That Will Be

Free standing Willow twig armature with a hidden water source

Cut a few willow twigs to split to create legs for the armature

Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

Stripping foliage from weaving stems

Remove foliage from stems to weave with

Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.

Hana-Kubari Bamboo Stilts with a Hidden Water Source

Split bamboo stems to create a water source for dancing orchids

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, or screws or any other man made materials are used

Hana-Kubari chopsticks

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

Willow Parasol

Weave willow stems into a decorative parasol

Willow Heart Wand

Sturdy, blossoming armature in a shallow puddle

If you know just a bit more about the "why" we do the things we do it is easy to discover new "how's". This week I show you why it is possible to design with blossoming twigs in a shallow puddle.

Twig float for a single lemon blossom

This design is all about that line there where the water meets the lemon blossom stem...

a Just-Replace-The-Flowers-When-They-Wilt freestanding bark armature

Part of sustainable designing is designing with the entire life-cycle of your work in mind. Designing armatures is a lasting and ever changing design solution.

Weave a small wreath in the side twig of a willow branch to keep a flower in place in your design

This is both a decorative and functional design solution. But most importantly, I think, there is absolutely zero waste.

Crafting a stripped bark and sisal armature

Make a free standing armature with three water tubes for fresh flowers.

Create a break in a willow twig to support a flower stem

Break a willow twig at and angle to support your flowers

Balancing Sweet pea stems with an Ivy Leaf Stack

This design is all about balance.

Adjusting the curve in plant material

It is possible to curve or adjust a curve in plant material

Marching winter frosted twig and freesia stack

Frost a few twigs to craft a delicate armature for fragrant freesias

Using a fork in a twig to “peg” a stem in place

A easy to use Hana Kubari technique

Bits of snipped grass glued to create a net

Glue a fragile sheltering net to soften the look of a summer design

Hana-Kubari twig

Slip a twig over the side of a container to keep an elegant flower stem upright

T-connect twigs to shadow a design

Split a twig to create a t connection to hover a twig over the design

Leaning Sunflowers to stay just so

The trick to any freestanding design is to get your first three stems standing stable and secure in the water. Once you have that you can build the design around it.

Intimate Dinner For Two- Table Setting Competition Class

Floral Sushi Dinner, for two

Pick-Up Sticks

A twig and stick design with sweet dumpling pumpkins and rosary vine (Ceropegia woodii). I also made a cherry twig and skeleton leaf Stick Insect

On The Street Where You Live

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

Designing Your Way to Profits

Floral Craftsmanship Article in the Canadian Florist Magazine

Just Right! Floral Art demonstration: Just Right!

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

Fine Tune

Thread cane through sticks to make a music inspired armature

The Space Between

Traditional Hana-Kubari flower mechanic

Well, I'll be

Manipulate fresh willow stems to create a sprouting armature for long tulip stems

Creative Expectations

My article and a floral parasol design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

Poised to Spring

An "it's only 10 days to Spring" design to display some blossom buds.

Forever… incomplete

Craft a pretty armature that can be used again and again.

Transition into Fall

A sustainable, absolutely no waste floral design using willow to suspend your flower head in your arrangement.

Crafting

The second design I did for my book launch demonstration looking at aspects that influences my effortless style of designing.

For just this moment… let’s take a break

Simplicity to showcase the perfection of the Lisianthus buds

Stay Cool!

Craft a free standing Sweat pea design

It goes like this...

Gently curve plant material.

March Days

Line up a few frosted twigs to march across a shallow container

Happy Coincidence!

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 twig with a fork in it. Add a ranunculus with a ridiculously gorgeous curve in it's stem... done.

Just A Bit

Glue a bit of grass snippets to suspend over the design

In no time at all

Hana-Kubari twig armature

Look at you!

Tie twigs to shape a hanging armature

Too Hot!

Leaning floral stems to stand on their own in a shallow container

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis orchid detail from my Harnessing the Wind design

Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"

I wove three willow spheres for my Floral Art design Three Drops of floral chocolate.