Dowel ring flower holder for the most delicate of stems

22 April 2015
click to send Christine a smile

Mark three 2 cm slices on a Dowel stick.

Cut the slices with a wood saw. It is more accurate to mark off the first slice, and then cut it before marking off the next slice.

Drill a hole in the middle of the Dowel slice. I used a hole saw drill attachment.

I wanted three Dowel slices for my design but it is so quick and easy that it is tempting to make more

Drill a hole in the side of the Dowel slice

Set the Dowel slice on its side. It will naturally roll and balance on one spot. Mark this spot as the bottom of the Dowel slice. On the side opposite to this balance point, drill a small hole through the Dowel to the middle.

The slices are now ready to add the water source for the flowering stems

I make tiny "test tubes" from drinking straws. See the Tutorial below for instructions on how to make those.

Sand down the slice with an emery board or fine sanding paper to remove the marker and saw stains and to smooth the wood

Slip the tiny drinking straw into the hole

Wiggle the straw to go through the wood and be visible in the hole.

Press in the other straw water sources

Place the Dowel slices on a display tray or piece of wood. Fill the straws with water and add the flower material

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.

Sign up now

Tutorials

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need. If you can't find a suitable drinking straw... I also have an upgrade: tiny food grade pipe water tubes.

Related Designs

22 April 2015 Toiling

Convert a dowel stick into a container for delicate flower stems

28 March 2018 Walking on eggshells

Fill eggshells with moss to create an upright container... with a surprising balancing trick.

10 October 2018 From A... for Acer to Z… for Zantedeschia

This week we look at the design featured in the Flower Guide Chapter at the very end of my book

29 July 2020 Tail end of the story

Craft a bark platform to design on in a foxtail fern frond.

10 November 2021 … any day now

Using dried floral material is so trendy right now. But the longer lasting the design elements the more effort you have to put in to stop it from looking lifeless.

3 May 2023 Spring Row

Viola and chives cleverly dancing upright in a row.

11 October 2023 Plenty Glow to Harvest

Glow and sparkle bark armature to celebrate the first signs of Autumn