My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Willow Parasol

Cut 5 lengths of sturdy wire to curve for your parasol shape.

Cut 5 lengths of sturdy wire to curve for your parasol shape.

To weave the willow through the wires you need an uneven number of wires so after securing it in the middle with bind wire bend one of the legs in for a handle.

To weave the willow through the wires you need an uneven number of wires so after securing it in the middle with bind wire bend one of the legs in for a handle.

 Weave thin willow stems through the wires in to create a dense spiral around the binding point.

Weave thin willow stems through the wires in to create a dense spiral around the binding point.

See the Tutorial below for more instructions on how to manipulate twigs and how to weave

Plait three willow stems around the woven spiral to look like flower petals

Plait three willow stems around the woven spiral to look like flower petals

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how to plait

Wrap more thin willow stem around these stems to secure the braided stems

Wrap more thin willow stem around these stems to secure the braided stems. This is a looser weaving pattern. Wrap the stem around the wire once and extend it to the next wire. I also covered the exposed wire inside the braided petals by wrapping the wire with willow stems.

Bend the wire ends in with heavy duty pliers and finish the looser weave right up to the bend

Bend the wire ends in with heavy duty pliers and finish the looser weave right up to the bend

Weave more stems all the way to the bottom and a few random stems curving over the parasol to create a wild and natural effect.

Weave more stems all the way to the bottom and a few random stems curving over the parasol to create a wild and natural effect.

Wrap the handle with willow stems

Wrap the handle with willow stems

Set the parasol aside so that the stems can dehydrate and dry before adding the hydrangeas, moss and orchids

Set the parasol aside so that the stems can dehydrate and dry before adding the hydrangeas, moss and orchids

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Tutorials

25 April 2012 A plait, a braid or a French knot grass collar

"Plaid" and "braid" are synonyms, and where you are from will most likely dictate whether you use plait (British) or braid (American or Celtic). Some people also refer to...

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...

8 June 2011 Foliage Weaving

For this tutorial I focus on a simple weave pattern that does not require you to soften or prepare the leaves to be more durable or flexible. This is the starting point in...

Related Designs

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28 June 2023 Catch and Release

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

24 January 2024 I mean… really!?!

Using fresh twigs to bind a little twig platform to suspend the beautiful orchids from.

6 March 2024 A Stay Open

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20 March 2024 the arc of Success

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