My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Hanging Willow Nest

Bend a long willow stem to loop

Bend a long willow stem to loop

For more information on how to manipulate stems without breaking it see the tutorial below

Bend another stem to loop inside the first

Bend another stem to loop inside the first

Wrap a thin willow stem around the looped stems

Wrap a thin willow stem around the looped stems ends (be sure to let the longer, thicker side of the stem extend while you use the tip to wrap)...

And slip the stem end through to secure

... and slip the stem end through to secure

This is the basic nest shape

This is the basic nest shape

Secure a thin willow stem where the looped stems cross

Secure a thin willow stem where the looped stems cross

Bend the top stem over and tuck it into the stem you used to connect the loops at the looped end

Bend the top stem over and tuck it into the stem you used to connect the loops at the looped end. This creates a fifth stem for you to weave with.

Now the nest shape is ready to start weaving

Now the nest shape is ready to start weaving

Press a thin stem into the top where the willow stems are connected

Press a thin stem into the top where the willow stems are connected

Wrap the stem to make sure it is firmly secure and that the stems are all in place

Wrap the stem to make sure it is firmly secure and that the stems are all in place

Press a thin stem in the bottom looped side of the stems

Press a thin stem in the bottom looped side of the stems...

Start weaving the stem in and out around the stems

Start weaving the stem in and out around the stems

I used the basic in and out weaving pattern. For more information on weaving, see the Tutorial below

Weave the stem in and out spiralling out around the stems

Weave the stem in and out spiralling out around the stems

When you reach the end of a stem simply press in a new stem and continue weaving

When you reach the end of a stem simply press in a new stem and continue weaving

Shape the base of the nest as you spiral out

Shape the base of the nest as you spiral out

Continue weaving

Continue weaving

Create the opening by looping back the stem at the last willow twig

Create the opening by looping back the stem at the last willow twig and weaving it back

Do the same on the other side.

Do the same on the other side.

Continue weaving up adding stems as you go along

Continue weaving up adding stems as you go along

Do the same at the top weaving around the stems down to the wider looped side

Do the same at the top weaving around the stems down to the wider looped side

Continue to weave all the way around working your way down to the bottom weaved bit

Continue to weave all the way around working your way down to the bottom weaved bit

Space the stems out to create a opening

Space the stems out to create a opening

For the loop at the top:

Loop a willow stem twice

Loop a willow stem twice

And wrap the loop with a thin willow stem

And wrap the loop with a thin willow stem

Continue wrapping to cover the entire loop

Continue wrapping to cover the entire loop

Press the looped stems into the willow nest

Press the looped stems into the willow nest

And knot the stems to secure

And knot the stems to secure

Add another long stem

Add another long stem by pressing it into the wrapped part

And wrap the entire top part tightly to secure

And wrap the entire top part tightly to secure

The willow nest is ready to design with

The willow nest is ready to design with

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

Tutorials

19 February 2013 Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening

Most stems, twigs and even sturdier branches can be bend into shapes. It takes practice and more than a bit of patience. The main idea is to slowly manipulate the branch without...

8 June 2011 Foliage Weaving

For this tutorial I focus on a simple weave pattern that does not require you to soften or prepare the leaves to be more durable or flexible. This is the starting point in...

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...

27 January 2016 Sprouting willow armature

Carefully manipulate and bend green willow stems to place in water to sprout as an armature for tulips to mature and open

11 February 2015 Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with

11 February 2015 Willow Heart Wand

28 January 2015 The difference between detailing a sprouting stem for a floral design and pruning a stem

Give the stem a closer cut to detail for floral art

25 January 2012 Weaving Willow spheres

I build up the spheres by weaving willow wreaths and then use those to shape the ball

16 March 2016 Willow Parasol

Weave willow stems into a decorative parasol

Related Designs

3 August 2016 Practice

Weave a willow bird nest

11 April 2017 Well… we did it again!

Blossoms and chocolates for Easter

25 October 2017 When the pretty eyeballs you back!

Barely there skeleton blossoms with Eucalyptus eyes for my Halloween design... Oh! and a Willow Paddle, which probably should have been the main Tutorial... but... well...

28 November 2018 Crafting

The second design I did for my book launch demonstration looking at aspects that influences my effortless style of designing.

3 March 2021 Spring Tray-ning

A Spring basket design for catching falling blossom petals.

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?

24 January 2024 I mean… really!?!

Using fresh twigs to bind a little twig platform to suspend the beautiful orchids from.

6 March 2024 A Stay Open

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

27 March 2024 Twiners Gonna Twine

Twining jasmine vine twirl for Easter

3 April 2024 springy, Spring, spring

Gorgeous Aquilegia vulgaris spring flower... with it's own springy thing!

2 October 2024 Brewing some inspiration

Autumn harvest willow for a double the pretty plaited flower support

23 October 2024 Haerfest

Rooting clematis cuttings in a harvest wreath basket

20 January 2011 The last Vine Wreath

Every designer knows how to stretch their supplies. We use and re-use our dried plant material until our fellow designers feel like hiding it from us. I formed such an...

8 April 2011 Large Open Weave Twig Basket

Easter Basket used in the Durbanville Flower Club Easter Parade Demonstration

16 March 2016 Creative Expectations

My article and a floral parasol design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

25 February 2015 Just So

Twirl a few willow twigs to create a balanced armature to display orchids

19 August 2015 Growth Medium

Design a bark and moss pod for a mushroom mini farm

11 February 2015 Love Spell

Weave willow to create a heart shaped wand design

8 April 2015 Just think!

Weave a nest for chocolate Easter eggs

16 May 2012 On the first warm day in May

A ripped flax, Ranunculus and Mikado Reed drop shaped nest