My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Pierce and stack fall leaves to rest on the edge of a container

Pierce a stem sized hole through an autumn leaf

Slip a second leaf through the hole

Pull the stem all the way through

Rest the leaves on the edge of a container with the stems pointing into the container.

Continue to pierce holes in the leaves

And stacking leaves.

Pierce a hole through the last leaf

And slip the first leaf stem through it

Pierce and stack a few random leaves to break up the pattern

Fill the container with water

Add a few stems of willow and Chinese lantern pods

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Tutorials
Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening
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 breaking it.
Stripping foliage from weaving stems
11 February 2015
Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with
Drying Physalis sepals
23 March 2012
Drying Physalis sepals

Every Autumn we see the beautiful Physalis pods everywhere but they are easy to dry and preserve to use year round.
Bite and snap a sturdy twig
22 May 2012
Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.
Taco-shaped twig armature
16 October 2012
Taco-shaped twig armature

Make a half-moon shaped armature to fill with flowers
Rolled up Autumn leaf wreath
21 October 2015
Rolled up Autumn leaf wreath

Create a textured wreath with Chrysanthemums and rolled up Autumn leaves
Use the stem of an Autumn leaf to wrap, pin and secure it in a roll
21 October 2015
Use the stem of an Autumn leaf to wrap, pin and secure it in a roll

A glue-less way of manipulating leaves
Leaf Swirls
6 November 2013
Leaf Swirls

Cut fall leaves to create continuous swirls
Roll hundreds (yes! hundreds) of autumn leaves so create a natural, upright flower frog
14 October 2015
Roll hundreds (yes! hundreds) of autumn leaves so create a natural, upright flower frog

Rolled leaves offer support for floral stems
Salmon pink Fall leaf armature
13 November 2013
Salmon pink Fall leaf armature

Fashion a fall armature from leaves
Autumn leaf Roses
6 September 2011
Autumn leaf Roses

I used to make baskets full of these when I was a little girl. We had a big Acasia thorn tree and I used to spear my “roses” onto the tree pretending I was the fairy responsible for bringing blossoms.
Summer harvest Vine Swirl
14 September 2022
Summer harvest Vine Swirl

A great way have your vines root and enjoy them too...
Floral wreath ring stem armature for a cute pumpkin patch in a stem vase design
7 October 2020
Floral wreath ring stem armature for a cute pumpkin patch in a stem vase design

Use a wreath to keep flower and a heavy little ghost pumpkin in place in a small vase.
Inside Pod Designing
3 October 2018
Inside Pod Designing

Snip open a Physalis pod to create a cavity for delicate floral details.
Related Designs
Thanksgiving Harvest
7 October 2011
Thanksgiving Harvest

Thanksgiving pumpkin with Chinese lanterns and spiral blossoms
Bright, brighter… brightest!
16 October 2012
Bright, brighter… brightest!

Celebrate the bright colours of autumn with lilies and Chinese lanterns
Whipped up in the autumn breeze
4 October 2017
Whipped up in the autumn breeze

Give a loosely woven wreath legs to stand on to hover lightly around a pumpkin
On Pumpkin Coloured Days
28 October 2015
On Pumpkin Coloured Days

Create a besom broom to sweep up those Autumn leaves
Watch the leaves turn
21 October 2015
Watch the leaves turn

Roll autumn leaves to create a wreath
This is the Fragrance of November
6 November 2013
This is the Fragrance of November

Weave a wreath to thread a dome for an Autumn leaf design
Foraging
13 November 2013
Foraging

This week's design is part of a challenge issued by Sherry Donnelly of Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio and Flirty Fleurs, Alicia Schwede, owner of Bella Fiori and Chuck Graham, Floral designer at BLOOM by Anuschka to create a design with anything I can pick up close to my design room. And no flowers allowed...
What a find!
14 October 2015
What a find!

Roll autumn leaves to create a frog to keep flowers upright
Overgrown S-Autum-mer Swirl
14 September 2022
Overgrown S-Autum-mer Swirl

Designing for somewhere not still summer not yet autumn weather...
Let’s circle around to this one
7 October 2020
Let’s circle around to this one

Create a floral circlet to rest the little pumpkin on... but above the water line.
But what’s inside?
3 October 2018
But what’s inside?

This week we are looking at the contents pages of my book... but more specifically at the sweet little pod design on the content page of my book.
A Round
1 November 2017
A Round

Create a delicate design that rests lightly on the edge of a container
Favourite Flowers
Physalis
Physalis

Spiral flowers from Chinese lantern sepals for my Thanksgiving Harvest design.
Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"
Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"

I wove three willow spheres for my Floral Art design Three Drops of floral chocolate.