My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Balloon out grass to craft a framed armature

Fill a tall and narrow container with water

Fill a tall and narrow container with water.

Slip a small bunch of lily grass into the container

Slip a small bunch of lily grass into the container.

Allow the grass to flop over the sides of the container by making space in the middle with your finger

Allow the grass to flop over the sides of the container by making space in the middle with your finger.

Slip a tall water tube into the space you have created with your finger

Slip a tall water tube into the space you have created with your finger.

Fill the water tube with water

Fill the water tube with water.

Bundle up the grass

Bundle up the grass...

And tie it with a knot

And tie it with a knot.

Design tip: I liked the knot ends extending. It created a lovely contrast to the smoothness of the curved grass so I left it dangling. Cut it short if you prefer. Also a great knot for this can be found in my book. Book readers turn to page 59.

For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

Tie another knot at the vase opening around the grass and the water tube

Tie another knot at the vase opening around the grass and the water tube

Carefully curve the grass so that it balloons out to the sides

Carefully curve the grass so that it balloons out to the sides.

Knot one end of a blade of grass

To secure the ballooned out grass, knot one end of a blade of grass...

Slip the knotted grass through the middle of the bundle from the top down

Slip the knotted grass through the middle of the bundle from the top down...

Thread it through the ballooned out space at one side

Thread it through the ballooned out space at one side...

And secure it between the water tube and the grass

Add a bit of tension to exaggerate the balloon shape and secure it between the water tube and the grass where you knotted it.

Place the calla lilies into the water tube

Place the calla lilies into the water tube...

So that the elegant shapes can be admired in the grass frame from all sides

So that the elegant shapes can be admired in the grass frame from all sides

This week I added a few notes about maintaining the design in your notification email- if you adjust it slightly in a few days there is no reason why this will not last for weeks- even in a heatwave as it did in my design room! You can sign up for this one email per week below this post.

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.

6 November 2012 Ripped Grass Frame

Create a sheltered or veiled design by framing the outer edge of your armature (in this case thick cardboard) with long strands of grass

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.

12 March 2014 Grass tunnel that stays just so

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

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.

26 February 2020 Weave a grass Platform for an opening Tulip bud

Tulips continue to grow as they open. This means you not only have to be mindful of their proportions as they are now... but also as they will be once open.

24 July 2019 Grass Twirling Up to Dress a Stem of Lilies

A single stem of lilies turned into a celebration just by twirling a handful of lily grass around it.

12 June 2019 Loop-over grass veil for a cool summer design

A cool and minimal floral design for summer.

27 September 2017 Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin

Reshape a vine wreath into smaller wreaths to combine as a pumpkin

7 March 2018 Phormium bubble frame

Curl and secure a few blades of flax into a bubble to frame your flowers

29 September 2021 Over the edge flower, floral support

Hook the calla lilies over the edge of a vase to create a support for your taller floral details.

Favourite Flowers

Zantedeschia

Calla Lily, Arum Lily

Related Designs

24 August 2022 Hot air balloon

A grass bubble to frame two of the most beautiful calla lilies.

16 August 2023 Canned right after harvest

Pull tab support for "canned" Calla lilies and bunny-tail grass.

12 June 2024 Just about enough space

Create a little bit of space to keep a few thin stemmed floral treasures upright in your design

6 November 2012 Mr. Stalk, the Seriously Terrifying Scarecrow, on his Day Off

An easy going design of ripped grass and calla lilies. But look a bit closer. See if you can find Mr. Stalk relaxing somewhere between the blades of grass.

14 August 2019 For a longer lasting Summer

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

12 March 2014 Petrichor

A minimalist design in a shallow tray

13 July 2016 Woven

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

25 January 2017 What is in a basket of spectacular?

Weave a basket with dangling edges for a single orchid display

26 February 2020 To top it all off

This is a great "space-keeper" design. The tulip will continue to grow into the vase height as they open... but until then the grass platform part of the design diverts your...

13 June 2018 Eat up!

A woven bubble for a carnivorous plant.

24 July 2019 Up to much?

Dress up a single lily stem with a few blades of grass.

12 June 2019 Almost... all over!

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

11 April 2011 Veiled Sunshine:50th Anniversary of the South African Orchid Society at the Cape Town Convention Centre.

Bright and sunny cymbidium orchids and roses, lilies, lisianthus and pincushions

27 September 2017 As tendrils tend to do

Curl a wreath with tendrils to create a twig-pumpkin

7 March 2018 Twist of its own

... a quick an easy design. Curl a few flax leaves to frame orchids

14 October 2015 What a find!

Roll autumn leaves to create a frog to keep flowers upright

29 September 2021 Creative Direction

Hang the arum lilies from the edge of a container to support all the other floral details.