My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

A knot and a lean and hand full of snippets in a bud vase

For my iris display I am using a minimal budvase

For my iris display I am using a minimal budvase...

Remove the foliage from your iris flower stems and test them

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

Cut the firmest part of the stem ends into snippets...

Making sure they are the same size

Making sure they are the same size.

Place the budvase on its side and start to add the snippets

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

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

When the vase opening is filled tilt the vase upright again.

You want the entire batch of snippets to slide in so take care

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

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

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 if the snippets stay in place

Continue to fill the vase with water if the snippets stay in place.

Groom the iris buds by removing the foliage

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

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

And finish the design with a few dew drop crystals.

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

8 July 2015 Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals

It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.

3 February 2016 Connect the dot grass Armature

Connect the ends of grass snippets to create a spherical grass armature

24 July 2018 Lemon Aid Container Stopper

Keep flowers in place by placing a lemon on the narrow rim of the container.

20 July 2022 Breezy lily grass ripple

A radiating design that has the freedom of movement to add a bit of a cooling effect on the warmer days of summer.

10 July 2019 Letting grass kick against the side of the vase to create a neat and minimal line

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.

12 February 2014 Lightly sprinkled foliage frog

Light as air ripped foliage flower frog

29 January 2020 Weave a long lasting (without using floral foam) in a vase floral design basket

Give your woven grass a water source by designing the basket in a vase rather than placing the vase in a basket

27 January 2021 Loop a Monstera leaf stem to craft an underwater hold for a knotted orchid stem

Use the unique qualities of each stem to create a submerged design in a water filled glass vase.

15 January 2020 Over and under weave floral panel armature for inside a 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.

2 February 2022 Connect bud vases with a fresh foliage open weave

Craft two woven panels to place front and back of a couple of bud vases to create a unit.

26 August 2020 Create a tighter fit with pebbles so that you can wedge a twig securely into a vase

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

Iris

Dutch Iris or widow iris are the best known varieties used as cut flowers

Related Designs

22 February 2023 Jump out at you

Early iris flowers in a bud vase.

5 June 2024 hang out with.. you know… floristically speaking

Making what makes your floral details unique the focal point of a design

20 February 2019 Inna...

Stack bowls to keep your flower stems in place.

3 February 2016 Connect the dot

Connect snippets of grass to create a shelter for your flowers

25 July 2018 Lemon Aid

Use a lemon as a stopper to keep floral material in place

20 July 2022 The tiniest drop

A radiating summer design that waves in the slightest of breezes.

7 October 2015 Down-bubble

Add grass "bubbles" that can be repositioned to your design

10 July 2019 These are my favourite summer things:

A submerged design... perfect for summertime designing... and enjoying!

12 February 2014 Easy does it

Rip foliage to sprinkle as a light as air flower frog

29 January 2020 Peekaboo

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.

4 July 2018 Wonder

Tie a bundle of grass to support your floral details

27 January 2021 Knot how it was supposed to go

When you figure out the "how to" tricks of manipulating plant material it is possible to respectfully set them into seemingly impossible new directions.

15 January 2020 This way we connect

Weave a connected panel to frame a single orchid.

2 February 2022 Putting my feelers out

Adding just a little something to a bud vase design to connect them... and make it special.

26 August 2020 It starts with WHY

Add design elements that serves a purpose for a minimal summer inspired floral design.