My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Use the stem of an Autumn leaf to wrap, pin and secure it in a roll

Make a small guide hole in a autumn leaf with a bamboo skewer

Roll the leaf stem up and slip it through the hole

Slip the stem all the way through the hole and roll the leaf in

Wrap the stem around the leaf to secure

Make a new guide hole at the top end of the leaf with the babnoo skewer

Slip the stem through the hole and carefully pull it tight to secure the roll

Fluff out the leaf at the sides

Each leaf looks slightly different...

The leaves are now ready to design with

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Tutorials
Leaf Swirls
6 November 2013
Leaf Swirls

Cut fall leaves to create continuous swirls
Arum lily roll down
17 July 2012
Arum lily roll down

Open an arum lily up by rolling the funnel shaped spathe (petal) over
Autumn leaf ballet slippers from scratch
18 September 2013
Autumn leaf ballet slippers from scratch

Pick up a few fall leaves to glue on paper to make fairy slippers
Autumn Leaf Rosette
11 November 2012
Autumn Leaf Rosette

Great way to use all the autumn leaves you collect on walks during the season. Slowly build up the leaf rosette and let the leaves dry before adding a few more.
Chrysanthemum sepals and receptacle
17 July 2013
Chrysanthemum sepals and receptacle

I love using bits of flowers to add interest and texture
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.
Firethorns join two leaves for an edgy support for a tall flower stem
14 August 2024
Firethorns join two leaves for an edgy support for a tall flower stem

Thorns are a great way to spear (and keep) design details into position.
Craft a padded wooden Dowel to position a leaf cone into the sharp teeth of a Kenzan
10 May 2023
Craft a padded wooden Dowel to position a leaf cone into the sharp teeth of a Kenzan

Prevent a leaf from ripping or bruising when positioning it in your design.
Rolled leaf shelter for a lean-in-closer tiny bud vase design
6 January 2021
Rolled leaf shelter for a lean-in-closer tiny bud vase design

Create a tiny visual tunnel to focus attention.
Pierce and stack fall leaves to rest on the edge of a container
1 November 2017
Pierce and stack fall leaves to rest on the edge of a container

Use one leaf to keep the next in place
Rolled up Autumn leaf wreath
21 October 2015
Rolled up Autumn leaf wreath

Create a textured wreath with Chrysanthemums and rolled up Autumn leaves
Related Designs
As the leaves melt away
30 October 2013
As the leaves melt away

Spike a few hundred fall leaves to create a cauldron for Halloween flowers
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
everything in one
14 August 2024
everything in one

Connect a unit of leaves... and a pretty floppy stem with thorns.
By the cone full
10 May 2023
By the cone full

A small design to display those last Spring snippets from your garden...
I tip my (flower) cap!
6 January 2021
I tip my (flower) cap!

An enclosed design that invites the onlooker to lean in closer to explore the pretty orchid.
A Round
1 November 2017
A Round

Create a delicate design that rests lightly on the edge of a container
Watch the leaves turn
21 October 2015
Watch the leaves turn

Roll autumn leaves to create a wreath
Favourite Flowers
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum Design: the Floral Hour glass was made as part of my wax series