My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Craft a spinning diamond shape to frame your small design

Bend equisetum into a deep v with two legs

Bend equisetum into a deep v with two legs... well... for the lack of a better description.

Design note: I wired these stems so that they keep their shape. Simply slip a wire into the hollow stem. See the Tutorial below for more detailed Instructions.

Place another equisetum stem on top of the first one and copy the bend

Place another equisetum stem on top of the first one and copy the bend.

Bend six equisetum into the exact same shape

Bend six equisetum into the exact same shape

Gather the equisetum at one end

Gather the equisetum at one end...

Secure it with a small elastic band

Secure it with a small elastic band. I used an elastic band because the hold should have some "give" to preposition the stems as you design.

Fan out the equisetum stems

Fan out the equisetum stems

Gather and secure the second leg with an elastic band

Gather and secure the second leg with an elastic band.

Re-position the stems so that they neatly radiate out from the gathered ends

Re-position the stems so that they neatly radiate out from the gathered ends.

Your diamond spiral is now ready to design with.

String up a glass seahorse vase to hang in the middle of the mobile.

String up a glass seahorse vase (or any other tiny vase or cleaned out perfume bottle) to hang in the middle of the mobile. There is a Tutorial below that shows you in detail how to hang these little vases. But it can be difficult to see with the clear fishing line. So I have a tutorial in my book for this where I use black ribbon to make it easier for you to follow the steps.

Book readers turn to page 196, 197 for loads more unusual ideas for keeping your flowers hydrated. Also... I think the idea on page 179 would be so adorable for this!

Fill the tiny vase with water

Fill the tiny vase with water.

See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions on how I made this syringe with a tube to fill small water sources in awkward places.

Place the flowers and the vine in the vase

Place the flowers and the vine in the vase.

Newsletter subscribers: I have a fun tip for you this week. It's again one of those tiny little touches that makes such a huge difference in the quality of your work. Make sure you are subscribed to my weekly newsletter so that you don't miss out!

Cover the elastic band by wrapping a stem of wired equisetum around the area

Cover the elastic band by wrapping a stem of wired equisetum around the area...

And press the equisetum flat to secure

And press the equisetum flat to secure.

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

24 April 2013 Macramé hanging vases

Knot wool to create a catch to hang tiny bud vases from

29 March 2017 Three Tier Wire Ring Chandelier

Bend and weave three wire wreaths to string up as an air plant chandelier

18 May 2016 Dangling flowers from blades of grass

Knot a blade of grass around a water source to create a free hanging design

25 March 2015 Jiyek Braiding a Pussy Willow Twig Blind

A design inspired by traditional Jiyek braiding techniques

29 January 2014 Twig Shooting Star

Wire and glue a twig armature

25 August 2011 Placing orchids in test tubes

Cut the Phalaenopsis orchid with a bit of green stem attached. This will make them last longer.

Favourite Flowers

Cymbidium

Cymbidium, Boat Orchid

Ceropegia woodii

Rosary vine, Chain of Hearts, Collar of hearts and String of hearts

Equisetum

Scouring Rush, Horsetail, snake grass, puzzle grass

Related Designs

29 April 2020 Seeing a Diamond in the Stuff

A fun design to create a spinning diamond frame using minimal plant material for maximum effect.

5 May 2021 But of course.

Repurpose an apothecary vase lid for a floating Spring design.

17 October 2018 But wait… there's more!

Tucked into the box with every advance copy of the book, the effortless floral craftsman is a packet of clips. This design and Tutorial is a bit of inspiration... what will you...

29 March 2017 A Twirl

Suspend a wire chandelier design to twirl

14 September 2016 Hang on!

Macrame inspired handing seahorse vases

28 December 2011 Bubbly New Year’s Sparklers

Delicate glass bubbles filled with the midnight blue African violet flowers, purple ornamental capsicum and spilling down the design are a few stems of rosary vine

25 March 2015 Pulling some Strings

Braid a twig blind armature

29 January 2014 Glued to stay just so

Wire and glue a twig armature