My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Peg the heavy details in place with a wedged stem support

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.

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Tutorials
Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals
8 July 2015
Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals

It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
Connect the dot grass Armature
3 February 2016
Connect the dot grass Armature

Connect the ends of grass snippets to create a spherical grass armature
Stacked bowl floral display
20 February 2019
Stacked bowl floral display

Create a foam free stacked design by slipping flowers between stacked bowls.
Weave a long lasting (without using floral foam) in a vase floral design basket
29 January 2020
Weave a long lasting (without using floral foam) in a vase floral design basket

Give your woven grass a water source by designing the basket in a vase rather than placing the vase in a basket
Loop a Monstera leaf stem to craft an underwater hold for a knotted orchid stem
27 January 2021
Loop a Monstera leaf stem to craft an underwater hold for a knotted orchid stem

Use the unique qualities of each stem to create a submerged design in a water filled glass vase.
Balance a cake stand lid on it’s side to create a leaning design
24 April 2019
Balance a cake stand lid on it’s side to create a leaning design

Suspend a flower for an unusual but minimalist design over a leaning container lid.
Hana-kubari Bamboo
1 April 2015
Hana-kubari Bamboo

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, or screws or any other man made materials are used
Leaf-puddle for a short stem in a big vase
8 January 2020
Leaf-puddle for a short stem in a big vase

Add a leaf to a large-ish vase to create a small puddle of water for your short flower stem to rest in.
Single blade wrap armature
10 October 2018
Single blade wrap armature

Fold a single blade of grass or slender leaf around a small container to stand your flower in position
Slip-slit tapped in stems to keep vines upright in a muted autumn display
25 September 2024
Slip-slit tapped in stems to keep vines upright in a muted autumn display

A tiny adjustment in a stem wedged into a vase mechanic to give you even more control over the placement of design details.
Latch an imperfect stem support for thin stemmed and heavy design details
5 July 2023
Latch an imperfect stem support for thin stemmed and heavy design details

Bundle and tie a few stems to create a support for even heavy design details.
Related Designs
Connect the dot
3 February 2016
Connect the dot

Connect snippets of grass to create a shelter for your flowers
Inna...
20 February 2019
Inna...

Stack bowls to keep your flower stems in place.
Peekaboo
29 January 2020
Peekaboo

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.
Knot how it was supposed to go
27 January 2021
Knot how it was supposed to go

When you figure out the "how to" tricks of manipulating plant material it is possible to respectfully set them into seemingly impossible new directions.
All Aboard!
4 March 2020
All Aboard!

Ooooh! Am I excited to show you this design. It is an ordinary fishbowl vase... balanced on it's side.
Put aside
24 April 2019
Put aside

Urgh… my glass cake stand broke leaving me with a still beautiful, but now mismatched and extremely inspirational lid...
The Space Between
1 April 2015
The Space Between

Traditional Hana-Kubari flower mechanic
From A... for Acer to Z… for Zantedeschia
10 October 2018
From A... for Acer to Z… for Zantedeschia

This week we look at the design featured in the Flower Guide Chapter at the very end of my book
Rest a bit here
8 January 2020
Rest a bit here

Gently curve a shallow area with a leaf to showcase a gorgeous flower with a short stem in a water filled vase
Toning down the summer up into the earliest autumn
25 September 2024
Toning down the summer up into the earliest autumn

Using summery floral details in a way that it gives you all the autumn feelings... when autumn details are not yet out.
The Wiggle Is Part Of The Plan
5 July 2023
The Wiggle Is Part Of The Plan

A easy going summer design that makes full use of the imperfections you harvest from your cut garden.
Be excited
7 June 2023
Be excited

Oh my! Picked from my balcony garden... after I thought I completely missed it blooming.
Favourite Flowers
Iris
Iris

I made a Shishi Odoshi (tipping fountain) for my Desalination Floral Art Demonstration design. Blue Iris flowers hangs down (and up-side down) on my twig blind to represent the...