Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Roll a leaf blade shade shelter for a crystal puddle… frog
- 22 April 2026
Top up a budvase with fresh water to make sure your flowers are hydrated.
Roll a thin leaf to create a loop. Any strap like, linear or sword shaped foliage will be perfect. I used a leaf cut from my freshly potted cymbidium orchid.
Adjust the loop so that it fits snugly in the bud vase. Go slow though. If the leaf folds it will spoil the loop and you will struggle to get it to curve elegantly.
Book readers turn to page 310 if you find your leaf has a fold in it and want to use that sharp angle as inspiration to create another version of this design. Or to page 289 for an easy tip on how to curve the most perfect loops without angles every time.
For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman
Slip the loop into the opening of your budvase.
Use the loop as support to keep two delicate bleeding heart stems in position so that they can remain hydrated.
Slip a maidenhair fern into the back of the foliage loop to keep it in an upright position.
Design the flower and fern stems and then hold those stems into position with a heavier crystal.
Every Wednesday morning (Vancouver time), I send out a design note as an early glimpse at the newest Design and a few notes that I picked up creating the Tutorial that might be useful to you. This week, I show you how (and why) I am using the heavier crystal to keep my flower stems in position. It is my personal preference... but it is something to consider as you design as well.
If you’re new here, you can sign up below this post. And if you’ve been receiving these notes for some time, I hope they feel like a welcome break in your busy week.
And I finish my design with a splatter of tiny dew drop crystals to add sparkle to the flat surfaces of the leaf loop.
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