On my online workbook this week: Gratitude

Dear

This week's inspiration is being thankful... for willow. And flowers. For willow AND flowers. It has really been a challenge finding flowers at times which makes what treasures we find so much more precious.

For this design you need 3 techniques: wreath weaving, a heavy “stopper” in this case the glass pumpkins that keeps the unwoven stem ends in the water and the trick of conditioning new growth- which I explain in detail in my book but to get you started I have also added a tip here in this week’s email.

This design takes a bit longer to do than what it looks like. Two weeks longer. New growth is notoriously hard to condition. In fact it is rare that the tender shoots will survive long enough to look anything other than sad in a floral design.

My work-around for this is to grow all new growth so that the stem it grows from is well conditioned and has recovered from the trauma of being cut. I explain a bit more in my book where I talk about conditioning.

Place the cut stem in deep water for about two weeks so that it starts to show new growth. Give the stem a fresh cut and design with the stem and not just the green shoot.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine