My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Willow flower crown

Measure the size of the crown.

Use a length of ribbon to measure the width of the person’s head to custom design the crown. This way you can have the measurements ahead of time and start weaving the fresh plant material just before the wedding.

Measure out the fresh and pliable willow stems

Measure out the fresh and pliable willow stems

Gather the stems and start to gently manipulate them by bending it down the length of the stem

Gather the stems and start to gently manipulate them by bending it down the length of the stem. This way you make the stems more pliable so that you can weave it without snapping the stems

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how to bend and manipulate stems

Secure the stems at one end with an elastic band

Secure the stems at one end with an elastic band. The band will be removed but it makes it easier to weave the stems

Gently plait and weave the stems into a long tangle.

Gently plait and weave the stems into a long tangle.

Insert new stems and continue to weave and plait.

Insert new stems and continue to weave and plait.

Measure the ribbon against the plaited willow to see if it is long enough

Measure the ribbon against the plaited willow to see if it is long enough

Remove the elastic band and weave the two ends together to connect the willow crown.

Remove the elastic band and weave the two ends together to connect the willow crown.

Fit the crown and make adjustments if necessary

Fit the crown and make adjustments if necessary

Glue in the flowers, moss and sparkling beads

Glue in the flowers, moss and sparkling beads

I keep my flowers hydrated by inserting tiny little drinking straw test tubes in to the design. See the Tutorial below for more details

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...

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

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

11 February 2015 Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with

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...

25 September 2013 Adding beads into a design

I wanted my beads to softly float above my snowball posy. If I glued the beads to some of the flowers it would just disappear in the mass of twigs and flowers.

Favourite Flowers

Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"

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

Related Designs

7 September 2016 You are all invited!

My article and Willow Crown design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

19 October 2016 There are Octobers

Autumn wreath

8 March 2017 Piece of the forest

Standing roses upright in a shallow container

29 March 2017 A Twirl

Suspend a wire chandelier design to twirl

11 April 2017 Well… we did it again!

Blossoms and chocolates for Easter

24 May 2017 Link

weave a few wreaths to link

20 September 2017 You Wear It Well

My article and body flowers design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

7 February 2018 Up around the bend

Bend Equisetum into curves to wire into an open wreath shape

21 March 2018 Bring some Spring

Just like the weather is only hinting at spring, so is this design only hinting at being a basket

18 April 2018 Swing Vine

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

15 May 2019 Heard it through the grapevine?

Have you heard? I have wonderful news this week. Oh! and I also have this pretty grapevine armature shaped like the petals of an open rose to show you. But... Have you heard...

18 September 2019 It’s a sugar rush!

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

13 May 2020 be MINDFUL of the invisible stuff you add

Left over flowers and off-cuts are ideal to transform into a quick floral crown or necklace. This is the absolute easiest design, yet!

24 June 2020 End Up

Connect small wreaths to create a pretty summer armature to arrange your flowers on.

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.

22 June 2022 You Say Tomato I Say Tomato

Tiny tomato vine design to celebrate Summer.

8 March 2023 And now we wait

A bit of flower magic to get a few early blossoms to enjoy inside.

19 April 2023 Short Cut

A tiny carry basket to gather the shortest stems from your cutting garden... with a place for water and your cutters.

24 May 2023 everywhere IS nature

A lush wreath that remains green so that you can design once... and cut and cut and place your violas to make sure you have flowers all season long.

28 June 2023 Catch and Release

Ah... yes summer time designing. Anyone else seeing more insects hiding between the petals this year?

6 March 2024 A Stay Open

Grow a willow birdcage... with a bit of a Spring flower support to get it started.

8 April 2011 Large Open Weave Twig Basket

Easter Basket used in the Durbanville Flower Club Easter Parade Demonstration

10 April 2011 Feeling Funky

I wove vine wreaths to form a pyramid, one just slightly larger than the next. In the natural cavities between the wreaths I placed the roses and lisianthus in plastic covered...

1 November 2011 On The Street Where You Live

A floral design snapshot of what it looks like when walking down the streets of Vancouver this week.

7 December 2011 Forest Filigree Christmas Wreath

I wanted my Hazel twig wreath to look like forest filigree: mysteriously overgrown, tangled with age and dappled with moss and lichen. The wreath is also dressed with fresh and...

22 February 2012 Nuts and Bolts of Floral Art Mechanics

My design entered for evaluation at the Floral Trends Design Group meeting in South Africa

12 August 2012 A Twist on Tradition

August is the month for retail florists and wholesalers to start designing, ordering and preparing their product range for the Christmas and Festive Season. This is my article...