On my online workbook this week: Knot how it was supposed to go

Dear

This week's inspiration is letting go of preconceived ideas of how plant material is supposed to "work".

My tip for you this week is a fascinating one. I absolutely love watching plants and am fascinated by how they change over time.

Now, while it is possible to make a knot in basically any stem if you are patient enough to slowly and respectfully manipulate it- each stem will also have a tiny trick that will make it even easier.

Here is my trick for knotting orchid stems: if you wait for the orchid stem to fully mature on the plant it becomes more pliable.

Where a fresh stem is plump and sap filled it will simply snap if you start to bend it into a loop to tie the knot. A more mature stem, however, can stand up to gentle manipulation into even the dramatic shape you require to knot it. As the orchids lower on the flower spike start to wilt the top flower (which opened last) still looks perfectly fresh giving you a more pliable stem allowance above the flower with which to knot the orchid into this submerged design.

The rest is simply following the basic rules of twig manipulation- the Tutorial to practice that is below the post or you can read more in my book.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine