Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Over and under weave floral panel armature for inside a vase
- 15 January 2020
- click to send Christine a smile
Pick out three long blades of lily grass from the bunch.
Measure the lily grass for the horizontal weave. It should just, just fit in the container.
Weave the first horizontal blade of lily grass through the 3 long blades of grass. Fit it in the container to see if it is the right length.
Place the grass on a flat working surface and weave the panel. If you are concerned that the pieces are not staying in place glue a blade every here and there just to support it while you are working.
If you are new to weaving with grass... don't be put off... it gets easier to keep the grass in place as you build up the panel because every new weave supports the one before.
For a more detailed Tutorial on weaving with grass see below in the Tutorial section.
Book readers... I have loads, and I mean loads of hints on weaving in my book. I consider it one of my personal foundation techniques so I have included many examples for you to see if you want to take this to the next level.
Slip the panel into the container.
Curl the grass to drape over the front of the design
The method I am using in the picture is from my book... there is a trick to curling grass this way so that it doesn't damage and unrolls. See page: 289
For another method see the Tutorial below.
Slip the orchid stem through the panel and bend the stem back through the weave so that it points down. If the stem is left to dangle at the back the heavy flower head tips to the front and the stem will not be in the water to hydrate.
It also creates a neater back view that just looks more professional.
Fill the container with water...
Make sure the stem is under the water line.
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Tutorials
For this tutorial I focus on a simple weave pattern that does not require you to soften or prepare the leaves to be more durable or flexible. This is the starting point in...
Thread grass into flexi grass to create a spinner that gently turns in the wind.
Most leaves and foliage can be slightly manipulated to curve or curl.
Lash the orchid stems together to create a ladder for the flower to rest on.
Glue short sections of rosary vine into the natural gaps in the Monstera deliciosa leaf
Glue a few twigs into a bundle to hide a corsage magnet
Stack snippets of grass on a wire frame to make a floating pyramid armature
Cut the Phalaenopsis orchid with a bit of green stem attached. This will make them last longer.
Weave a canopy or parachute shaped armature in a way that you can place the stems in two vases to keep it hydrated.
Glue the twigs in a container to easily follow the round shape
Tie a bundle of lily grass in a bundle to offer support for your flowers.
Favourite Flowers
Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid
Related Designs
When you figure out the "how to" tricks of manipulating plant material it is possible to respectfully set them into seemingly impossible new directions.
A design that visually plays with good proportions to allow the sheltered flower to be the focal point.
Give a minimal design a few grass "whiskers" to feel that Spring breeze.
Making what makes your floral details unique the focal point of a design
A tiny orchid stem ladder keeps the orchid suspended just above the water line
Criss-cross corset style connect the gaps in a Monstera deliciosa leaf
My article and twig boutonniere design featured in the Winter issue of DIY Weddings Magazine
Glue a bunch of twigs inside a container to create a round stack
