My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Craft a Spring basket from a wreath

Cut a wreath into sections

Cut a wreath into sections...

For my design I cut and gathered 5 loops

For my design I cut and gathered 5 loops. If you want the gaps to be smaller wire in a few more loops.

The basket is wired to the sturdiest loop

The basket is wired to the sturdiest loop. This will also be the handle.

Place the first loop around this sturdy loop

Place the first loop around this sturdy loop.

Tie it with wire to secure

Tie it with wire to secure.

Place the next loop halfway between these loops and wire to secure

Place the next loop halfway between these loops and wire to secure

Do the same on the other side to shape the bottom of the basket

Do the same on the other side to shape the bottom of the basket.

Weave in another loop to cross over all the loops that shape the bottom of the basket

Weave in another loop to cross over all the loops that shape the bottom of the basket, and secure with wire. If you want a basket with smaller gaps in the bottom weave in a few more loops and space it out to create smaller gaps.

Glue in a few water tubes for the fresh flowers

Glue in a few water tubes for the fresh flowers.

I make small water tubes from drinking straws. See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions.

Add the orchids, vines, feathers and crystals

Add the orchids, vines, feathers and crystals.

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

Tutorials

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...

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

14 March 2018 Willow birdcage

Weave a willow birdcage to use as a wedding ring box

27 September 2017 Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin

Reshape a vine wreath into smaller wreaths to combine as a pumpkin

24 May 2017 Designing an odd one out wreath

Adding floral material to a wreath design

24 May 2017 Chain link wreath weaving

Weave a few small wreaths to connect

11 April 2017 A little nest for Easter chocolates that naturally hooks over the edge of a container

Weave a tiny nest with a twig hook so that you can hang it in a design

7 September 2016 Willow flower crown

Loosely weave willow tips to create an ethereal crown

4 May 2016 Loosened Wreath Armature

Snip a dried twig wreath to undo the spirals to hang around a glass container

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

1 February 2012 Weaving a diagonal green grass basket

Once you figure out how to do the corners weaving a diagonal shape is actually not that hard to do.

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

4 September 2013 Weave a heart shaped basket

An easy to assemble open weave basket

Favourite Flowers

Ceropegia woodii

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

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid

Related Designs

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

5 September 2018 Wreath Vine Season!

Weave tiny wreaths on the stems of Wisteria vines

9 January 2019 Magical Craftsmanship

My article and winter white Tulle bridal basket design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine.

10 June 2020 All Out

An all out effective way of keeping a flower stem in the exact spot you want it to be in a clear water vase design.

3 March 2021 Spring Tray-ning

A Spring basket design for catching falling blossom petals.

15 September 2021 Blowing this way and that

Craft an arch armature to display those early autumn treasures.

6 October 2021 A good measure of Autumn

A wire and twig permanent display basket with tiny water sources for a few fresh flowers that can be replaced as needed.

26 January 2022 Carry On

As sturdy as it is delicate basket made from off-cut stems and grass.

1 March 2023 … ish

An early... ish Spring basket glued from blossom twigs

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?

28 February 2024 When the Super-duper is taking it Easy-peasy

Easy does it design that hints at but is not yet as intensive as the fun basket weaving and crafting that comes with Spring designing.

6 March 2024 A Stay Open

Grow a willow birdcage... with a bit of a Spring flower support to get it started.

14 March 2018 Old, new trends

My article and willow birdcage design for wedding rings featured in DIY Weddings Magazine.

27 September 2017 As tendrils tend to do

Curl a wreath with tendrils to create a twig-pumpkin

24 May 2017 Link

weave a few wreaths to link

11 April 2017 Well… we did it again!

Blossoms and chocolates for Easter

7 September 2016 You are all invited!

My article and Willow Crown design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

4 May 2016 Ring-a-round

Open a vine wreath to create a spiral twig armature around a glass container

11 April 2011 Veiled Sunshine:50th Anniversary of the South African Orchid Society at the Cape Town Convention Centre.

Bright and sunny cymbidium orchids and roses, lilies, lisianthus and pincushions

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...

29 May 2013 The day came

Weave a tiny rattan basket

4 September 2013 Been there, Seen that

My article and woven heart basket design featured in the third anniversary issue of DIY Weddings Magazine