My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Grass Spiral Wind Spinner

Measure out a bunch of lily grass to cut

Measure out a bunch of lily grass to cut. I made my snippets just slightly larder than my fist.

Cut the grass into sections

Cut the grass into sections.

Make a hole in the grass with a sharp bamboo stick

Make a hole in the grass with a sharp bamboo stick.

Cut the flexi grass into a sharp angle.

Cut the flexi grass into a sharp angle.

Thread the lily grass sections into the flexi grass

Thread the lily grass sections into the flexi grass.

When the flexi grass is about half full of grass snippets cut the ends straight

When the flexi grass is about half full of grass snippets cut the ends straight...

And start to gently twist the bundle

... and start to gently twist the bundle.

Secure the top of the spiral with a small drop of floral glue

Secure the top and bottom of the spiral with a small drop of floral glue and fill the rest of the flexi grass with grass snippets.

Allow a bit of space at the top to hang the spinner

Allow a bit of space at the top to hang the spinner.

Hang the grass spiral by knotting line to the flexi grass

Hang the grass spiral by knotting line to the flexi grass.

Separate the top half of the snippets into three sections

Separate the top half of the snippets into three sections. The sections frame the plant material and make it easier to dangle plant material from the one side to the other.

Glue in the water tubes

Glue in the water tubes. See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how I make my own water tubes.

Add in the fresh plant material.

Add in the fresh plant material.

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

Tutorials

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

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

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.

29 March 2017 Three Tier Wire Ring Chandelier

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

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...

3 January 2011 Syringe with tube

Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase

16 August 2011 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...

17 October 2018 Clips to hang flowers vertically

I designed and printed these clips on a 3D printer as a fast, secure and convenient way to hang water tubes vertically down fishing line.

Favourite Flowers

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid

Ceropegia woodii

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

Lathyrus

Sweet pea

Related Designs

3 July 2019 Taking a Breather

A relaxing summer design that spins gently in the wind

4 September 2019 Gently down the stream

A mindful summer craft using banana leaves to create a floating arrangement.

15 January 2020 This way we connect

Weave a connected panel to frame a single orchid.

22 January 2020 Spacer

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

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!

17 February 2021 From here in out

An all natural, zero waste design using only plant material.

18 May 2022 Because Why

Adding the smallest details to absolutely make the design.

5 October 2022 Tail End Of The Season

A display armature for a delicate autumn display.

14 August 2024 everything in one

Connect a unit of leaves... and a pretty floppy stem with thorns.

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

24 April 2013 Hanging Space

Suspend small bud vases with Macramé-like knotted wool. This design is featured on The Fusion Flowers Magazine... Fusion Links page.

28 December 2011 Bubbly New Year’s Sparklers

Delicate glass bubbles filled with the midnight blue African violet flowers, purple ornamental capsicum and spilling down the design are a few stems of rosary vine

31 May 2017 Let's hang out

Skewer some Eucalyptus to suspend between the orchids

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...

14 August 2013 Something Like This

Stack and glue a large twig rectangle to hang as room divider

25 April 2018 Get in line!

Line up a few pussy willow twigs for a hanging armature

8 August 2012 Stringing in the rain

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