My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

A woven grass grid cage for flying Column and Augmented petal Phalaenopsis orchids

Use the sharpest knife from your tool bag to cut away the petals from a Phalaenopsis orchid

Use the sharpest knife from your tool bag to cut away the petals from a Phalaenopsis orchid.

Looks a bit like a bird, right?

Pour water into a narrow container

Pour water into a narrow container.

Place a few blades of weaving grass on a flat working surface

Place a few blades of weaving grass on a flat working surface.

Weave in a few blades of grass

Weave in a few blades of grass. I used a simple over and under pattern.... which I prefer for my work because it is less distracting than more elaborate patterns. But you might find your design needs a bit more...?

If you are new to weaving or looking for more inspiration on how to incorporate weaving into your designs turn to page 226 of my book where I talk about Mastery.
For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

... but as always, to get you started I also have a few foundation Tutorials for you linked below this post.

To make it easier to slip the open ended weave into the container I keep them tightly together on one side

To make it easier to slip the open ended weave into the container I keep them tightly together on one side...

Place the woven grass on your container

Place the woven grass on your container... make sure the weave stays neatly together.

Design note: If it comes undone it is quicker to take it all out and start again. Be gentle as you lower the weave into the container... handling a loose weave take some practice.

If you find this too frustrating there is a Tutorial below for a Flower Catcher that is secure.

And if you find you love the look of a loose weave I have a Parachute Tutorial below for you to try.

Curve the weave into the container

Curve the weave into the container.

Spread out the woven grass supports to create gaps

Spread out the woven grass supports to create gaps.

Lining the container with a woven grass grid

Lining the container with a woven grass grid.

Place the Phalaenopsis orchid columns to rest on the woven grid

Place the Phalaenopsis orchid columns to rest on the woven grid.

And slip a blade of grass over the design in the gaps created in the woven grid

And slip a blade of grass over the design in the gaps created in the woven grid.

This part can get a bit tricky to get the grass to remain upright.. and arched in the same way. I have measuring and adjusting tips for you in this week's email. I send out a notification email every Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) the moment the new design is ready... and I add a bit of design details that I think you might find handy to have before looking at the design. The email is also a convenient way for us to connect on a one on one basis. Reply to the email if you have comments or questions... or to say hi. It might take me a bit of time to get to all the emails (yes, I answer them all) but I really enjoy this way of getting to know you better and it makes it feel less like I am talking to myself. So keep them coming!

Cut all the woven blades of grass

Cut all the woven blades of grass to the same length, extending from side to side...

Finish the design with a few sparkling dew drop crystals over the grass cage

and finish the design with a few sparkling dew drop crystals over the grass cage.

Design note: I thought it looks like a rib cage. Marius went with row boat. What do you think?

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

Tutorials

23 April 2014 Flower catcher

Keep a flower suspended just above water with palm leaves

8 June 2011 Foliage Weaving

For this tutorial I focus on a simple weave pattern that does not require you to soften or prepare the leaves to be more durable or flexible. This is the starting point in...

12 March 2014 Grass tunnel that stays just so

Snip, roll and glue a few blades of grass to create a design feature

7 December 2016 Flat wire and grass bridal basket

Wrap grass around a flat wire shape to create a delicate bridal basket design

22 April 2020 Weave a trendy oversized clutch purse with a hidden magnetic closure

A three in one Tutorial to show you how to weave a clutch purse, how to add a magnetic closure AND how to incorporate a ribbon into a weaved design.

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

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.

3 April 2013 Twin Leaf Weave

Weave two palm leaves together to create a floral grid

29 May 2019 Weaving and Interweaving for contrast

My block design is shaped around a Styrofoam block. It is bulky but lightweight and a great way to reuse packaging.

14 August 2019 Long lasting Lily and lily grass ball

Keep all the fresh flower material hydrated in water by weaving the stems from one side of the vase to the other.

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.

27 February 2019 Weave a floral trap

Keep your flowers in place with an all natural woven trap.

26 July 2017 Half wire half grass tangle to keep stems in place

Tangle and shape wire to create a half moon for grass and gyp to rest in

13 January 2016 Stacked Grass Pyramid Armature

Stack snippets of grass on a wire frame to make a floating pyramid armature

13 July 2016 Woven lily grass parachute armature

Weave a canopy or parachute shaped armature in a way that you can place the stems in two vases to keep it hydrated.

Favourite Flowers

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid

Related Designs

26 July 2023 Column… try it flower buddies

A bottom to the top... top to the bottom support to help keep your summer flowers hydrated.

12 March 2014 Petrichor

A minimalist design in a shallow tray

12 June 2019 Almost... all over!

Loop a grass veil over a lily stem to create a minimalist summer design.

7 December 2016 Oh! So clever

My article and Bridal basket design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

22 April 2020 Yes… but what would she put in it?

Some floral fashion inspiration: weave a pretty clutch purse

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.

2 February 2022 Putting my feelers out

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

3 April 2013 April showers bring May flowers

After a long winter it is always fun to use the first spring bulb flowers!

29 May 2019 Creative Competition

This week I am so excited to share my article and design that was published in the recent issue of the Floral Art Society of New Zealand's Academy Magazine for NZ qualified...

15 August 2018 Bursting with excitement

Loosely weave grass to create a decorative grid keeping flowers in place over a square container.

14 August 2019 For a longer lasting Summer

A creative way to keep foliage hydrated for a cool, water filled summer design.

27 February 2019 It’s a trap!

Weave a trap to keep your floral details suspended in a square container.

26 July 2017 Beat the summer heat

Tangle some wire to set flowers in water

13 January 2016 Once Upon A Time

Stack and glue a Grass Pyramid Armature

23 April 2014 Bound to Keep

Weave and tie a decorative catcher to suspend flowers

13 July 2016 Woven

Weave a canopy or parachute shaped armature for orchids to perch on