My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Weaving and Interweaving for contrast

Choose a large Polystyrene block as a basic structure for the design

Choose a large Polystyrene block as a basic structure for the design. I rescued this block- it is a great way to find a new use for packaging!

It's fairly easy to sculpt and shape

It's fairly easy to sculpt and shape with a sharp knife and then a warm wire cutter...

Start your weaving pattern around the edge of the block

Start your weaving pattern around the edge of the block. I prefer using a simple under and over pattern for my weaving pattern. Especially if I am also using other techniques because really complicated weaving patterns can so easily overwhelm and distract from the overall look. It might just be the minimalist in me. Choose a weaving pattern that best suit your style and taste.

Secure the horizontal bands around the outside of the block

Secure the horizontal bands around the outside of the block and then start weaving the vertical blades of grass in.

Move the grass to fit snugly as you go around the edge of the block

Move the grass to fit snugly as you go around the edge of the block.

Weave in grass letting it extend far over the sides

Weave in grass letting it extend far over the sides to make it easier to keep the blades in place.

Design note: Two sides of the block will be covered by weaving and the other half with grass snippets.

Let the grass rest on your working surface so that it stays in place as you add blades

Let the grass rest on your working surface so that it stays in place as you add blades.

Fold the grass over and pin it to the back

Fold the grass over and pin it to the back. You can also weave the back if it might be seen.

Wiggle the blades of grass and weave in grass if any gaps appear while securing the back

Wiggle the blades of grass and weave in grass if any gaps appear while securing the back.

Creating a neat woven foundation for the design

Creating a neat woven foundation for the design.

Rest the block on your working surface

Rest the block on your working surface, pinned side down.

To follow the weaving pattern to the front cross the corner most blades of grass over

To follow the weaving pattern to the front cross the corner most blades of grass over

Followed by the blade of grass next to that

Followed by the blade of grass next to that... and the blade of grass next to that one...

Design note: This is quite a time consuming project. If you need to take a break for a few hours and want to keep the grass from drying out see the Tutorial below

Pin the grass to keep it in place while you are weaving

Pin the grass to keep it in place while you are weaving.

Build up the weaving pattern to curve smoothly over the edge of the block

Build up the weaving pattern to curve smoothly over the edge of the block

For my design I wove two sides of the block.

For my design I wove two sides of the block...

With the weave getting gradually wider the further from the edge

... With the weave getting gradually wider the further from the edge.

Tie the blades of grass with an elastic band to keep it neatly out of the way

Tie the dangling blades of grass with an elastic band to keep it neatly out of the way.

And glue down grass snippets to the other half

And glue down grass snippets to the other half.

After the neatness of the woven half just have fun and add snippets in any which way.

After the neatness of the woven half just have fun and add snippets in any which way. This is a great way to add maximum contrast.

Cover the entire surface of the exposed block

Cover the entire surface of the exposed block.

Cover the remaining sides with grass snippets

Cover the remaining sides with grass snippets.

Change the weaving pattern at the corners where the snippets and the weaving meet

Change the weaving pattern at the corners where the snippets and the weaving meet. Randomly interweave the blades so that the line between the snippets and the woven part blurs.

Design note: I have a lot of weaving techniques and suggestions in my book if you want to learn more.

Pin the grass and then glue it down to follow the disk in the middle

Pin the grass and then glue it down to follow the hollowed out disk in the middle.

Bend a few blades of grass out of the way so that they can dangle over the design

Bend a few blades of grass out of the way so that they can dangle over the design once everything is glued down.

Fold blades of grass over the inside of the disk and glue down to follow the curve

Fold blades of grass over the inside of the disk and glue down to follow the curve.

Cut any grass tips away the extend over the edge.

Cut any grass tips away the extend over the edge.

Interweave the blades of grass to create a beautiful pattern

Interweave the blades of grass to create a beautiful and lush pattern.

This is rather messy work! See the Tutorial below for an easy way to dab away floral glue spills.

Cover up the entire surface

Cover up the entire surface, taking one blade of grass at a time from the "pony tail" of grass that you have tied back.

Add a the tips of the grass that you cut away back

Add a the tips of the grass that you cut away back into the center of the design. keep some of the longer blades of grass to fold over the design once done.

Remove the elastic band and all the pins

Remove the elastic band and all the pins that are visible in the front of the design.

