My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Messy wire lace

I call this lace because I use pins to guide the wire sections together- almost like you do when making lace.

Draw the Christmas stocking shape on paper

Draw the Christmas stocking shape on a large sheet of paper.

Tape the drawing of the stocking on to a sheet of Polystyrene

Tape the drawing of the stocking on to a sheet of Polystyrene

Pin the outline

Press pins securely into the outline shape.

Tie the fishing line between the pins and secure with knots

Tie the fishing line between the pins and secure with double knots

Continue stringing the line and knotting the cross-sections in a messy lace pattern

Continue stringing the line and knotting all the cross sections in a messy lace pattern

Add sections of wire with curled tendrils to the stocking lace

Add sections of wire with curled tendrils to the stocking lace. This will help the stocking keep its shape.

You will need two stocking pieces

Unpin the shape and secure any loose ends with wire and make another shape in mirror image

Connect the two sides with wire

Connect the two shapes with sections of wire

First tie the back, then the sole and lastly the toe and up the front of the stocking

First tie the back, then the sole and lastly the toe and up the front of the stocking

Wire frame for Jack Frosts Christmas stocking

The wire frame for the stocking is ready to decorate. It is surprisingly sturdy.

Weave in the healthy roots from Phalaenopsis orchid plants

Remove the growth medium (or wooden chips) and condition the Phalaenopsis orchid roots. For my design I used 3 plants. Start to weave in the roots making sure each section is secure.

The roots add dimention to the design and keep the puffed out shape

The roots add dimension to the design and keep the puffed out shape of the stocking to fill.

Glue in tiny ice pellet beads to add sparkle on the orchid roots.

Glue in tiny ice pellet beads to add sparkle (and frost) on the orchid roots

Wire in a few small test tubes to keep the orchids fresh

Lastly, as always, I add tiny glass tubes to fill with water for my frost green cymbidium orchids

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

Tutorials

24 March 2011 Condition Epiphyte Orchids

How to condition Orchids to use as plants in an arrangement without placing the roots in a growth medium

26 July 2011 Wire Tendrils

Curl the wire at irregular intervals to create a natural wire tendril similar to that of a passion fruit plant

Related Designs

29 November 2011 Jack Frost’s Christmas stocking

I used wire, fishing line (mono-filament) and Phalaenopsis orchid roots to make a messy lace Christmas stocking and dressed the stocking with frost green Cymbidium orchids

14 April 2011 In the Bag

My bag was woven from re-purposed wire and recycled fishing line and tiny stems of growing sweet pea plants and orchids

17 May 2017 Nobody move!

Weave a small basket with a lid to keep fluffy treasures in

6 December 2017 While I sing of beauty's treasure

Glue the most delicate twig table top Christmas tree

20 December 2017 A Very Merry Christmas Star

A wire Christmas star with a secret plan to hide the twinkle

7 November 2018 Grab your party mittens, flower buds… it’s Book Launch Day!

Celebrating my book launch by knotting floral mittens using the design Tutorial from my book and the template from the free gift template booklet.

7 November 2018 Book Launch Day!

Oh yes! Today is officially my book launch day!

8 November 2023 A warm up

An almost Christmas... Christmas wreath featured in the winter edition of Flora Magazine.

29 May 2024 Fascinating!

Trendy fascinator design using long lasting (read can be designed ahead of time) floral details.