My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Foliage Pleat Garland

Cut the Aspidistra leaf into similar width strips. Begin to fold in an accordion zigzag pattern of equal width in alternating opposite directions as you would make a fan. Thread a length of Bullion wire through the leaf. Open up the folds. Continue adding strips until you have a long garland.

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Tutorials
Free standing basket
10 August 2011
Free standing basket

I tied the strong inside veins of the 5 Aspidistra leaves (that I used to make the garland with) to make my basket armature.
Suspended, suspended buds in a zig zag grass thread
31 August 2022
Suspended, suspended buds in a zig zag grass thread

Suspend flowers in tight bud to slip over a folded and threaded grass grid
Skewer and thread a double layer foliage ruffle collar to slip over a bud vase
27 May 2020
Skewer and thread a double layer foliage ruffle collar to slip over a bud vase

An easy to do and quick to add decorative detail to dress up contemporary floral designs.
Quarter fold and Thread an Autumn leaf tube armature
9 October 2019
Quarter fold and Thread an Autumn leaf tube armature

This armature is actually made of four times as many leaves as what it looks like to create a hinge to fan the entire leaf-tube open yet keep it's shape.
Autumn leaf Christmas tree stack
24 October 2018
Autumn leaf Christmas tree stack

Stack autumn leaves, from big to small to look like a tiny Christmas tree
Skewered Eucalyptus leaf line-up armature
10 May 2017
Skewered Eucalyptus leaf line-up armature

Thread leaves through wire
Bending blades of grass to shadow over a design
10 May 2017
Bending blades of grass to shadow over a design
Weaving a Straight Edged Strip
1 May 2013
Weaving a Straight Edged Strip

A beautiful woven strip that is quite easy to make
A plait, a braid or a French knot grass collar
25 April 2012
A plait, a braid or a French knot grass collar

"Plaid" and "braid" are synonyms, and where you are from will most likely dictate whether you use plait (British) or braid (American or Celtic). Some people also refer to cornrows as braids or refer to pinned up plaits as braids. A French braid is a braiding technique.
Related Designs
Bud… bud… bud… they were feeling so… very blue
31 August 2022
Bud… bud… bud… they were feeling so… very blue

When life hands you dyed flowers you make... well creatively speaking it turned out to be not such a bad thing after all!
Take a Stab at it
27 May 2020
Take a Stab at it

Skewer a few leaves to turn a single carnation in a bud vase... into an occasion... all by itself!
With a thankful twist in the middle
9 October 2019
With a thankful twist in the middle

Fold and thread an autumn leaf armature for a thankful Thanksgiving design
It all stacks up
24 October 2018
It all stacks up

Quick and easy: Stack autumn leaves onto a wire for a... tiny table top Christmas tree.
About a line
10 May 2017
About a line

Skewer and line up leaves to create an armature
Pleated Pleasure
10 August 2011
Pleated Pleasure

Pleats are accordion like folds of equal width in alternating opposite directions in any kind of fabric. I absolutely love the tight buds of Allium and they represent the "pleasure" part of my design