Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Peg the heavy details in place with a wedged stem support
- 7 June 2023
- click to send Christine a smile
Design note: If you are a exploring techniques and are learning how to wedge a stem for support try a straight side container first. Wedging a stem in a fishbowl vase is a bit more difficult because you have such a small space for the stem to kick against and the glass surface is tapered so the stem has to be exactly the right length. A straight side container is a lot more forgiving.
Measure your iris stem to fit tightly in a small container.
Start by placing the heaviest design details so that you can secure them and balance them in place.
Peg the heavy pea vine stem in place.
Iris stems have a spathe on the bloom stalk that can be used as a support for your heavier stems. Break out the underdeveloped secondary bud leaving the spathe empty. Slip the stem end through, between the stalk and the spathe to peg the vine.
Wiggle the stem closer to the spathe to make the opening smaller so that the pea vine stands perfectly upright against the stem and the glass.
Book readers have a look at the design on page 358. It is the same idea but this time I use a willow twig, curved to be both the wedged stick and the peg.
For more information about my book:
The Effortless Floral Craftsman
Add in another pea vine.
Carefully slip in the iris between the wedged stem in the container.
This week I wanted to tell you a bit more about how I trained myself to place delicate stems... in three go's. It is my way to make sure the flowers never get damaged from over handling. I show you how in our email for this week. I send out an email every Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) with a "behind the scenes" design tip that I want to explain more. You can sign up for the email below this post.
Add in a few iris leaves for height...
And another leaf to incorporate the peg stem into the design.
Finish the design with a few dew drop crystals.
See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how I use a pin to place the tiny crystals on delicate floral details.
Sign up for my weekly newsletter
Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.
Tutorials
It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
Connect the ends of grass snippets to create a spherical grass armature
Create a foam free stacked design by slipping flowers between stacked bowls.
Give your woven grass a water source by designing the basket in a vase rather than placing the vase in a basket
Use the unique qualities of each stem to create a submerged design in a water filled glass vase.
Suspend a flower for an unusual but minimalist design over a leaning container lid.
Hana-Kubari is an Ikebana flower mechanic. Only natural materials such as pebbles, sticks and branches can be seen to support the flowers. Traditionally no twine or wire, nails,...
Add a leaf to a large-ish vase to create a small puddle of water for your short flower stem to rest in.
Fold a single blade of grass or slender leaf around a small container to stand your flower in position
Favourite Flowers
Dutch Iris or widow iris are the best known varieties used as cut flowers
Related Designs
Oh my! Picked from my balcony garden... after I thought I completely missed it blooming.
A easy going summer design that makes full use of the imperfections you harvest from your cut garden.
A light and airy (no floral foam but still long lasting) floral design for those days that you are really, really looking for signs of Spring.
When you figure out the "how to" tricks of manipulating plant material it is possible to respectfully set them into seemingly impossible new directions.
Ooooh! Am I excited to show you this design. It is an ordinary fishbowl vase... balanced on it's side.
Urgh… my glass cake stand broke leaving me with a still beautiful, but now mismatched and extremely inspirational lid...
This week we look at the design featured in the Flower Guide Chapter at the very end of my book
Gently curve a shallow area with a leaf to showcase a gorgeous flower with a short stem in a water filled vase