My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Leaning Sunflowers to stay just so

The trick to any freestanding design is to get your first three stems standing stable and secure in the water. Once you have that you can build the design around it.

See more on designs with three legs in the Tutorial below

Lean the two flower stems so that they kick against the edge of the shallow container

If there is a bend in the flower stems close to the head nuzzle the flowers to sit snugly

Add the third stem. Let it kick against the side of the shallow container with the flower head tucked between the other two flowers. This should give it enough stability to create a freestanding design.

Measure your next flower stem, cut and add it into the design. Continue adding stems. Make sure each stem is secure to create a stable design

Every now and again wiggle the stems gently to make sure the are secure. Adjust if necessary.

Add in a few blades of grass

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Tutorials
The Three legged trick for Upright Constructions
7 September 2012
The Three legged trick for Upright Constructions

When in doubt, always give your armature three legs. Two legs are simply not enough and four legs will wobble if it is even slightly off balance.
Standing flowering stems in shallow puddles
13 August 2014
Standing flowering stems in shallow puddles

Making a truss out of sunflower stems for a free standing design
Sunflower Disk Floret
13 August 2014
Sunflower Disk Floret

Gently pull the petals ( Ray floret) from the seeded part of the sunflower
Balancing a Twirled Willow Armature
25 February 2015
Balancing a Twirled Willow Armature

Twirl twigs to create a balanced nest to display the beautiful orchids on
Free standing Willow twig armature with a hidden water source
20 April 2016
Free standing Willow twig armature with a hidden water source

Cut a few willow twigs to split to create legs for the armature
Hana-Kubari chopsticks
19 October 2011
Hana-Kubari chopsticks

Splitting the chopsticks or a wooden branch, such as a willow twig creates a natural (and glue-less!) clamp.
Palm twirl with a hidden double knot grid support that hold even heavier flowers in place
11 September 2024
Palm twirl with a hidden double knot grid support that hold even heavier flowers in place

Knot horizontal palm fronts in place to create a support for heavy flowers.
Adding folded grass "jitters" to a Sunflower
31 July 2019
Adding folded grass "jitters" to a Sunflower

Adding tension to a design with a grass frame and collar.
Stack a Stack of Stems to create a sturdy grid Armature... with some height
5 June 2019
Stack a Stack of Stems to create a sturdy grid Armature... with some height

Stack green lily stems to create an upright mechanic to keep shorter stems in place.
Balancing Sweet pea stems with an Ivy Leaf Stack
1 August 2018
Balancing Sweet pea stems with an Ivy Leaf Stack

This design is all about balance.
Marching winter frosted twig and freesia stack
28 February 2018
Marching winter frosted twig and freesia stack

Frost a few twigs to craft a delicate armature for fragrant freesias
Creating contrasts in shallow containers with pebbles and water
17 January 2018
Creating contrasts in shallow containers with pebbles and water

Such a peaceful design with just enough float and "stay put" elements
Using a fork in a twig to “peg” a stem in place
3 January 2018
Using a fork in a twig to “peg” a stem in place

A easy to use Hana Kubari technique
Three tier dried autumn leaf armature
8 November 2017
Three tier dried autumn leaf armature

Dry autumn leaves on cardboard disks to create an upright fall armature
Related Designs
When Autumn Fall
6 September 2011
When Autumn Fall

Autumn leaf composite flower
Pick-Up Sticks
29 September 2011
Pick-Up Sticks

A twig and stick design with sweet dumpling pumpkins and rosary vine (Ceropegia woodii). I also made a cherry twig and skeleton leaf Stick Insect
Just Right! Floral Art demonstration: Own It!
7 September 2012
Just Right! Floral Art demonstration: Own It!

My fourth design in my demonstration at the BC Floral Art Society meeting
A leg to stand on
13 August 2014
A leg to stand on

Create a upright design by supporting the flowering stems
Just So
25 February 2015
Just So

Twirl a few willow twigs to create a balanced armature to display orchids
Gotcha!
10 June 2015
Gotcha!

Hana Kubari lily stems
That Will Be
20 April 2016
That Will Be

Freestanding willow twig armature design
More! More!! More!!!
11 September 2024
More! More!! More!!!

Adding more to an autumn design... but leaving everything out that you don't need.
Jitters!
31 July 2019
Jitters!

Zig-zag grass details add a bit of tension to the design
Add up!
5 June 2019
Add up!

Stacking green stems to create an armature for short stemmed flowers.
Stay Cool!
1 August 2018
Stay Cool!

Craft a free standing Sweat pea design
March Days
28 February 2018
March Days

Line up a few frosted twigs to march across a shallow container
Flowering Between a Rock and a Hard place
17 January 2018
Flowering Between a Rock and a Hard place

Create a subtle contrast by floating or anchoring some of your design elements.
Happy Coincidence!
3 January 2018
Happy Coincidence!

Some designs really do just make themselves. I received this tiny vase for Christmas from Marius (thank you, Marius!) and while cleaning out my design room I found this little twig with a fork in it. Add a ranunculus with a ridiculously gorgeous curve in it's stem... done.
Psithurism
8 November 2017
Psithurism

Craft a three tiered, dried autumn leaf armature
Too Hot!
27 July 2016
Too Hot!

Leaning floral stems to stand on their own in a shallow container
Favourite Flowers
Helianthus anuus
Helianthus anuus

Nature's Treasures, A Floral Art Exhibition at D'Ville Shopping Center Durbanville Floral Carpet with the members of the Durbanville Flower Club. For the mid section I used roses,...