My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Spring breeze tangled ribbon wreath

Bend the branches into a wild oval shaped wreath

Bend the branches into a wild oval shaped wreath.

If you are unsure of how to weave a twig wreath see the Tutorial below.

Weave in a few branches to break up the neat oval shape

Weave in a few branches to break up the neat oval shape...

This is part of my plan to make the dried flowers that I am including into this design look less lifeless. If you want to hear more about how I do this, including a few tips on how to add the flowers make sure you read this week's email. If you are not yet subscribed I add a few comments and a bonus tip in our email so that you can comment or respond and I can answer your questions every week. The sign up is below this post.

So that the wreath looks wild and wind blown

So that the wreath looks wild and wind blown.

Glue in a few water tubes

Glue in a few water tubes.

For more information on how I make my own tiny water tubes see the Tutorial below.

Fill the tube with water

Fill the tube with water.

I add a flexible pipe to a syringe for a custom made pipette. See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions to make your own.

Add the fresh orchids so that they remain hydrated

Add the fresh orchids so that they remain hydrated.

Cut the stems a bit too long

Cut the stems a bit too long...

... so that the flowers are positioned in a more natural rather than styled way. Yes, I do this on purpose. See this week's notification email for an explanation.

Glue in the dried hydrangeas

Glue in the dried hydrangeas.

Add in a few dried tendrils

Add in a few dried tendrils.

Design note: Sometimes when you use an oval shape in a floral design it can look as if it is wilting or sagging. Make sure the tendrils point up so that you counter the oval shape of the wreath.

Place a few dew drop crystals into the wreath

See the Tutorial below for how and why I use a corsage pin to place the crystals.

Tangle a ribbon to frame the design

Tangle a ribbon to frame the wreath design.

By weaving the ribbon to drape softly around the design

By weaving the ribbon to drape softly around the design.

Cut the ribbon ends into a neat angle

Cut the ribbon ends into a neat angle.

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...

11 February 2015 Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with

22 May 2012 Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.

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...

16 March 2016 Willow Parasol

Weave willow stems into a decorative parasol

7 September 2016 Willow flower crown

Loosely weave willow tips to create an ethereal crown

24 May 2017 Chain link wreath weaving

Weave a few small wreaths to connect

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

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

18 April 2018 Clematis Vine Swing

Weave a delicate nest for a small spring design.

5 September 2018 Wisteria Wreath Vine

Weave tiny vine wreaths on the leave stems of a stripped Wisteria vine

9 January 2019 Winter white Tulle bridal basket

Craft a delicate bridal basket from twigs and tulle.

26 August 2015 Sun baked Sweetpea vine wreath

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

19 August 2020 Tangle a perfect vine around two wreaths for a split armature

Passion fruit flowers never lasts long. Not even growing outside on a vine. But the buds continue to open once cut making a wreath display ideal for an even changing passion fruit...

4 May 2016 Loosened Wreath Armature

Snip a dried twig wreath to undo the spirals to hang around a glass container

27 September 2017 Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin

Reshape a vine wreath into smaller wreaths to combine as a pumpkin

24 February 2016 Willow Spring

Set willow tips into a spiral to create a spring design

25 August 2011 Placing orchids in test tubes

Cut the Phalaenopsis orchid with a bit of green stem attached. This will make them last longer.

8 July 2015 Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals

It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.

30 May 2012 Drying Hydrangeas: Fast, Flat or Natural

Use all three methods to dry hydrangeas to get three very different textures to use in design work.

Favourite Flowers

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid

Related Designs

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 April 2021 Here comes the sun...

A minimal design celebrating the new growth on twigs

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.

26 January 2022 Carry On

As sturdy as it is delicate basket made from off-cut stems and grass.

1 June 2022 Found it!

A very secure thorn branch armature to hold overgrown Tulips in place

18 September 2024 Finding balance

Balancing dried ribbons of foliage to craft a wind twisted floral display.

16 March 2016 Creative Expectations

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

7 September 2016 You are all invited!

My article and Willow Crown design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

24 May 2017 Link

weave a few wreaths to link

18 April 2018 Swing Vine

Weave a delicate vine swing to nestle a small vase with spring flowers in

5 September 2018 Wreath Vine Season!

Weave tiny wreaths on the stems of Wisteria vines

9 January 2019 Magical Craftsmanship

My article and winter white Tulle bridal basket design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine.

26 August 2015 Bent

Weave a wreath from sweetpea stems and tendrils

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.

4 May 2016 Ring-a-round

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

19 October 2016 There are Octobers

Autumn wreath

27 September 2017 As tendrils tend to do

Curl a wreath with tendrils to create a twig-pumpkin

24 February 2016 How to make an early Spring

Roll and set willow twigs into a spring

18 September 2019 It’s a sugar rush!

A perfectly imperfect wild willow wreath to display the first Autumn treasures of the year.

17 August 2016 Strangeness

Weave a wreath to display air plants on