My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Suspend delicate stemmed orchids in a Willow Infinity Weave Flower Frog

Choose a display container that opens at the top

Choose a display container that opens at the top like a trumpet or fluted vase.

Measure a willow stem to rest just below the edge of the vase opening

Measure a willow stem to rest just below the edge of the vase opening.

Cut a partner willow twig to match

Cut a partner willow twig to match.

Cut through the middle of one of the twigs to create a slit

Cut through the middle of one of the twigs to create a slit...

Next we start the weave. Choose the thinnest stems you have for weaving. Make sure the willow stems are really fresh and pliable. The weave is too delicate to use dried willow even if you soak it in warm water. The fresh twigs might need a bit of help to keep it from breaking. One way is just to roll them slightly to make them more pliable.

This week in our email I also show you another way. I send out the email to notify you the moment the design is ready to view and include a little "something more" for you to take note of so that you get the most out of the weekly inspiration design. If you are not yet signed up to receive my Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) email the sign up is below this post.

But to get you started I have also linked a Tutorial about manipulating twigs below.

And slip a thin fresh willow twig through the slit

And slip a thin fresh willow twig so that it is pinched in the slit.

Bend the thin twig down

Bend the thin twig down to rest on the thicker willow twig edge.

Wrap the willow around the twig to secure the end piece

Wrap the willow around the twig to secure the end piece...

Wrap it around a second time and add in the second twig above the thin willow

Wrap it around a second time and add in the second twig above the thin willow.

Wrap the thin willow twice around the twig and extend it over to the other willow

Wrap the thin willow twice around the twig and extend it over to the other willow.

This is our weaving pattern: Wrap twice around one side and then twice around the other side.

I found it easier to wind the thin willow around the twig

I found it easier to wind the thin willow around the twig and then to pull it tight and position it exactly where I wanted it.

Hang on tightly to the twigs for the first few wraps. They are slippery. But the moment it is all secure it gets easier. Book readers have a look the section on Mastery (from page 201 to 252) for more information about wrapping and winging, braiding and coiling. You can use any of these methods to personalize your design to your very own... effortless style.
For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

When you reach the end of a pliable willow section cut it

When you reach the end of a pliable willow section cut it so that it rest behind a twig and slip a fresh willow tip into the weave...

The new twigs will keep the old twigs in place

... and start wrapping again. The new twigs will keep the old twigs in place.

When you reach the end thread the willow twigs through itself to secure it with a knot

When you reach the end thread the willow twigs through itself to secure it with a knot

Cut the leftover stems away

Cut the leftover stems away to neaten up your willow frog.

Place the willow twig frog in your display container

Place the willow twig frog in your display container to make sure it rests securely.

For my design I am making a mirrored image

For my design I am making a mirrored image. Two small monstera leaves and two... well... from what we can tell it seems to be a Miltonia and Oncidium orchid hybrid. Very pretty though!

Carefully insert the orchid stem to just above the willow weave

Carefully insert the first orchid stem through the willow weave...

This stem that will be above the water gets pushed in slightly deeper through the willow weave

The two orchid stems are positioned slightly differently so that they remain hydrated. This stem that will be above the water gets pushed in slightly deeper through the willow weave.

Wiggle a hole through the weave for the second stem

Take care not to crush the stems. Rather wiggle a hole through the weave for the stems if it is too tight. Don't force it.

Slip the second stem through the willow weave

Slip the second stem through the willow weave. This time the stem should be just through the weave but not extend beyond that. This way you can be sure the stem end is under water as long as the willow is covered with water.

Add in the monstera leaves to fit into the weave in the same way as the orchids

Add in the monstera leaves to fit into the weave in the same way as the orchids

Carefully turn and adjust the flowers so that they are a mirror image

Carefully turn and adjust the flowers so that they are a mirror image or whatever way you want them to be in the water.

Set the willow frog into the container so that it kicks against the sides

Set the willow frog into the container so that it kicks against the sides to stay exactly where you want it to be.

Fill the display container with water to just above the willow

Fill the display container with water to just above the willow.

Adjust the floral details

Adjust the floral details...

Finish the design with a sprinkle of artificial snow

Finish the design with a sprinkle of artificial snow to float on top...

