grass to add height and sparkling dew drop crystals to finish it off.

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

Tutorials

25 August 2011 Placing orchids in test tubes

Cut the Phalaenopsis orchid with a bit of green stem attached. This will make them last longer.

16 August 2017 Criss-cross Monstera lace-up

Glue short sections of rosary vine into the natural gaps in the Monstera deliciosa leaf

23 April 2014 Flower catcher

Keep a flower suspended just above water with palm leaves

3 December 2014 Magnetic Twig Bundle Boutonniere

Glue a few twigs into a bundle to hide a corsage magnet

16 September 2015 Fold a Grass Disk

Fold and wrap blades of grass around a disk to create a natural armature

13 January 2016 Stacked Grass Pyramid Armature

Stack snippets of grass on a wire frame to make a floating pyramid armature

13 July 2016 Woven lily grass parachute armature

Weave a canopy or parachute shaped armature in a way that you can place the stems in two vases to keep it hydrated.

31 July 2013 Ladder-frog

Lash the orchid stems together to create a ladder for the flower to rest on.

4 July 2018 Bundle Support

Tie a bundle of lily grass in a bundle to offer support for your flowers.

Favourite Flowers

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid

Ceropegia woodii

Rosary vine, Chain of Hearts, Collar of hearts and String of hearts

Related Designs

17 March 2021 A scoop of pretty

A tiny budvase design that rearranges basic ingredients, such as a single leaf and an orchid to create a new design concept.

30 March 2022 Cone of Gratitude

Sweet spring design to hold some buds

6 April 2022 Gaps between those in-between Spring days

Give a minimal design a few grass "whiskers" to feel that Spring breeze.

20 April 2022 Oh this? Yes! it is new

New growth... too cute to resist!

11 January 2023 Maybe Still Maybe

... a something to look forward to design that makes you lean in closer to see what might still be.

19 July 2023 … And his little flower

Easy support for a single flower... and knot a special secret admirer just to keep it company.

8 May 2024 I mean… did you!?!

Playing with shapes to frame the light in a dramatic floral design.

15 May 2024 Well, well, well, if it isn’t the design solution I have been procrasti-crafting on

Beautiful Bletilla striata (Chinese Ground Orchid) deserves it's own elaborate frilly skirt display.

16 August 2017 Making Ends Meet

Criss-cross corset style connect the gaps in a Monstera deliciosa leaf

23 April 2014 Bound to Keep

Weave and tie a decorative catcher to suspend flowers

3 December 2014 Finding Common Ground

My article and twig boutonniere design featured in the Winter issue of DIY Weddings Magazine

16 September 2015 Pointing In

wrap and glue a ring armature to create a decorative wreath

13 January 2016 Once Upon A Time

Stack and glue a Grass Pyramid Armature

13 July 2016 Woven

Weave a canopy or parachute shaped armature for orchids to perch on

31 July 2013 Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

A tiny orchid stem ladder keeps the orchid suspended just above the water line

4 July 2018 Wonder

Tie a bundle of grass to support your floral details

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.