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Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

The Wiggle Is Part Of The Plan

  • 5 July 2023
  • and more

What makes the planning part of your floral design so fun

Is that you always have to leave

At least some wiggle room in your vision

Because you just never know

What your flowers are planning to do

Until you place them

... in your design.

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Tutorials
Latch an imperfect stem support for thin stemmed and heavy design details
5 July 2023
Latch an imperfect stem support for thin stemmed and heavy design details

Bundle and tie a few stems to create a support for even heavy design details.
Suspend a tiny flower over a large water filled container in a sandwich knot support
13 July 2022
Suspend a tiny flower over a large water filled container in a sandwich knot support

You don't have to design with a bud vase when you have a bud vase sized flower.
Unfurl winter’s potential in a snow filled monstera leaf shelter
11 January 2023
Unfurl winter’s potential in a snow filled monstera leaf shelter

Capture a bit of winter magic by placing delicate flower buds in the middle of two large leaves.
Create a design gap with two leaves to create shivering whiskers for your Spring design
6 April 2022
Create a design gap with two leaves to create shivering whiskers for your Spring design

Adding design details to create tiny gaps for more design details.
Phormium bubble frame
7 March 2018
Phormium bubble frame

Curl and secure a few blades of flax into a bubble to frame your flowers
Leaf-puddle for a short stem in a big vase
8 January 2020
Leaf-puddle for a short stem in a big vase

Add a leaf to a large-ish vase to create a small puddle of water for your short flower stem to rest in.
Weave a small wreath in the side twig of a willow branch to keep a flower in place in your design
11 September 2019
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.
Single blade wrap armature
10 October 2018
Single blade wrap armature

Fold a single blade of grass or slender leaf around a small container to stand your flower in position
Sprouting willow armature
27 January 2016
Sprouting willow armature

Carefully manipulate and bend green willow stems to place in water to sprout as an armature for tulips to mature and open
Well Rooted Sprouting Willow Weave
28 January 2015
Well Rooted Sprouting Willow Weave

Weave a sprouting armature
Acorn fork
22 November 2017
Acorn fork

Wire and glue a few acorns into the fork of a twig to create an Autumn armature
Peg the heavy details in place with a wedged stem support
7 June 2023
Peg the heavy details in place with a wedged stem support

Create a support for your floral details by wedging the cut flower stem across the opening of the vase.
Hana-kubari Bamboo
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, or screws or any other man made materials are used
Related Designs
Blue…
13 July 2022
Blue…

The tiniest flower adds some much needed coolness to a summer floral design.
Maybe Still Maybe
11 January 2023
Maybe Still Maybe

... a something to look forward to design that makes you lean in closer to see what might still be.
Gaps between those in-between Spring days
6 April 2022
Gaps between those in-between Spring days

Give a minimal design a few grass "whiskers" to feel that Spring breeze.
Twist of its own
7 March 2018
Twist of its own

... a quick an easy design. Curl a few flax leaves to frame orchids
Rest a bit here
8 January 2020
Rest a bit here

Gently curve a shallow area with a leaf to showcase a gorgeous flower with a short stem in a water filled vase
From A... for Acer to Z… for Zantedeschia
10 October 2018
From A... for Acer to Z… for Zantedeschia

This week we look at the design featured in the Flower Guide Chapter at the very end of my book
Well, I'll be
27 January 2016
Well, I'll be

Manipulate fresh willow stems to create a sprouting armature for long tulip stems
In a State of Flow
28 January 2015
In a State of Flow

weave some willow to use as an armature
How do squirrels Cache a tree?
22 November 2017
How do squirrels Cache a tree?

Hoard a few acorns in the fork of a twig to show off a single oncidium orchid.
Be excited
7 June 2023
Be excited

Oh my! Picked from my balcony garden... after I thought I completely missed it blooming.
The Space Between
1 April 2015
The Space Between

Traditional Hana-Kubari flower mechanic