Happy Dance

Split bamboo stems to create a water source for dancing orchids

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...

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

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,...

Create a panel for the flowers to hang on

I do not believe in arranging flowers without a water source of some kind. I want my flowers to remain as beautiful for as long as possible and I often get quite creative to...

Give a piece of driftwood legs to stand on

Create a full design without the weight by stabilizing the flowers with glued sticks. This is a great alternative to floral foam.

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

Cut lengths of bamboo to place in a shallow container as a flower frog

Tie twigs to shape a hanging armature

Glue a bit of grass snippets to suspend over the design

Some designs really do just make themselves. I received this tiny vase for Christmas from Marius (thank you, Marius!) and while cleaning out my design room I found this little...

Create a minimal design with a few leaves to keep is all upright.

Simplicity to showcase the perfection of the Lisianthus buds

Create a floral circlet to rest the little pumpkin on... but above the water line.

Traditional Hana-Kubari flower mechanic

Phalaenopsis Orchid made from Autumn leaves

A floral design snapshot of what it looks like when walking down the streets of Vancouver this week.

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...

Weave a wreath to thread a dome for an Autumn leaf design