My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Wire two Equisetum shoots into a heart

Draw one half of a curvy heart on paper.

Draw one half of a curvy heart on paper.

Choose two straight Equisetum shoots

Choose two straight Equisetum shoots that are long enough to follow the shape generously, with some length to spare.

Press a wire into the hollow cavity of the shoot

Press a wire into the hollow cavity of the shoot

See the Tutorial below for more detailed information on how to wire Equisetum

Curve the shoot to follow the half a heart shape

Curve the shoot to follow the half a heart shape

Let the stem extend

Let the stem extend so that it can be in water. Also make sure that the part of the stem that will be in water is not wired so that your container is not stained with rust.

Match the two shoots and glue it into a heart shape

Match the two shoots and glue it into a heart shape.

Secure it with butterfly clips while the glue sets.

Secure it with butterfly clips while the glue sets.

Add a bit of glue to the bottom where the shoots connect and glue

Add a bit of glue to the bottom where the shoots connect and glue.

Lean the hearts against the lilies

Lean the hearts against the lilies.

Fill the shallow container with water

Fill the shallow container with water to keep the shoots hydrated and remove the clips.

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

Tutorials

13 March 2011 Wire and bend Equisetum

Create lasting shapes by wiring Equisetum

18 January 2012 Butterfly hairclip claws to hold twigs in place while glue dries

Butterfly hair clips are the perfect little claws to help you hold tiny items in place while you wait for glue to dry

1 January 2011 Equisetum

Create a natural flower "test tube" or a light with Equisetum

23 March 2012 Curl Equisetum shoots into a snail shell spiral

Equisetum is hollow and jointed resembling miniature bamboo but it can be shaped into spirals by wiring the shoots

7 February 2018 Bend Wired Equisetum into a Hollow Wreath

Craft a wreath with a hollow cavity inside to use as an armature for your flowers

10 September 2012 Braid a Celtic heart knot

Braid or knot a traditional Celtic heart with foliage

8 February 2017 A Sprouting Spring Twig Heart

Carefully glue a twig armature to display the mini-miniature Darling orchids

1 February 2012 Love Bug

Heart shaped rosery vine and pine love bug

10 February 2016 Free Standing Twig and Wire Heart Armature

Bend wires and fill in the gabs with Stillingia twigs to make a delicate heart armature

10 July 2012 Bark covered heart

Cover cardboard with bark to create a heart shaped log

7 February 2012 Moss Heart

Biodegradable copper mesh makes the perfect shape to fill with moss to grow tiny stem plants

16 November 2011 Making the waist corsage using the BoutStix Floral Magnets

The BoutStix Floral Magnets “stick” is the backbone of the design, strengthening the narrow heart shape and adding support and balance.

11 February 2015 Willow Heart Wand

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.

Favourite Flowers

Equisetum

Scouring Rush, Horsetail, snake grass, puzzle grass

Lilium

Lily

Related Designs

14 February 2018 Two Are

Equisetum Valentine's hearts

6 June 2018 Hi-Lo

Perfect stems, perfect flowers. Needs nothing more.

13 February 2019 Pick Love

Craft a willow heart to display 12 red roses to celebrate Valentine's Day.

12 February 2020 Parallel Hang Ups

While waiting for the blossoms to open... why not weave in a touch of Valentine's Day love?

10 February 2021 My valenVine

An... everything is moving... design. The tulips are growing and the small vine filled vase is bopping around in the water. And if you lean them against each other just right it...

15 February 2023 If you frame it that way…

A blossom frame to display the prettiest anthurium of the whole bunch!

14 February 2024 Spoiler Alert: It’s You

A birch bark heart for Valentine's Day

3 April 2011 One Singular Sensation

Three Lilies plaited to create a sensational, singular flower "growing" out of a Equisetum dome filled with Rainbow Oasis pebbles.

7 February 2018 Up around the bend

Bend Equisetum into curves to wire into an open wreath shape

23 March 2012 A Floral Fable: Colour Design

This is a detailed look at my second Floral Fable demonstration design

10 September 2012 Tying the knot

Gypsophilla design with Celtic love knots featured in the DIY Wedding Magazine

18 September 2012 Tying the knot and loosening those curls

Romantic rose centerpiece with just a bit of an edge featured in the DIY Wedding Magazine

8 February 2017 It could hold

A fragile looking heart made from twigs that can hold a lot of orchids

10 February 2016 Be My Twig-Heart

Glue an upright twig heart for a freestanding Valentine's display

10 January 2013 A quirky kind of Love

Retail florists and wholesalers are already designing, ordering and preparing their product range for Valentine's Day. This is my article that I wrote for the December 2012...

7 February 2012 Grow Love

Love grows!

16 November 2011 Winter formal

The elongated heart shape Echeveria waist corsage is meant to be worn low around the hip as a trailing ribbon clasp.

11 February 2015 Love Spell

Weave willow to create a heart shaped wand design