Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
A design solution for showcasing the tiniest flowers... in a big way
- 22 May 2024
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Flowers naturally float in water. They just don’t always naturally float on water. For that they sometimes need a bit of help.
Fill the display container with water to float your floral details.
You can either fill it all the way to the top and let the flowers show above the water line or fill to below the top to frame the flowers within the container.
Gently place the largest floral details to create a foundation.
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The large nasturtium foliage creates a raft for you to style the more delicate floral details on.
Place the delicate flowers so that it is suspended by the floating foliage. Make sure the cut stems are below the water to keep the flowers hydrated.
Drip a few water drops on the nasturtium leaves... simply dip your finger in the water and let it drip... pretty, right?
Add in a few vines to drape over the floating foliage and flowers.
A few this way and a few draping that way... still low over the floating design but just enough to add some height and vibrancy. Make sure to place the vines so that they look healthy and growing... pointing up.
Book readers turn to page 74 for a special tip for adding fresh growing plant material to your design.
For more information about my book:
The Effortless Floral Craftsman
but to get you started you can also find a Tutorial for adding new growth below this post.
.. and as always I finished my design with a few dew drop crystals... for sparkle.
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Tutorials
Use a wet brush to lift any tiny bits of plant material floating on and in the water to keep your container clear.
Fold and peg banana leaves into pockets so that they float freely on water. This is inspired by a traditional banana leaf craft used to cook rice in.
It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
Flowers naturally float in water. They just don’t always naturally float on water. For that they sometimes need a bit of help.
Conditioning new growth and sprouts are difficult because the little sprouts have not had time to fully develop its cellular structure to survive being cut and taking up water on...
Done in no time design... and it is rather refreshing to make.
Cut circles out of transparencies to make ripples in the water
Float flowers in a bottle by giving each flower their own little bubble wrap raft-skirt.
If you know my work you have probably seen me do this: I float flowers using a tiny bubble wrap skirt... this time I am floating an entire design on it's own bubble wrap raft.
Related Designs
A mindful summer craft using banana leaves to create a floating arrangement.
An Autumn Equinox design that captures the moment before the spectacular colour burst of autumn floats around again
One of my trusty tried and tested techniques. When the going gets hot... float your flowers!
Ooooh! Am I excited to show you this design. It is an ordinary fishbowl vase... balanced on it's side.
The third design I did for my book launch demonstration looking at aspects that influences my effortless style of designing.