Place the block on your display table

Place the block on your display table. I placed mine in a glass container to keep it upright.

Curl a few of the remaining dangling blades of grass

Curl a few of the remaining dangling blades of grass.

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how to curl grass. You will also find more instructions on how to manipulate grass in my book.

Dab away all the blobs of spilled glue

Dab away all the blobs of spilled glue.

For more detailed instructions on how to dab away glue spills see the Tutorial below.

Place the flowers in fresh water tubes and add a few dew drop crystals

Place the flowers in fresh water tubes and add a few dew drop crystals.

For more detailed instructions on how I make my own water tubes and how I add the crystals see the Tutorials below.

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

29 May 2019 Taking a break when weaving with grass

When weaving a more labour intensive design you might want to/have to break for a few hours. This is the best way to keep the project from dying out too quickly.

30 August 2011 Removing Oasis Floral Adhesive glue spills

The finish of every design should be flawless. Make sure there are no bits of glue visible in your design by carefully removing all traces of spills.

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

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

8 June 2011 Foliage Weaving

For this tutorial I focus on a simple weave pattern that does not require you to soften or prepare the leaves to be more durable or flexible. This is the starting point in...

1 October 2012 Weaving a ball shaped Dew-drop Catcher from grass

Weave a sphere from grass

3 April 2013 Twin Leaf Weave

Weave two palm leaves together to create a floral grid

14 January 2015 Weaving Slippers from Foliage

Weave slip on shoes from palm leaves

20 July 2016 Twisted Lily Grass sun hat

Twist and weave a sun hat from blades of lily grass

13 July 2016 Woven lily grass parachute armature

Weave a canopy or parachute shaped armature in a way that you can place the stems in two vases to keep it hydrated.

13 March 2019 Interweave an enchanted gift basket

A bit of a planned-messy woven basket that is sturdy enough to carry small items.

Related Designs

29 May 2019 Creative Competition

This week I am so excited to share my article and design that was published in the recent issue of the Floral Art Society of New Zealand's Academy Magazine for NZ qualified...

26 June 2019 “Ok wow”

A design so fine you can easily miss it... if it were not for the interwoven pebbles catching your eye.

29 January 2020 Peekaboo

A light and airy (no floral foam but still long lasting) floral design for those days that you are really, really looking for signs of Spring.

18 March 2020 Aerial Odyssey

A closer look at my design at Canada Blooms and The Toronto Flower Show last week. The show was cancelled right after we staged the designs due to COVID-19 concerns.

10 March 2021 The way we curve

Tiny minimal design that explores curves.

31 March 2021 Criss-crossed

Hide an egg inside a interwoven nest for a dainty Easter decoration design.

23 March 2022 Chockablock!

Luxuriously filled design... filled with flowers... filled with grass. But most fun, for us as designers filled with hidden techniques

13 April 2022 Hop on… it’s Easter!

A cheery Easter basket for a new beginning

19 October 2022 Point Witch (or Wizard) Way

A wire framed witch or wizard hat that can be reshaped.

2 November 2022 bonfire

A final rosy burst of fiery autumn colour.

5 April 2023 Where do you even start looking?

Easter egg... egg for Easter eggs

26 July 2023 Column… try it flower buddies

A bottom to the top... top to the bottom support to help keep your summer flowers hydrated.

23 August 2023 Note to Self

An easy to weave natural grid for summer floral arrangements.

25 October 2023 Go on Autumn… glow!

Mixing permanent and fresh design ingredients to celebrate just how clever the glow of Autumn is.

1 May 2024 Favourite Take-Away

Basket weave container for some Spring floral treasures.

1 October 2012 How to catch a dew drop:

Weave a sphere from grass to catch a precious and exquisite and perfect glistening early autumn dew drop

3 April 2013 April showers bring May flowers

After a long winter it is always fun to use the first spring bulb flowers!

16 July 2014 Unraveling fast

Weaving foliage to create a lush water scene

14 January 2015 Take a load off

Weave slippers from foliage

20 July 2016 A Shade of Summer

Twist and weave a lily grass summer hat

13 July 2016 Woven

Weave a canopy or parachute shaped armature for orchids to perch on

13 March 2019 How to avoid your wedding treasures from becoming “after the event trash”

My article and grass wedding basket design.