My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Chain-link string and twig armature

I used the same technique as shown in the Tutorial below on how to weave a willow twig blind, only I used string instead of wire (and knotting it instead of twisting the wire). For another example see the Tutorial below for how I used pliable willow stems to secure the twigs. If you want to use willow, allow the stems to dry in place before removing sticks for the gaps.

Wiggle the twig to loosen the string and slip it out of the knot

Wiggle the twig to loosen the string and slip it out of the knot

This creates a chain link effect with larger gaps between the twigs

This creates a chain link effect with larger gaps between the twigs

Glue the test tube in at a slight angle

Glue the test tube in at a slight angle

Keep adding tubes to where you want to add flower

Keep adding tubes to where you want to add flowers

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how to make your own tubes from pipe or drinking straws

Fill the tubes with water.

Fill the tubes with water.

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how to make a syringe with tube to make it easier to fill the tubes with water

Place the flowers

Place the flowers

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

Tutorials

26 April 2011 Weave a willow twig blind

Weave twigs in parallel to create a twig blind with strong but natural horizontal lines.

22 May 2012 Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

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

3 January 2011 Syringe with tube

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

30 April 2015 Willow twig Corsage Platform

To create a layered look for a corsage tie a foundation of twigs with fresh willow stems

31 July 2013 Ladder-frog

Lash the orchid stems together to create a ladder for the flower to rest on.

17 February 2016 Stack a Twig Enclosure

Loop and tie a few stacked twigs to create an enclosed floral armature

25 March 2015 Jiyek Braiding a Pussy Willow Twig Blind

A design inspired by traditional Jiyek braiding techniques

8 January 2014 Twig Tumbler

Wire and glue a stack of sticks into a cylindrical or tube shape

11 February 2015 Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with

Favourite Flowers

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum or "mums"

Related Designs

18 January 2017 Look at you!

Tie twigs to shape a hanging armature

15 February 2017 Step Along

Create twig steps to display the orchids

24 May 2017 Link

weave a few wreaths to link

29 November 2017 Marcescent

Glue a delicate autumn room devider

25 April 2018 Get in line!

Line up a few pussy willow twigs for a hanging armature

3 March 2021 Spring Tray-ning

A Spring basket design for catching falling blossom petals.

23 October 2012 Everlasting

Design Inspiration Video: Take a few twigs, snippets of air plants and succulents and combine both traditional wire and tape techniques with more contemporary methods to embed a...

30 March 2016 Floral Designs From Around The World

A demonstration presented at Canada Blooms, Toronto, Canada I was invited to share the stage with designers from Bermuda, United Kingdom, France, South Africa, Barbados, United...

29 April 2015 Crafting Corsages in three ways with BoutStix Magnet Stix

Use the same floral ingredients, willow twigs, Lichen, Spanish Moss, Kalanchoe and Gypsophila to make three distinctly different contemporary corsages

30 March 2016 A Point of Support

My contemporary floral art design demonstrated at the Canada Blooms flower show in Toronto.

13 October 2011 Direct Contrasts

I have always been fascinated, as a designer, by the idea that there is a point when extremes or direct contrasts flip into its opposite.

25 April 2011 Drinking straws become flower test tubes

Design 2: Up-cycle drinking straws to make tiny test tubes to hold the orchids on my willow twig blind.

1 April 2011 A Floral Art Demonstration by Floral Trends Design Group

A Floral Art Demonstration by Floral Trends Design Group with music, narration and pictorial presentation.