Strength found in a warm copper coloured glow

Copper Scrubbers for flat wire

I love unraveling the flat wire from a copper pot scrubber. Apart from it being really, really inexpensive, it is also wonderful to use for rustic designs. The flat wire is great for wrapping foliage and moss. It looks unusual, makes the nicest wire curls (I have a detailed Tutorial for you) and is by far the best for making beaded wire (there's a Tutorial for that as well.) The wire can also be used as a ribbon or loosely dangled.

Dew-Drop Crystals

I created the Tutorial for how I add these crystals to my floral designs 11 years ago! Since then I have tried, tested and searched for the perfect crystals that would go from studio‑table picture perfect to show‑day‑dependable and I always come back to these. They remain the absolute best. They’re inexpensive yet have a refined, high‑quality crystal brilliance; they don’t tarnish and their adhesive backing stays reliably tacky even after they were exposed to water.

The Effortless Floral Craftsman, a floral crafter's guide to crafting with nature

For more information about my book (and to read the first 38 pages for free...) here is the shop link.

Pull a few strands of your (handmade, of course!) broom bristles to allow your flowers to kick up some magic dust

Hand crafted broom that is also a flower frog to keep plant material hydrated in a floral display.

Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.

Unravel wire from a copper pot scrubber

Up-cycle a pot scrubber to get a huge roll of very pretty copper wire

Beaded wire

Thread thin wire with tiny beads

Wire curls

curl wire to add to designs

Wire baubles

Make baubles from wire

Spring Coil Straw Basket

Coil a straw basket... the easy way.

Christmas twig wreath, cinnamon bundles, clove garlands and roses of orange peel candle holder

Take the whole waste free design concept a whole lot further by displaying all your Christmas simmer pot ingredients... ready to be harvested as needed.

Clove Copper Garland

Twist and wire a gorgeously sparkly clove copper wire string.

Upright standing besom for the modern witch on the go

Craft a wire tripod to fit into the bristles of a handcrafted broom so that it can stand freely in your display.

Nesting a small basket in a clematis vine for a “help yourself” Easter egg display

The dried plant material keeps the vine from flopping over in the vase as it continues to grow and flower and the vine lifts the dried material far above the water to prevent it from spoiling.

Besom Broom

The word ‘Besom’ derives from the old English ‘besma’ meaning ‘bundle of twigs’.

Bored looking Sisal ghost with dangling bell feet

Quick and so easy... I added the bells so that the ghost looks kinda bored now that Halloween is all over.

Loop and Twist a Wire and Twig Tangle Grid

Wire twigs and wire around a shallow container to keep your floral details suspended in water in a shallow container.

Coiled Grass Armature

Connect grass covered wire rings with short reed sections to create a natural looking Floral Art armature

Rolled Autumn leaf and Rose Hip Garland

A witch... or wizard... hat that you can shape any which way you like

Take your time to weave a pointy hat from what you find in nature.

Patina Copper

The colour and the effect will vary due to application, temperature and humidity.

Rethinking the traditional Komiwara technique

Komiwara is a classic and traditional Ikebana technique used in a Rikka design. Designers would usually bundle straw to keep the flowers in place.

Grass Bundle

A grass bundle floral armature

Bundle Support

Tie a bundle of lily grass in a bundle to offer support for your flowers.

Stringing pearls

Long blades of thin grass or ripped flax are ideal for stringing decorative beads

Quick and Easy… Add just enough design to a tuft of bunny tail grass to hint at the autumn fun to come

Stand a tuft of bunny tail grass in a small amount of water to dry... and then add a little something that turns it into a little something more.

Half wire half grass tangle to keep stems in place

Tangle and shape wire to create a half moon for grass and gyp to rest in

Interweave a fairy light and grass glow vase

Wrap a fairy light grid around a fishbowl vase to interweave dried grass for an almost basket display.

A Very Merry Dried Orange and these from My Greenhouse to yours Trendy Christmas Cheer

And of course I would add the environmentally friendly-estest floral design option to top all the rest. Reusable and upcycled... and smells wonderful.

Flying Lessons

An easy get ahead with Halloween decoration that will last.

On Pumpkin Coloured Days

Create a besom broom to sweep up those Autumn leaves

Doing a loop tangle twist

oh yes, a light an airy design showing off those very first autumn leaves.

Just Right! Floral Art demonstration: Too Cold!

My first design in my demonstration at the BC Floral Art Society meeting

Eggsactly… just like this

The flowers will continue to open around the nest… and the eggs… well surely they will disappear and you will need to replace those before Easter.

Nuts and Bolts of Floral Art Mechanics

My design entered for evaluation at the Floral Trends Design Group meeting in South Africa

Thanks-Weaving

Weaving a hat with an autumn leaf and rose hip garland

It’s not that it is inexpensive… it’s priceless!

Yes, this Coil slip on sandals design is in my book: the effortless floral craftsman, a floral crafter’s guide to crafting with nature ... it is also the first design from the book featured in a magazine: Thank you DIY Wedding Magazine , I am so happy to share finally the this with you:

Pretty Spicy!

Hang fruity wire garlands to display Gerbera daisies

Point Witch (or Wizard) Way

A wire framed witch or wizard hat that can be reshaped.

Serendipity

Be inspired by traditional Ikebana techniques

Up on

Tie a bundle of grass as a floral mechanic

Perfection

Spiral grass to create a nest for the lady slipper orchids

Wonder

Tie a bundle of grass to support your floral details

Putting your own spin on it

I would definitely describe my own personal style as minimalist classic... but with an edgy twist.

Go on Autumn… glow!

Mixing permanent and fresh design ingredients to celebrate just how clever the glow of Autumn is.