My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Slip-slit tapped in stems to keep vines upright in a muted autumn display

For this design I am removing most of the petals from sunflowers.

For this design I am removing most of the yellow petals from sunflowers to blend in in a darker autumn themed design.

If you want more detailed instructions on how to pick away petals see the Tutorial below.

Strong and robust sunflower stems are ideal for wedging into glass containers

Strong and robust sunflower stems are ideal for wedging into glass containers

Measure out the stem and cut it to fit snugly in the container

Measure out the stem and cut it to fit snugly in the container.

Book readers turn to page 358 for more inspiration on how to use this technique to wedge flowers into containers... this time using the way the flower is positioned on the stem as a way to position it. For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

Wedge in another stem next to that

Wedge in another stem next to that...

For the base of my design I am adding three sets of wedged stems

For the base of my design I am adding three sets of wedged stems... and one more...

Design note: cut one more stem to size and keep it aside...

Pour water into the container so that the fresh material can remain hydrated in your design

Pour water into the container so that the fresh material can remain hydrated in your design.

Slip the heavy sunflowers into the container to rest on the wedged in stems

Slip the heavy sunflowers into the container to rest on the wedged in stems.

Add the smaller flowers to rest between two stems so that it remains perfectly upright

Add the smaller flowers to rest between two stems so that it remains perfectly upright.

Slip a passion fruit vine into the container

Slip a passion fruit vine into the container to drape over the flowers... and to keep it upright...

Cut into the stem with a sharp knife

Cut into the stem with a sharp knife...

Slip the vine into the slit

Slip the vine into the slit...

Or and slip a vine through the narrow gap between two wedged stems

Or/and slip a vine through the narrow gap between two wedged stems...

Or and catch a tendril from the vine and slip that through the slit

Or/and catch a tendril from the vine and slip that through the slit...

And make sure the stems are securely wedged into place

And make sure the stems are securely wedged into place and allow the vine to drape elegantly over the design.

Glue in a few leaves to look like the just fell onto the design

Glue in a few leaves to look like the just fell onto the design... perfectly.

... but oh no... what if you do not yet have autumn leaves to design with this early in the season? Just like I did with removing the bright yellow petals from the sunflowers there are a few all natural ways to make sure your design looks perfectly Autumn. I tell you more about my ways of doing this in our email this week. I send out an email every Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) with a design specific lesson for you to read about before looking at the design and Tutorial. Sign up is below this post.

Use only a tiny drop of glue so that it looks like it might flutter away again at the slightest breeze

Secure the leaves with only a tiny drop of glue so that it looks like it might flutter away again at the slightest breeze.

Guide the tendrils to connect the design details

Guide the tendrils to connect the design details.

And I finish my design with a few grass stems just scattered throughout the design.

And I finish my design with a few grass stems just scattered throughout the design...

And I add a few dew drop crystals for some sparkle

And I add a few dew drop crystals for some sparkle.

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

4 April 2018 Tap in a Twig Support

Wedge snipped twigs into a glass vase to act as a support for your flowers

17 July 2013 Chrysanthemum sepals and receptacle

I love using bits of flowers to add interest and texture

13 August 2014 Sunflower Disk Floret

Gently pull the petals ( Ray floret) from the seeded part of the sunflower

9 August 2023 Tap in support for horizontal placement of your top heavy flowers

Placing gladiolus stems horizontally so that the stems... disappear.

21 October 2020 Sunflower heart autumn display

Pick away the ray floret so that the disk floret of a sunflower can be used as a flat surface to display your design on.

17 July 2024 Use Firethorn spears for a Vine and Orchid twist support

Sharp thorns can be used to keep your floral details in place

31 July 2019 Adding folded grass "jitters" to a Sunflower

Adding tension to a design with a grass frame and collar.

28 January 2015 Well Rooted Sprouting Willow Weave

Weave a sprouting armature

27 January 2016 Sprouting willow armature

Carefully manipulate and bend green willow stems to place in water to sprout as an armature for tulips to mature and open

7 June 2023 Peg the heavy details in place with a wedged stem support

Create a support for your floral details by wedging the cut flower stem across the opening of the vase.

18 October 2023 U shape stems to anchor Fuchsia drops and Maple leaf Falls in a bud vase

Bend pliable stems to kick against the side to anchor design details exactly in place in a small vase.

24 March 2021 A Spring Sprout Wreath Flower Frog

Craft an everything is still growing spring design to celebrate... what we love!

13 August 2014 Standing flowering stems in shallow puddles

Making a truss out of sunflower stems for a free standing design

5 June 2019 Stack a Stack of Stems to create a sturdy grid Armature... with some height

Stack green lily stems to create an upright mechanic to keep shorter stems in place.

4 July 2018 Bundle Support

Tie a bundle of lily grass in a bundle to offer support for your flowers.

Favourite Flowers

Passiflora

Granadilla, passionflower, passion vines

Related Designs

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.

4 April 2018 Grow on it

Wedge twigs into a vase to create a grid.

9 August 2023 Look at me… doing math!

Adding our own "bit" to our floral design work.

13 February 2019 Pick Love

Craft a willow heart to display 12 red roses to celebrate Valentine's Day.

21 October 2020 When it gets chilly

Use the heart of a sunflower as a platform to place your autumn floral details on.

17 July 2024 Refresh-ing

A tall vase for a short orchid stem summer design

31 July 2019 Jitters!

Zig-zag grass details add a bit of tension to the design

17 April 2013 Hide-and-go-peek

Create a soft light by making a leaf cocoon for a flameless candle

28 January 2015 In a State of Flow

weave some willow to use as an armature

27 January 2016 Well, I'll be

Manipulate fresh willow stems to create a sprouting armature for long tulip stems

7 June 2023 Be excited

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

18 October 2023 Drops do that!

Collecting drops of autumn that makes me smile back.

24 March 2021 To two too!

A Spring Tulip celebration design... with a special message

13 August 2014 A leg to stand on

Create a upright design by supporting the flowering stems

5 June 2019 Add up!

Stacking green stems to create an armature for short stemmed flowers.

4 July 2018 Wonder

Tie a bundle of grass to support your floral details