My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Two leaf lining your container to shelter your orchids

Slip a mostera leaf into a elongated vase

Slip a mostera leaf into a elongated vase...

Let the stem curve to line the bottom of the container to add a bit of drama.

Add a second leaf to create a cup

Add a second leaf to create a cup...

Fill the container with water so that it pools between the leaves

Fill the container with water so that it pools between the leaves making a secure puddle for the floral material.

Place the orchid stem into the leaf puddle

Place the orchid stem into the leaf puddle so that it sits comfortable. For my design this meant the flowering tip of the spike poked through the hole in the leaf...

Book readers turn to page: 273 where I talk about manipulating plant material to create an illusion.

Gently manipulate the stem to wedge into the container

Gently manipulate the stem to wedge into the container... but take care not to snap the stem.... but if you do...

This week I added an alternative to help you craft this design if your stem is maybe not long enough... or you want to substitute the orchids with flowers that are not strong enough to wedge into position... or you are not yet comfortable with manipulating stems in this way. See this weeks email for more details. If you are not yet signed up for our once a week email tip make sure to do so before next Wednesday. These tips only appear in the emails and are not added to the Tutorial.

Add in a few vines

Add in a few vines to curve over the flowers.

And finish the design with a few dew drop crystals

And finish the design with a few dew drop crystals.

See the Tutorial below for more information on how I add the 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

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.

8 January 2020 Leaf-puddle for a short stem in a big vase

Add a leaf to a large-ish vase to create a small puddle of water for your short flower stem to rest in.

24 January 2018 Stack two glass vases to keep a leaf upright in water

Slip a leaf into the gap between two glass containers to keep it upright... and add a plastic lining to support the flowers nestled into it.

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.

30 January 2019 A round, around a round foliage… spiral in a vase

Stack foliage to create a rose spiral in a container.

27 June 2018 Foliage tube armature for long stemmed freesia buds

Curl and pin a few leaves into a tube to create an armature for those "left over" freesiabuds.

16 August 2017 Criss-cross Monstera lace-up

Glue short sections of rosary vine into the natural gaps in the Monstera deliciosa leaf

5 October 2016 Folded leaf nest

Leaf armature made of rolled mini Monstera leaves

4 February 2015 Fold over a tropical leaf cocoon

Fold and glue a Monstera deliciosa (delicious monster) leaf

Favourite Flowers

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid

Related Designs

2 June 2021 Like an open book

Position foliage to create a smaller, shallow pond for your floral details to shelter in.

6 April 2022 Gaps between those in-between Spring days

Give a minimal design a few grass "whiskers" to feel that Spring breeze.

20 April 2022 Oh this? Yes! it is new

New growth... too cute to resist!

11 January 2023 Maybe Still Maybe

... a something to look forward to design that makes you lean in closer to see what might still be.

19 July 2023 … And his little flower

Easy support for a single flower... and knot a special secret admirer just to keep it company.

2 August 2023 here… from … my little corner… of the world wide web

Weave a web of jasmine vine to support orchid stems

31 January 2024 Surround and Sound

Half moon frosted glass chip edge for a winter themed design.

24 April 2024 You Just Like You

Support a small bundle of spring florals to stand upright in water with two Monstera leaves.

8 May 2024 I mean… did you!?!

Playing with shapes to frame the light in a dramatic floral design.

12 June 2024 Just about enough space

Create a little bit of space to keep a few thin stemmed floral treasures upright in your design

3 July 2024 Oh! my word

A perfectly flat leaf to support tiny floral details in the summer heat.

8 January 2020 Rest a bit here

Gently curve a shallow area with a leaf to showcase a gorgeous flower with a short stem in a water filled vase

24 January 2018 How to make a stack of just enough:

Stack two vases to create a small gap at the side to keep a leaf upright

22 May 2019 Putting your own spin on it

I would definitely describe my own personal style as minimalist classic... but with an edgy twist.

30 January 2019 Around Here

Wind lily leaves to spiral around in a water filled container.

22 August 2018 FreestyleFreesia

Dutch floral designer Pim van den Akker, from Flower Factor invited me to participate in a FloraHolland initiative promoting the versatility of Freesias entitled ...

22 August 2018 Freestyle Freesia design video for Flower Factor

Freestyle Freesia design video for Flower Factor

27 June 2018 Look deep

Curl foliage to use as a natural armature for delicate buds.

16 August 2017 Making Ends Meet

Criss-cross corset style connect the gaps in a Monstera deliciosa leaf

5 October 2016 I found it this way: Leaf nest design

This was the third design I did in my "I found it this way" floral art demonstration

13 January 2016 Once Upon A Time

Stack and glue a Grass Pyramid Armature

4 February 2015 collywobbles!

Fold foliage butterflies

7 June 2011 Floating Boat Orchid

The name Cymbidium or boat Orchid is derived from the Greek word Kumbos meaning "hole or cavity", referring to the hollowness in the base of the lip of the flowers.

4 April 2011 its a wrap!

Banana leaves used to wrap flowers instead of Tissue paper or Cellophane