Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Basket weave in an eggshell
- 8 April 2020
- click to send Christine a smile
Place a tiny corsage magnet inside an egg shell.
See the Tutorial below for a double layer version of how I use magnets to position the eggshells.
Position the eggshell on a display platter.
Slip another magnet below the egg to keep it securely in place.
Gently move the egg if you want to re-position it, it will firmly stay in place at whatever angle you want it to be without rolling around.
Weave a few blades of grass or palm to create a small basket weave
See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions on how to weave with foliage. I have also included a Tutorial below for how to rip foliage to weave with. But you can also find even more details in my book.
Cup the weave in your hand and slip the grass ends into the egg.
Make sure to subscribe to my newsletter for a weekly tip. This week I tell you how to trim the grass ends to make it easier to slip it into the egg and position it afterwards.
Make sure the grass ends are inside the egg.
Use a corsage pin to re position the blades of grass so that the weave is neatly covering the opening in the egg.
Fill the egg with water. You can find a detailed Tutorial on how I make this syringe with a tube. It is the best way to fill water sources.
Book readers: Water is thinner than egg so remember to place the eggs in a display container because some water will seep out. Simply refill the egg every now and again. If you want to seal the egg turn to page 199 or page 196, 197 (the tutorial on page 197 ... the one at the bottom works wonderfully)
Slip in the orchids and grasses so that it remains hydrated.
To curl the grass see the Tutorial below or my book... I have a really fun way in there that works even better!
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
Most leaves and foliage can be slightly manipulated to curve or curl.
Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase
Balance a stack of eggshells with a magnet for a tiny Easter design
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...
Once you figure out how to do the corners weaving a diagonal shape is actually not that hard to do.
Glue newsprint paper to balloons to make large egg shaped containers to design in
An almost nest like design with a hidden water source.
Pierce eggshells to string it up for a delicate Spring design element.
Favourite Flowers
Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid
Related Designs
A bit of a wrong way round pretty Easter design. Put the basket weave inside the egg instead of putting the eggs in a basket.
Give a minimal design a few grass "whiskers" to feel that Spring breeze.
The first of my new monthly articles about growing the material you need to design with. This month we are taking stock of what we need... and growing wheatgrass.
... take a moment of reflection as we celebrate 5 years! Happy 5th birthday to my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman
The flowers will continue to open around the nest… and the eggs… well surely they will disappear and you will need to replace those before Easter.
Fill eggshells with moss to create an upright container... with a surprising balancing trick.
A clean Easter design. The tiny blossoms are Kalanchoe 'Calandiva Pink'. Tucked low in the paper eggs are a few Cymbidium orchids and the twigs are contorted hazel. The...
A fun Spring and Easter design with stacked eggshells.
Advanced level Workshop: For my Easter Parade Demonstration I made 6 hand-tied designs within armatures. The concept was to pick up the design while demonstrating and to literally...
