My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Stem line-up

21 February 2018
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Komiwara is a classic and traditional Ikebana technique used in a Rikka design. Designers would usually bundle straw to keep the flowers in place. For more detailed instructions on how to fill a container with snippets see the Tutorials below

Place a container on it's side on a working surface and fill it with twig and stem snippets.

For my design I used heliconia stems and fiddle head fern stems.

Alternate between the two coloured stems and set it down in the basic pattern you want it in when you turn the container upright.

When the container is filled with stems lift it upright.

Move the stems around to create your basic design and let the stems settle in place.

Fill the container with water.

Add more stem if required. For my design I added a few clear acrylic tubes for visual interest.

Place the heliconia stems. Make sure there is enough water in the container to keep the flowers hydrated.

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Tutorials

7 May 2014

Rethinking the traditional Komiwara technique

Komiwara is a classic and traditional Ikebana technique used in a Rikka design. Designers would usually bundle straw to keep the flowers in place.

22 May 2012

Spiral twig frog

Multiple tiny twigs create a flower frog to keep the delicate buds and leaves in the exact spot you want.

2 August 2017

Two vase, two level Phormium snippets

Design in two levels by using two vases, the smaller slipped into a bigger one.

10 August 2016

Bamboo frog for a shallow container design

Cut short bamboo lengths to keep your flower material upright in a shallow and narrow container

22 June 2016

Lily grass spiral in a vase

Twist lily grass slightly to create a spiral for the orchids to nestle in

18 March 2015

Meadow in a bowl

Inspired by a classic and traditional Ikebana technique used in a Rikka design called Komiwara. Designers would usually bundle straw to keep the flowers in place.

22 May 2012

Filling a vase with water without disturbing the design details

Break the water flow when you fill a vase with details in that can move with the stream of water

18 June 2014

Sticking a stick curve to create a hollowed out crescent armature

An easy way to create a neat curve in a very short time

26 November 2014

Sticks stuck in a ground covered foundation

Glue potting soil to polystyrene to create a natural looking armature

22 January 2025

Bring out the pretty spots on the lip of this tiny orchid with a dotted twig stump armature

Create a delicate floating and natural display without using floral foam with a twig frog armature.

26 April 2023

New growth Spring frog

Willow cutting left in water will root and sprout... perfect for a all natural flower frog to admire as is or to keep long stem flowers upright.

18 August 2021

Racked up dried Twig Snippets to display a few flower buds

Combining dried and fresh floral details for a easy breezy summer design.

6 May 2020

a Just-Replace-The-Flowers-When-They-Wilt freestanding bark armature

Part of sustainable designing is designing with the entire life-cycle of your work in mind. Designing armatures is a lasting and ever changing design solution.