Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
A Muscari cluster frog to display a precious Scilla Siberica on it’s own dogwood twig
- 2 April 2025
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Curve a sprouting dogwood stem...
Slip the dogwood twig into a small display container.
Slowly guide the twig deeper into the display container so that it securely wedged into position at an angle.
Take your time to get this just right. The entire design is build around how this twig is positioned.
Once in position pour water into the display container.
You will need the flower with the longest stem to create the tip of the cluster. Measure out the longest muscari flower against the dogwood stem to see where you want to build the cluster. Place this flower aside to combine later.
This week in our email I tell you a bit more of how I measured out the cluster so that it sits neatly with the stem ends below the water. I send out an email every Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) the moment the new inspiration design is ready for you to view. And I add a few design details for you to note before looking at the design to make sure you make the most of each week's inspiration. The sign up is below this post.
Match two Muscari clusters of small bell-shaped flowers into pairs and secure with floral glue.
Take care though... if you make a mistake you will not be able to lift any glue spills to remove it because it is applied directly to the delicate flowers. When you dab on the glue you also run the risk of the tacky glue removing some of the grape like flowers or some glue spilling on to the flowers next to the ones you want to secure spoiling the whole design. Dot on the glue only where you want it secured, let it become tacky and then gently combine the flower stems.
Match another pair and secure with floral glue.
Match a third pair and secure.
Secure the matched clusters around the tallest flower that you measured. The idea is to build a large cluster out of the smaller clusters... pure luxury, right?
Glue in the next set of clusters next to the first. make sure it falls below the tallest floral cluster to keep the tapered effect.
Cup the flowers in your hand lightly so that the glue sets into a tight cluster. Let the Muscari cluster slip into the display container to rest over the dogwood twig.
Book readers turn to page 126 for another cluster bunch from idea... this time using grass. For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman
The twig should be between the muscari stems so that it looks like it is growing through the flowers.
Glue in a few more flower clusters all around the display to fill in any gaps. Be mindful of the stem ends though... you want them to look neat and not distract from the delicate focal point.
Thread the scilla flower stem all the way through the muscari cluster so that the cut stem end is in the water below for the flower to remain hydrated.
Place the flower using the dogwood stem as a support for the down turned flower stem.
Finish off the design by adding a few dew drop crystals to the design.
See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how to add the crystals.
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Tutorials
A last lean towards winter as the snow melts and the Spring flowers starts to make an appearance.
Line a shallow container with fiber to create a mat for the flowers to hydrate and stand in the exact way you want to place them.
Hana-Kubari is an Ikebana flower mechanic. Only natural materials such as pebbles, sticks and branches can be seen to support the flowers. Traditionally no twine or wire, nails,...
Careful manipulation of twigs in a shallow container. With a special note on how to use new growth.
Craft an everything is still growing spring design to celebrate... what we love!
Craft a suspended armature to create a clear winter design.
Crystal clear floral design for winter styling
It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
If you know just a bit more about the "why" we do the things we do it is easy to discover new "how's". This week I show you why it is possible to design with blossoming twigs in a...
Perfect design for a warmer than usual winter design that hints at thawing.
Connect twigs with puddles of artificial snow to craft a winter armature for your flowers.
Related Designs
Loved this delicate Scilla Siberica so much I got it its own bunch of Grape Hyacinths.
A leaning twig armature with both the first signs of Spring and the last signs of winter.
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