My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Off-center hole-wreath armature

Draw the wreath pattern on cardboard

Draw the wreath pattern on cardboard.

Craft the first layer of the armature from sturdy dried grass

Craft the first layer of the armature from sturdy dried grass, cut into random size snippets.

Start to stack the snippets

Start to stack the snippets. Make sure you stay inside the pattern and glue the grass snippets to other grass snippets and not the cardboard.

For a sturdy wreath armature make sure you glue each snippet at least at 3 points to another grass snippet

For a sturdy wreath armature make sure you glue each snippet at least at 3 points to another grass snippet.

Glue the grass snippets in a random pattern all around the wreath

Glue the grass snippets in a random pattern all around the wreath

Let some of the snippets extend to create dimension

Let some of the snippets extend to create dimension.

Hold the wreath up to make sure it is sturdy

Hold the wreath up to make sure it is sturdy. Wiggle it a bit just to make sure. Add more grass snippets where needed.

Weave in a few sweet pea vines

Weave in a few dried sweet pea vines.

Add just enough vines to soften the look of the grass snippets

Add just enough vines to soften the look of the grass snippets.

Glue in a water tube

Glue in a water tube.

I make my own tiny water tubes from drinking straws. See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions.

Add in the fresh flowers

Add in the Phalaenopsis orchids.

Drape a green vine lightly around the design for contrast

Drape a green vine lightly around the design for contrast.

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.

26 August 2015 Sun baked Sweetpea vine wreath

A perfect way to use a Lathyrus vine after all it flowered

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...

1 July 2015 Washi paper (Rakusui) split tube

Rip up the Washi paper for a lace fine armature for floral art

Favourite Flowers

Lathyrus

Sweet pea

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid

Related Designs

12 September 2018 Hole-ding it’s breath

Craft an almost Autumn armature from dried sweet pea vines

21 November 2018 The effortless floral craftsman, a floral crafter's guide to crafting with nature Book Launch Demonstration

My book launch demonstration was hosted by my flower-buddies from the Capilano Flower Arranging Club. We looked at what influences our own effortless style... that "thing" that...

21 November 2018 Rules!

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

27 March 2019 Like trying to find a water tube in a eggshell stack

A fun Spring and Easter design with stacked eggshells.

4 May 2022 Wonderful and Enough

That incredible moment when you realize that one good idea for your design really is enough...

5 October 2022 Tail End Of The Season

A display armature for a delicate autumn display.

4 October 2023 So Into Fall

Keep you fresh plant material hydrated in water... and your dried plant material suspended to keep it from falling into the water.

26 August 2015 Bent

Weave a wreath from sweetpea stems and tendrils

15 July 2015 So Fine

Use transparencies to create floating devices for the flower material

1 July 2015 At a Stretch

Glue a paper tube floral art structure

14 April 2011 In the Bag

My bag was woven from re-purposed wire and recycled fishing line and tiny stems of growing sweet pea plants and orchids