And add a few dew drop crystals for sparkle

And add a few dew drop crystals for sparkle.

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how I add the dew drop crystals with a pin.

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...

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.

22 May 2012 Filling a vase with water without disturbing the design details

Break the water flow when you fill a vase with details in that can move with the stream of water

11 February 2015 Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with

25 October 2017 Willow Paddle

Weave willow between the fork in a twig to create a paddle like armature

16 March 2016 Willow Parasol

Weave willow stems into a decorative parasol

26 August 2015 Sun baked Sweetpea vine wreath

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

16 October 2019 Not quite a wreath, not quite a basket armature

Easy to weave design that can hold your prettiest autumn design treasures.

11 March 2020 Impossibly delicate Dancing Lady orchid wreath

Weave a wreath around a cardboard circle to create an almost lace effect... perfect to capture those first signs of Spring!

9 January 2019 Winter white Tulle bridal basket

Craft a delicate bridal basket from twigs and tulle.

27 November 2012 Winter Woodland Chandelier

Wrap vines and twigs around a wire frame to create a decorative woodland chandelier

5 September 2018 Wisteria Wreath Vine

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

18 April 2018 Clematis Vine Swing

Weave a delicate nest for a small spring design.

14 March 2018 Willow birdcage

Weave a willow birdcage to use as a wedding ring box

24 May 2017 Chain link wreath weaving

Weave a few small wreaths to connect

3 August 2016 Hanging Willow Nest

Bend and weave a nest shape from fresh willow stems

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...

30 April 2015 Willow twig Corsage Platform

To create a layered look for a corsage tie a foundation of twigs with fresh willow stems

7 September 2022 Willow disk frog

Dried willow shaped to create a disk to keep your floral details in place in a vase with water.

Favourite Flowers

Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"

Curly Willow, Chinese Willow, Tortured Willow, Globe Willow, Dragon's Claw, Hankow Willow

Oncidium

Dancing lady

Related Designs

24 January 2024 I mean… really!?!

Using fresh twigs to bind a little twig platform to suspend the beautiful orchids from.

15 May 2024 Well, well, well, if it isn’t the design solution I have been procrasti-crafting on

Beautiful Bletilla striata (Chinese Ground Orchid) deserves it's own elaborate frilly skirt display.

20 January 2011 The last Vine Wreath

Every designer knows how to stretch their supplies. We use and re-use our dried plant material until our fellow designers feel like hiding it from us. I formed such an...

25 October 2017 When the pretty eyeballs you back!

Barely there skeleton blossoms with Eucalyptus eyes for my Halloween design... Oh! and a Willow Paddle, which probably should have been the main Tutorial... but... well...

16 March 2016 Creative Expectations

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

26 August 2015 Bent

Weave a wreath from sweetpea stems and tendrils

16 October 2019 Center Peace

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

11 March 2020 On-Spring-dium

A almost impossibly delicate oncidium (dancing lady) orchid wreath.

9 January 2019 Magical Craftsmanship

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

12 December 2018 Availability of plant material shows in your design style

The last design I did for my book launch demonstration looking at aspects that influences my effortless style of designing... this week: often when we see a design element...

5 September 2018 Wreath Vine Season!

Weave tiny wreaths on the stems of Wisteria vines

18 April 2018 Swing Vine

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

14 March 2018 Old, new trends

My article and willow birdcage design for wedding rings featured in DIY Weddings Magazine.

24 May 2017 Link

weave a few wreaths to link

3 August 2016 Practice

Weave a willow bird nest

8 July 2015 How To Catch A Dream

Take inspiration from a traditional Dream-catcher design to create a floral armature

6 May 2015 Tape and Wrap

Design Two from my Inspiration Video: Use the same floral ingredients, willow twigs, Lichen, Spanish Moss, Kalanchoe and Gypsophila to make three distinctly different contemporary...

30 April 2015 Layer

Design One from my Inspiration Video: Use the same floral ingredients, willow twigs, Lichen, Spanish Moss, Kalanchoe and Gypsophila to make three distinctly different contemporary...

13 April 2011 Harnessing the Wind

7 September 2022 Of the shades to come

This design requires a bit of prep-time so it is perfect to make while waiting for the first autumn leaf to appear…