On my online workbook this week: Twiners Gonna Twine

Dear

This week's inspiration is green, green everywhere!

My tip for you today is all about using an armature to keep floral details in place.

Armatures, structures and flower frogs are absolutely staples in our “tool-box” of design skills. An elaborate armature can fill a large space on a low budget. It can be a room divider that is also a focal point. It can set a mood when a vase is just not quite appropriate. It can be a zero waste solution. It can collapse to take up almost no space when traveling. And of course it can “tame” a wild, overgrown looking design by adding some structure.

There are many ways from simply hooking a flower behind a strong twig to support it to adding the tiniest bit of glue behind the stem to keep it anchored in the armature all the way to weaving the stem through the armature twigs so that it is firmly in place and can now freely twine without falling out of the water source. All these ways have one thing in common: they should never look forced. Never anchor any floral details so that it looks like the flowers might be pinched and be deprived of water or make the viewer look like they might develop a creak in their neck in sympathy with this poor stuck flower. It should always look unforced and natural. As if the flower just grew in a rather complicated way.

When you force a vine or flower to wedge it into a position in your armature you run the risk of damaging your plant material, or creating a tourniquet that will keep the flowers from taking up water or the stem end lifts out of the water source on the other end. Something will give somewhere. Be gentle. Get into the habit of tapping your delicate flowers into position with your awkward ring finger. This way you will not be able to force the flower into an unnatural position and the flowers will remain where you want them without the strain.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine

Have a fun and flower filled Easter, flower buddies.