My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Knot a dragonfly

Rip a blade of grass with a pin or Kenzan

Rip a blade of grass with a pin or Kenzan right up to where the blade of grass is less pliable (close to the end where you cut it from the plant). I show you how in the Tutorial below.

Cut the unripped section of grass end to shape the abdominal segments.

Gather the ripped ends and knot them there where the stem is still intact

Gather the ripped ends and knot them there where the stem is still intact.

This knot shapes the Thorax of the dragonfly

Divide the ripped grass section into two

Divide the ripped grass section into two... but keep out the longest ripped grass section of each half...

Tie the ripped grass into a bow leaving the two strands that you kept out dangling loose

Tie the ripped grass into a bow leaving the two strands that you kept out dangling loose.

Tie the loose dangling strands into a knot to shape the head

Tie the loose dangling strands into a knot to shape the head.

Curl the loose strands to finish the dragonfly

Curl the loose strands to finish the dragonfly. I wanted my dragonfly to look a bit... well... as if it can't be bothered too much on this lazy summer's day. You can (of course!) make the dragon fly more realistic by cutting the antenna short but I rolled the dangling grass sections for the antenna and then released the curls to look wind swept.

This part is actually the most important part. It is where you add the personality of your critter... and by doing so the whole personality of your design!

Book readers turn to page 369 where I tell you a bit more about these finishing touches in my book. You will also find a few more How-To's for critters that you might want to add instead of a dragon fly.
For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

Leaf support for floral design details that are sustainable and zero waste

... but in contrast with the dragonfly looking a bit sleepy everything else needed to be as perky as possible. A rolled leaf support fits the vase perfectly.

For a closer look at the rolled leaf see our email for this week's tip. I wanted to show you how the leaf adds to the personality of the design and give you the opportunity to comment or ask questions. I really enjoy hearing from you. Reply to the email and say hi. The signup is below this post.

But to get you started I also have a few Tutorials below if you are looking for similar bud vase support inspiration.

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

Tutorials

14 January 2011 Ripping Flax

Flax can be ripped into fibres creating long and versatile strips

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 January 2021 Rolled leaf shelter for a lean-in-closer tiny bud vase design

Create a tiny visual tunnel to focus attention.

27 June 2018 Foliage tube armature for long stemmed freesia buds

Curl and pin a few leaves into a tube to create an armature for those "left over" freesiabuds.

2 June 2021 Two leaf lining your container to shelter your orchids

Create a shallow puddle in a larger container to keep your flowers in place.

14 October 2015 Roll hundreds (yes! hundreds) of autumn leaves so create a natural, upright flower frog

Rolled leaves offer support for floral stems

17 March 2021 Cone shaped leafy puddle for a short stemmed flower

Take all the usual ingredients for a budvase design- a flower, a leafy green something and roll it into something unusual to display.

17 June 2015 Weaving Zori-inspired slip-on Sandals

Sandals made from bamboo, grass and sisal and a bit of satin ribbon for luxury

6 February 2013 Fold a Foliage Fish

Fold and weave a fish from two blades of grass

24 September 2014 Folding a Frog

Fold and weave a frog from grass

17 July 2012 Guacamole Green Coiled Grass Chameleon

My Chameleon is mono-botanical. Made from coiled grass

18 February 2015 Grass Spiral Snail

Fold a foliage snail

Related Designs

19 July 2023 … And his little flower

Easy support for a single flower... and knot a special secret admirer just to keep it company.

15 May 2024 Well, well, well, if it isn’t the design solution I have been procrasti-crafting on

Beautiful Bletilla striata (Chinese Ground Orchid) deserves it's own elaborate frilly skirt display.

27 June 2018 Look deep

Curl foliage to use as a natural armature for delicate buds.

6 January 2021 I tip my (flower) cap!

An enclosed design that invites the onlooker to lean in closer to explore the pretty orchid.

2 June 2021 Like an open book

Position foliage to create a smaller, shallow pond for your floral details to shelter in.

22 August 2018 FreestyleFreesia

Dutch floral designer Pim van den Akker, from Flower Factor invited me to participate in a FloraHolland initiative promoting the versatility of Freesias entitled ...

14 October 2015 What a find!

Roll autumn leaves to create a frog to keep flowers upright

22 May 2019 Putting your own spin on it

I would definitely describe my own personal style as minimalist classic... but with an edgy twist.

17 March 2021 A scoop of pretty

A tiny budvase design that rearranges basic ingredients, such as a single leaf and an orchid to create a new design concept.

17 June 2015 This Summer

Weave slip on summer sandals

24 September 2014 Leapfrog

Fold and weave a frog from grass

17 July 2012 So far so green

The only thing I needed to make these avocado green arums perfect was a small admirer...

18 February 2015 Snail Away

Spiral roll a snail to add to this sunny design