My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Loosened Wreath Armature

The armature is made from a wreath. See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions on how to weave a wreath

Place a large wreath on a flat design surface

Place a large wreath on a flat design surface and make a few cuts so that it is easier to loosen the wreath.

Gently lift the layers of the wreath to separate

Gently lift the layers of the wreath to separate

Work your way through the the twigs to loosen it up

Work your way through the the twigs to loosen it up

Hook the wreath over the rim of a glass container

Hook one of the wreath twigs over the rim of the container to secure

Hook one of the wreath twigs over the rim of the container to secure

Let the spirals of the vine wreath drop naturally

Let the spirals of the vine wreath drop naturally

Glue in small test tubes to keep the flowers hydrated

Glue in small test tubes to keep the flowers hydrated

See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions on how I make test tubes from drinking straws

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

Tutorials

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...

11 February 2015 Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

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

8 July 2015 Overgrown Willow web inspired by a traditional Dream-catcher

I wanted my willow armature to hint of a web-like dreamcatcher that grows in the wild rather than being a precise replica of the traditional craft technique. But I did weave it...

14 August 2012 Pine scale wreath

Break pine scales from the cone and glue on a wreath frame to create a continuous pine scale wreath

12 August 2012 Twist your own Wire Wreath frame

Make a wire wreath frame with wire and cover it with growth mesium or moss to design on

25 January 2012 Weaving Willow spheres

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

Related Designs

4 May 2016 Ring-a-round

Open a vine wreath to create a spiral twig armature around a glass container

9 November 2016 All things Autumn (by which I mean all things chocolate) floral art demonstration at the BC Floral Art Society

A design demonstration looking at preparing for competition designs: thinking bigger

9 November 2016 All things Autumn (by which I mean all things chocolate): Loosen Up

This was the first design I did in my "All things Autumn (by which I mean all things chocolate)" floral art demonstration

29 March 2017 A Twirl

Suspend a wire chandelier design to twirl

27 September 2017 As tendrils tend to do

Curl a wreath with tendrils to create a twig-pumpkin

4 October 2017 Whipped up in the autumn breeze

Give a loosely woven wreath legs to stand on to hover lightly around a pumpkin

27 December 2017 Can it be?

Craft a pine tube to display a soft and snow filled winter scene

7 March 2018 Twist of its own

... a quick an easy design. Curl a few flax leaves to frame orchids

21 March 2018 Bring some Spring

Just like the weather is only hinting at spring, so is this design only hinting at being a basket

5 December 2018 Personal Preference

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

19 August 2020 All round pretty sweet and short

Frame a passion flower in a vine wreath for a short lived but so pretty arrangement.

7 April 2021 First we learn HOW to design… and then we learn how only WE design.

Whipped up to be light in the Spring breeze wreath design.

28 July 2021 Linked This Way

A fun way to elevate a few bud vases into a display.

15 September 2021 Blowing this way and that

Craft an arch armature to display those early autumn treasures.

6 October 2021 A good measure of Autumn

A wire and twig permanent display basket with tiny water sources for a few fresh flowers that can be replaced as needed.

24 May 2023 everywhere IS nature

A lush wreath that remains green so that you can design once... and cut and cut and place your violas to make sure you have flowers all season long.

27 September 2023 this NEEDS to be at the top of my (our?) to-do list

Autumn bud vase collar made from gladiolus foliage.

23 October 2024 Haerfest

Rooting clematis cuttings in a harvest wreath basket

26 August 2015 Bent

Weave a wreath from sweetpea stems and tendrils

21 October 2015 Watch the leaves turn

Roll autumn leaves to create a wreath

6 November 2013 This is the Fragrance of November

Weave a wreath to thread a dome for an Autumn leaf design

11 April 2011 Veiled Sunshine:50th Anniversary of the South African Orchid Society at the Cape Town Convention Centre.

Bright and sunny cymbidium orchids and roses, lilies, lisianthus and pincushions

10 April 2011 Feeling Funky

I wove vine wreaths to form a pyramid, one just slightly larger than the next. In the natural cavities between the wreaths I placed the roses and lisianthus in plastic covered...

30 March 2011 Garden Wreath Workshop and Demonstration

Contemporary Wreath Design demonstration as part of the Durbanville Garden Club's annual Garden Festival, Western Cape, South Africa