Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
A bark design surface that suspends the first Spring flowers to rest just below the surface.
- 19 February 2025
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For my design I am using a tall, water filled cylinder vase that will act as a pedestal for my display.
Choosing glass as a container is an easy... challenge or is that a challenging easy choice? Either way glass vases are a staple in our design pantry. This week in our email I tell you more about the design considerations when choosing to arrange flowers in glass and I show you my favourite way to "personalize" my glass vases to reflect my own effortless style of designing.
I send out an email every Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) the moment the new design is ready for you to view. And I tell you a bit more about the design, so that you have the "inside scoop" before even looking at the design so that you can make the most of each week's design inspiration. The sign up is below this post if you want to join in and receive this free weekly email.
I am using two large bark chips to create the "moss covered" design platform.
I am using reindeer moss to create a winter display on the bark.
Book readers turn to page 95 to see the trick to portioning out the reindeer moss so that it looks as if it grew there. It is such a small adjustment but it makes a huge difference in how well groomed the design looks.
For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman
Glue the large bark chip to the top of the display container with hot glue.
Slip the second bark chip under the the first to meet in the middle of the container... but with gaps between the two bark chips where you can slip your fresh floral details through to suspend them in the water below to remain hydrated.
Add in more reindeer moss to the bark to create a lush mossy display...
Place driftwood over the opening to help suspend the flowers.
Slip the fresh floral details through the hole in the bark to make sure the cut stems are in water to remain hydrated but still suspended so that it is not seen below the bark when viewed from the side...
Use the tiniest drop of floral glue to secure the flower stems to the driftwood.
Between the flower stems and the driftwood it is now easy to slip in the black mondo grass into the water. It will be kept exactly in place in the small gaps between the stems so that you can angle them more freely to look like they are simply growing out of the bark.
Thread the Mondo grass into the gaps to make sure it is firmly in place with the cut ends just below the bark in the water.
Glue in a few pebbles to complete the display... if you want... I liked how it looked with the black Mondo grass and the dark bark...
Next I am adding a few scatterings of artificial snow by painting the design every here and there with wood glue...
And sprinkling on the artificial snow...
See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how I add the snow to my wintery designs.
Add in a few twigs to the sides to extend the horizontal line of the design.
And I finish my design with a few dew drop crystals for extra sparkle on the gorgeous black grass...
See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how I add the crystals to the delicate plant material to make sure I do not damage the design.
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Tutorials
It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
Glue snippets of moss and succulents to rocks as a long lasting table-scape display
Cover a mask shape with moss and succulents for a long wearing mask
Glue a stack of cardboard circles to create a log-like floral cake
Cover a Styrofoam shape with bark to create a bowl for a potted design
Glue bark to a Papier Maché and wire frame to create a pod shaped armature
Create a natural armature for a summer display
Hang a twig and wood mobile at your weeding as a direction board
Spiral birch bark strips into two mirror images to create a wintery wrap for a bud vase.
This wreath is not woven but glued to create a see-through forest filigree
Related Designs
A bark support to display the most delicate Spring floral treasures.
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My article and Willow Crown design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
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Floral Craftsmanship Article in the Canadian Florist Magazine
Retail florists and wholesalers are already designing, ordering and preparing their product range for Valentine's Day. This is my article that I wrote for the December 2012...
My article and body flowers design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
