My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Making a parasol

Glue the first wooden slats of the parasol

Cut short sections of wooden slats and start to glue them with wood glue into a circular shape.

Continue adding wooden sections

Continue adding a second layer to create a middle point for the parasol

Middle section of the flower umbrella

Finish the middle point with a decorative cross hatch

Glue on 5 wooden peg supports for the floral parasol

Glue on five wooden peg supports for the floral parasol

Stain the wood green with spinach juice

Set the structure aside to dry completely before staining it green to blend in with the dried flax string

Start weaving the ripped flax

Start weaving the flax onto the parasol wood

First weaving patterns is under and around the slat

The first weaving pattern creates the inner circle. Weave under and then around the wood. Creating a flat weave with a cross at the back

Continue the pattern with one third of the flax string

Continue this weaving pattern for about a third of the flax string

To create a curve in the parasol reverse the  weave pattern

To create a curve or a dome in the parasol reverse the weaving pattern. Hook the string over the wood to cross over itself in front of the wood with a flat section at the back.

Parasol from the back to show the test tubes filled with water for the flower material

Add the chopsticks handle and wire in test tubes before designing with the plant material.

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Tutorials

19 October 2011 Hana-Kubari chopsticks

Splitting the chopsticks or a wooden branch, such as a willow twig creates a natural (and glue-less!) clamp.

14 January 2011 Ripping Flax

Flax can be ripped into fibres creating long and versatile strips

21 September 2011 Birch wood coffee stir sticks fan

I wanted to make a thin and delicate fan with open spaced slats for weaving plant material through.

Related Designs

8 June 2016 When the wind whisper

Glue a fantasy forest from Popsicle sticks, grape vine tendrils and willow tips

23 August 2017 Almost is still not quite

Weave just a hint of the Autumn to come

16 October 2019 Center Peace

A visual breather from all the bright and festive designs to come when designing for Autumn.

21 September 2011 All things being Equal

The fan is made from 18 coffee stir sticks and dressed with a veil of grass, fall leaves and Viburnum berries