My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Bend Wired Equisetum into a Hollow Wreath

Press a wire into the Equisetum

Press a wire into the Equisetum

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how to wire and bend equisetum

Bend the stem carefully to curve

Bend the stem carefully to curve

The curve should be as big as you want the wreath to be

The curve should be as big as you want the wreath to be

Stack the curved stems to create a wreath shape

Stack the curved stems to create a wreath shape. Glue the stems. As a general rule I try to glue each stem at 3 places so that the wreath will be secure.

Craft a second wreath

Craft a second wreath

Place the two wreaths on top of each other and secure

Place the two wreaths on top of each other and add stems to the sides to lift each wreath slightly. You should still be able to lift the two wreaths apart so don't connect them yet..

Wire in water tubes

Wire in water tubes. Fit them into the inside, hollow cavity of the wreath. Each tube should be wired at the top and the bottom to make sure it will not move once you pick up the wreath.

See the Tutorial below for how to make your own paper covered bind wire.

Wire all the tubes to point in the same direction

Wire all the tubes to point in the same direction.

Wire the tubes into the second wreath to go into the opposite direction

Wire the tubes into the second wreath to go into the opposite direction. Make sure you wire them into the inside of the hollow cavity. This way they will face in the same direction when you attach the two wreaths.

The wires also bind the Equisetum, adding strength to the wreath.

Lean the wreath so that it is almost upright to fill the tubes

Lean the wreath so that it is almost upright to fill the tubes. Do not hang the wreath yet. Just fill a tube, add the flower and turn the wreath. This way you can have a look at the finished wreath and decide which way is "up" right at the end.

Fill the tube with water

Fill the tube with water.

See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions on how I make a syringe with tube to fill the water tubes with.

Place the lily in the water tube

Place the lily in the water tube. Seal the tube.

See the Tutorial below on how to make sure your tubes are completely sealed with petroleum jelly.

Twist the wreath so that you can fill and position the next water tube and lily

Twist the wreath so that you can fill and position the next water tube and lily.

Do the same with the second wreath

Do the same with the second wreath, only to the opposite side

Gently match the two wreaths.

Gently match the two wreaths, with the flowers in the middle.

Re-position the flowers.

Re-position the flowers and choose the prettiest side to face forward.

Hang the wreath and adjust the flowers where needed

Hang the wreath and adjust the flowers as needed.

Place the orchids in water tubes

Place the orchids in water tubes and wire it into the wreath.

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

3 January 2011 Syringe with tube

Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase

1 March 2011 Paper covered Wire

Cover the wire with the raffia

2 January 2011 Lilies

How to keep Lilies in bud for longer. Removing the pollen. Stringing a Lily Garland.

7 December 2011 Glue a forest filigree twig wreath

This wreath is not woven but glued to create a see-through forest filigree

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

7 December 2011 Hang a wreath on a door without knocking nails into the door face

I use two methods (or a combination of both) to attach a wreath to a door.

7 September 2016 Willow flower crown

Loosely weave willow tips to create an ethereal crown

26 August 2015 Sun baked Sweetpea vine wreath

A perfect way to use a Lathyrus vine after all it flowered

30 November 2016 Barely there Wreath armature

Glue snippets of Baby's breath and grass into a lace fine wreath shape to showcase the tiny chocolate cosmos buds

26 October 2016 Folded Bleached Baby’s Breath Wreath Armature

Glued Baby's Breath Wreath, folded in half to create a moon shaped armature

4 November 2015 Bleached Baby’s Breath Wreath

Glue a radiating wreath from bleached Gyp

24 July 2012 Stacked Twig Roundabout

This is a great way to use all those bits of twigs and sticks in your design room to make a floral armature

29 July 2015 Disk Twig Armature

Glue a few wigs to follow the shape of a glass bowl to create a disk armature

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

Favourite Flowers

Equisetum

Scouring Rush, Horsetail, snake grass, puzzle grass

Lilium

Lily

Cymbidium

Cymbidium, Boat Orchid

Related Designs

7 February 2018 Up around the bend

Bend Equisetum into curves to wire into an open wreath shape

14 February 2018 Two Are

Equisetum Valentine's hearts

19 September 2018 Before I show you my book- let me show you my book

… and why we call this the special craftsmanship edition

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...

10 June 2020 All Out

An all out effective way of keeping a flower stem in the exact spot you want it to be in a clear water vase design.

24 June 2020 End Up

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

28 April 2021 Here comes the sun...

A minimal design celebrating the new growth on twigs

16 June 2021 Dream Rescue

Weave the most delicate grass shelter veil for a gorgeous lily.

7 September 2022 Of the shades to come

This design requires a bit of prep-time so it is perfect to make while waiting for the first autumn leaf to appear…

20 January 2011 The last Vine Wreath

Every designer knows how to stretch their supplies. We use and re-use our dried plant material until our fellow designers feel like hiding it from us. I formed such an...

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 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...

7 September 2016 You are all invited!

My article and Willow Crown design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

26 August 2015 Bent

Weave a wreath from sweetpea stems and tendrils

30 November 2016 All things Autumn (by which I mean all things chocolate): Worth a second look

This was the fourth (and last) design I did in my "All things Autumn (by which I mean all things chocolate)" floral art demonstration

26 October 2016 Harvest Moon

Fold a fine twig wreath in half to create a moon shaped armature

25 November 2015 So white

A dried Baby's breath and fresh orchid wreath

30 May 2012 The Beauty in the Sleeping Woods

As a floral artist I am inspired by the endurance of nature and my work is still re-creating the Sleeping Beauty Castle of my imagination.