Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Knot willow twigs around a shallow container to keep tiny orchid stems upright
- 7 February 2024
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Choose three willow stems that can be wrapped around your shallow container
Freshly cut stems needs very little preparation to get them ready to work with. If the stems are slightly less pliable you will need to work them a bit so that they can be wrapped. If you want to brush up on how to prepare twigs to be used in design work see the Tutorial below... and of course my book.
Set the container on the stem and wrap the two ends to cross over the front.
Start at one end and fold the twig over to the back and simply knot the thinnest part around the more sturdier end.
Keep wrapping the willow around and around from the one end to the other.
Allow the willow stem to curve and buckle naturally. This is all part of the charm.
In our email this week I explain how I use these natural highs and lows to position the flowers. Another great example of how we collaborate with nature to create our designs. If you are not yet receiving your tip email from me (I send one out every Wednesday morning, Vancouver time) you can sign up below.
Add in another willow stem next to it. Give the twig a knot and then keep wrapping it around and around from the one end to the other.
Allow the ends to extend beyond the container almost like it is a vine that grew this way.
Add in a third willow stem, knot it and wrap it around itself.
Pour some water into the shallow container.
Slip the orchid stems through the gaps in the willow knot twists.
Make sure the stems are not pinched between the willow so that they orchids remain hydrated. Have a look at the picture in the email where I show you how to make the gaps a bit bigger if you need to and how to position the flowers stems.
I also cut my stem ends slightly differently when I design in shallow pools of water. Book readers turn to page 265 where I show you how to cut the stem so that it can take up as much water as possible even though it is barely in water.
For more information about my book:
The Effortless Floral Craftsman
Weave in a green sprouting willow twig.
And make sure the cut end of the stem is well below the water line so that it remains hydrated.
Add in a few dew drop crystals to gently rest on the willow twigs.
I use a pin to add these tiny crystals. See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions...
And finish the design with a gentle scattering of artificial snow...
Allowing it to settle on the delicate Oncidium petals as if it the magical moment after the moment when it started to snow.
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Tutorials
It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
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