My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Cross stem spacer

Wedge a stem into the container to fit snugly

Wedge a stem into the container to fit snugly

Wedge in a second stem to cross the first

Wedge in a second stem to cross the first...

Book readers you can also page to page 358 for one of my favourite designs using this technique... with a delicate willow stem knot.

Fill the container with water

Fill the container with water...

And slip a flowering stem to kick against the stem cross.

And slip a flowering stem to kick against the stem cross to stay firmly in place.

The cross is so great at keeping the stem in place that you can even balance an entire design from this one point. See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how I made this garland.

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

Tutorials

10 August 2022 Threaded stem and wire spacer wire garland

Thread stems into a wire to create dangling garlands

31 January 2018 Rock Rest for a heavy Protea Flower Head

Create a contrasting base to lift the heavy flower-head to design in

31 July 2012 Delicate twig and rosary vine garland

Spiral stems around a Ceropegia woodii or Rosary vine.

22 March 2017 Skewered Foliage Garland

Create a garland that dries well with rolled up leaves

8 August 2012 Stringing wool and Spanish moss

Create veil of wool and Spanish moss

22 January 2020 Hanging bamboo from a wired hook

This design can be hanged from anywhere... a case filled with twigs or a branch.

23 July 2014 Twig Chain Garlands

Knot stems into decorative swinging chains

29 March 2017 Three Tier Wire Ring Chandelier

Bend and weave three wire wreaths to string up as an air plant chandelier

Related Designs

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.

25 September 2018 Book cover design: the effortless floral craftsman, a floral crafter’s guide to crafting with nature

In my book I describe “effortless designing” as what happens when we have done our preparations, learned and practiced our techniques and are now crafting our work. We can forget...

31 January 2018 Rock, don't Roll

Balance the heavy Protea flower head to lean against a rock.

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...

31 May 2017 Let's hang out

Skewer some Eucalyptus to suspend between the orchids

8 August 2012 Stringing in the rain

A veil of green wool, Spanish moss and dried hydrangeas hang over white lilies

22 January 2020 Spacer

Armatures are great (budget friendly) spacers for creating large floral designs without using an enormous amount of your resources.

23 July 2014 Chain of Thought

Knot small stems into decorative chain garlands

29 March 2017 A Twirl

Suspend a wire chandelier design to twirl

23 March 2016 Celebrate!

A closer look at my design at the 20th anniversary of Canada Blooms and The Toronto Flower Show

26 June 2012 Diamond Jubilee Waterfall

To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee and the 20th Anniversary of Friends of Government House Gardens Society a Horticultural event was hosted in the gardens and...