Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
No Mow May Scattered Grass and Erigeron Meadow design
- 31 May 2023
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I am again using the tried and tested method of taping over the opening of a container to create a grid to keep your flowers upright in a display but...
.. if you have been following along for a while you know that my twist to this method is to turn the sticky tape sticky side out...
Design note: It is harder to tape the grid placing the tape sticky side out so allow a bit more time to practice getting it right. Especially crossing the tape... it instantly sticks and you only have one shot to place it exactly right.
Pour water into the vase through the openings.
book readers turn to page 147 for detailed instructions.
For more information about my book:
The Effortless Floral Craftsman
For my design I create a base layer of cut grass to create a scattered look.
I have a tip for you about choosing which grasses to use for the base layer... and which are more robust to remain upright and create height in today's email. This email is our way to connect. You are welcome to reply if you have questions... or comments. Or to say hi. If you are not yet receiving an email from me on Wednesday mornings... the sign up is below this post.
The next layer of grass pokes through the tape so that it remains hydrated and start to create more height...
And the flowering Quaking Grass stems go in last... they are tall and elegant enough to add some personality to the design.
Add the tall grass stems so that they lean to one side... as if blown by the wind.
And just as you need to be mindful of how the design looks on top of the vase be mindful of how you design the stems below. The line you design continues (and look tidy) below the clear water.
These tall grasses can carry some weight so place some of the flowers to gently rest on the blades of grass...
and rest some of the bigger erigeron flowers on the tape below to add depth.
By simply hooking the flower head over the grass with its cut stem in the water below.
For taller free standing flowers cut the erigeron stems to have a fork in each stem with a flower on each end...
Place the stem through the gap in the sticky tape...
Push the flowers into the glass vase to the point where the fork in the stem now kicks against the sticky tape...
Keeping the flowers perfectly in an upright position.
Finish the design with a dew dew drop crystals.
You can find the Tutorial below if you are curious about why I am using a pin to place these crystals.
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Tutorials
Tape a grid over a vase to keep the floral details in place
It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
An grass armature that looks scattered but is actually very secure
Craft a light and airy grass halo to suspend tiny drop crystals around gorgeous roses.
Create a minimal design by placing a single flower on a platform
Using dry and fresh floral material in one design without the dry becoming soggy and the fresh drying out.
Making a rose even more roselike by enhancing its rosy-ness.
Suspend flowers with an almost invisible taped grid
Capture Spring for just a little bit longer by sticking blossoms down, in place.
Done in no time design... and it is rather refreshing to make.
Related Designs
Light and airy... like a wonderful breeze on a hot summer day grass and erigeron display.
Grass crisscross that makes you want to lean in closer to count the late summer raindrops around these gorgeous roses.
Place a water tube at an angle in lumber so that the Zantedeschia float just above the base to show off the delicate grass snippets scattered up the stem
The dry wheat stems are suspended from the outside of the container so that they remain dry and the flower stems can gently rest inside to remain hydrated.
Designing for somewhere not still summer not yet autumn weather...
Create a grid to rest some plant material so that it floats and some with their stems to rest in the water below
Blossom petals drop so quickly! Here's a way to make them last just that little bit longer.
