On my online workbook this week: Daily ripples across the entire pond

Dear

This week’s inspiration is growing what you want to have more of.

My design note for you this week is on how to use the plants natural responses to create even more dramatic tendrils for your delicate design.

I have mentioned before that if you want to inspire your tendrils to start spiralling to simply stroke the tendril from stem, outwards. This gentle touch will trigger the stiff fiber ribbon inside the tendril to shrink on one side relative to the other and the tendril will start to coil. It is not as instant as “right before your eyes” but it will kick start the process if you want the tendrils to spiral in a design so do this when you condition the stem. See the pictures above.

Then, if you want more dramatic coiled tendrils in your design, stretch the “spring-coiled” tendril out. Pull it ever so gently from both sides outwards to elongate it. Instead of straightening out the tendril it will form even more coils. You see, in nature the tendrils are strong yet flexible anchors and when pulled like this on both sides it means that this flexible anchor needs to protect the plant from wind and disturbances.

Pretty amazing right? This is one of those designs that you want to place where you can look at it often. This is ideal for your desk, for instance. The vine will not only continue to grow in the water but the tendrils will stretch out further and further and then search before slowly starting to spiral. Every time you look at it it will be ever so slightly different until the tendrils are tightly spiraled. And you can interact with it and see how it responds.

Happy Easter flower buddies.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine

ps: Thank you all for the kind birthday wishes for me and my book last week. Your support made the celebration feel extra special.