Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
A knot and a lean and hand full of snippets in a bud vase
- 22 February 2023
- click to send Christine a smile
For my iris display I am using a minimal budvase...
Remove the foliage from your iris flower stems and test them to determine where to cut the stems.
I share more about my inspiration for this design and how I test the stems in this week's design tip email. If you are not yet receiving your weekly tip the sign up is below this post.
Book readers turn to page 299 to see how to test the iris flower to see if it will open... works every time!
For more information about my book:
The Effortless Floral Craftsman
Cut the firmest part of the stem ends into snippets...
Making sure they are the same size.
Place the budvase on its side and start to fill it with the snippets.
You will be surprised to see how many snippets you need to fill even this tiny vase opening so measure it carefully.
When the vase opening is filled tilt the vase upright again.
You want the entire batch of snippets to slide in so take care to lift it slowly.
Turn the vase upside down and give it a gentle shake. The snippets should be firmed into the vase or else they will rise up once you pour water in.
Slowly pour the water into the vase to just start to cover the stem snippets.
This is a great way to test whether the stems are firmly wedges into the vase. My tip in our email is all about how to adjust the stems if you are unsure if they are firm enough.
Continue to fill the vase with water if the snippets stay in place.
Groom the iris buds by removing the foliage.
Secure the flowers with an iris leaf.
I used a gathering knot. Turn to page 58 of my book for a picture Tutorial.
Set the iris flowers in the bud vase to curve over the side with the knot end dramatically pointing up.
And finish the design with a few dew drop crystals.
Sign up for my weekly newsletter
Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.
Tutorials
It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
Connect the ends of grass snippets to create a spherical grass armature
Keep flowers in place by placing a lemon on the narrow rim of the container.
A radiating design that has the freedom of movement to add a bit of a cooling effect on the warmer days of summer.
Plant material float about in water. To keep it in place it is best to wedge it slightly to touch the sides of the container.
Give your woven grass a water source by designing the basket in a vase rather than placing the vase in a basket
Use the unique qualities of each stem to create a submerged design in a water filled glass vase.
Weave a small panel that fits snugly in a container for a minimal, foam free design that is quick to make but looks spectacular.
Craft two woven panels to place front and back of a couple of bud vases to create a unit.
It all started with my twig being just too small to wedge into the glass vase tight enough to keep my orchid stem in place...
Favourite Flowers
Dutch Iris or widow iris are the best known varieties used as cut flowers
Related Designs
Making what makes your floral details unique the focal point of a design
A submerged design... perfect for summertime designing... and enjoying!
A light and airy (no floral foam but still long lasting) floral design for those days that you are really, really looking for signs of Spring.
When you figure out the "how to" tricks of manipulating plant material it is possible to respectfully set them into seemingly impossible new directions.
Adding just a little something to a bud vase design to connect them... and make it special.
Add design elements that serves a purpose for a minimal summer inspired floral design.