Free standing Willow twig armature with a hidden water source

20 April 2016
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Cut the willow twig below the place where it forks.

Make sure the twig legs are even

Cut a second leg

Split the other end of the twig with a sharp knife

Press the knife to let the split run

For my design I added a hidden "test tube" in the twig. See the Tutorial below for more details on how I make my own test tubes from drinking straws

Mark the position for the hidden water source on a third, longer twig with a marker

Measure a drill bit against the drinking straw tube. It should be almost the exact same size so that the tube fits snugly in the twig

First drill a thinner guide hole at the exact angle you require through the twig

Drill a thicker hole through the twig at the exact angle you want the tube

Press the tube into the hole

Until it disappears in the bark

Press a third stick down the split end to be pinched in position

Press this twig down the split end of the leg twigs to be pinched in position

Position the other twig so that the armature stands upright

Position the other leg twig so that the armature stands upright

The twig structure is ready to design with

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Tutorials

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need. If you can't find a suitable drinking straw... I also have an upgrade: tiny food grade pipe water tubes.

11 February 2015 Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with

22 May 2012 Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.

1 April 2015 Hana-kubari Bamboo

Hana-Kubari is an Ikebana flower mechanic. Only natural materials such as pebbles, sticks and branches can be seen to support the flowers. Traditionally no twine or wire, nails,...

19 October 2011 Hana-Kubari chopsticks

Splitting the chopsticks or a wooden branch, such as a willow twig creates a natural (and glue-less!) clamp.

2 September 2015 Hana-Kubari Bamboo Stilts with a Hidden Water Source

Split bamboo stems to create a water source for dancing orchids

16 March 2016 Willow Parasol

Weave willow stems into a decorative parasol

11 February 2015 Willow Heart Wand

Favourite Flowers

Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"

Curly Willow, Chinese Willow, Tortured Willow, Globe Willow, Dragon's Claw, Hankow Willow

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