My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Fast way to fill a lot of test tubes in awkward places

I do not believe in arranging flowers without a water source of some kind. I want my flowers to remain as beautiful for as long as possible and I often get quite creative to ensure a water source for even finer stems and blossoms.

For this design I used 60 small glass test tubes glued directly into the cocoon frame. To fill the tubes I made a syringe tube so that I can easily fill the test tubes before designing...

...and top up the water without disturbing the delicate design.

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Tutorials
Syringe with tube
3 January 2011
Syringe with tube

Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase
Twig cocoon
16 August 2011
Twig cocoon

Cherry twig frame for my cocoon design
Spinning a Hot Glue Spider Web or silk for a Floral Cocoon
28 March 2011
Spinning a Hot Glue Spider Web or silk for a Floral Cocoon

How to spin (and remove) hot glue spider web or floral cocoon
Cut spiked flower stems and foliage into short sections
16 August 2011
Cut spiked flower stems and foliage into short sections

Orchids grow in long flower spikes. It is great to use the entire stem but sometimes you need shorter section. There is a trick to cutting the stems without leaving a visible blunt stem.
A witch... or wizard... hat that you can shape any which way you like
19 October 2022
A witch... or wizard... hat that you can shape any which way you like

Take your time to weave a pointy hat from what you find in nature.
Grass Spiral Wind Spinner
2 July 2019
Grass Spiral Wind Spinner

Thread grass into flexi grass to create a spinner that gently turns in the wind.
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.
Reed Cradle Armature
29 June 2016
Reed Cradle Armature

Glue reeds on a wire frame to create a dimensional armature to suspend orchids in
Cut a plastic vial to make a top-up-able water source for upside down hanging flowers
18 May 2016
Cut a plastic vial to make a top-up-able water source for upside down hanging flowers

Snip the closed bottom of a plastic vial
Sealing water leaks
18 May 2016
Sealing water leaks

Petroleum jelly is both waterproof and not water soluble it creates a waterproof barrier to keep the water from leaking out of the vials when you hang it upside down. In fact, this trick work so well that you can use drinking straws or plastic tubes and seal it around the stem with the petroleum jelly
Square Twig Cube
21 May 2014
Square Twig Cube

Glue twigs together to create a cube armature
Spiny Twig Porcupine Armature
2 October 2013
Spiny Twig Porcupine Armature

Glue a few twigs to display Autumn flowers and foliage on
Pinecone and delphinium table top tree
24 July 2013
Pinecone and delphinium table top tree

Small tree with fresh flowers
Messy summer floral nest
3 July 2013
Messy summer floral nest

Wrap and weave and twirl and dangle foliage to create a spiral nest
Fill hollow bark with test tubes
18 December 2012
Fill hollow bark with test tubes

Glue tiny sections of pipe to the bark to fill as a water source for the fresh flower material
Stabilizing sticks for dried or fresh flowers
10 July 2012
Stabilizing sticks for dried or fresh flowers

Create a full design without the weight by stabilizing the flowers with glued sticks. This is a great alternative to floral foam.
Related Designs
Point Witch (or Wizard) Way
19 October 2022
Point Witch (or Wizard) Way

A wire framed witch or wizard hat that can be reshaped.
Taking a Breather
3 July 2019
Taking a Breather

A relaxing summer design that spins gently in the wind
Just Like Wisteria Rain
10 April 2019
Just Like Wisteria Rain

Craft a ethereal design from twigs and wisteria flowers
Harvest Moon
26 October 2016
Harvest Moon

Fold a fine twig wreath in half to create a moon shaped armature
Make the design
29 June 2016
Make the design

Weave a reed cradle to suspend orchids from
Celebrate!
23 March 2016
Celebrate!

A closer look at my design at the 20th anniversary of Canada Blooms and The Toronto Flower Show
Delicate
4 November 2015
Delicate

Bleached Gypsophila wreath with delicate autumn touches
Happy Dance
2 September 2015
Happy Dance

Split a few bamboo sections to create a happy water source for miniature orchids
Hold on to the knot
21 August 2013
Hold on to the knot

Bend and knot wire into a heart shaped armature
Diamond Jubilee Waterfall
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 Great Hall of Government House in Victoria, Canada entitled British Columbia Blooms.
Cherry twig cocoon
16 August 2011
Cherry twig cocoon

Japanese aesthetic, wabi-sabi, acknowledges three simple truths:nothing lasts, nothing is done, and nothing is perfect.
In the Bag
14 April 2011
In the Bag

My bag was woven from re-purposed wire and recycled fishing line and tiny stems of growing sweet pea plants and orchids