Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Suspend flowers above water on two wires covered with ringlet "happy birthday streamers" made from grass
- 19 March 2025
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You can find this design and Tutorial on page 170 of my book.
Add a small drop of glue to the tip of a blade of grass to secure it to sturdy orchid wire. Start to wrap the grass around the wire...
Wrap the grass around the wire so that it drapes elegantly.
This week in our email I explain to you in greater detail how I wrapped the grass around the wire so neatly. I send out an email every Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) the moment the latest design is ready for you to view. I write about something that I think you will find valuable to know, even before seeing the design, so that you can make the most of the weekly inspiration. The sign up is below this post.
Move the grass closer together and further apart so that the curls are bigger and smaller at intervals. Secure the grass to the wire every here and there to keep it from drooping.
Place the grass streamers and wire across a low container...
Glue in a few grass supports to connect the two wires for the flowers to rest on...
I used the thicker end bit that I cut off the grass to make it possible to curl the grass. They are harder and less pliable and can carry the weight of the flowers without bending.
Pour water into the flat container and rest the flowers on the grass to keep it suspended above the water.
I also added a grass dome over the shallow container. Book readers turn to page 168 for the picture Tutorial and when you turn the page you will see this week's design. For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman
but to get you started I have also added a few Tutorials below that you can use to make the dome from.
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Tutorials
Most leaves and foliage can be slightly manipulated to curve or curl.
For this tutorial I focus on a simple weave pattern that does not require you to soften or prepare the leaves to be more durable or flexible. This is the starting point in...
Weave a canopy or parachute shaped armature in a way that you can place the stems in two vases to keep it hydrated.
A single lily flower design dressed up with a grass veil.
A cool and minimal floral design for summer.
Snip, roll and glue a few blades of grass to create a design feature
Wrap grass around a flat wire shape to create a delicate bridal basket design
so many techniques rolled into one rather pretty tulip nest. Perfect to celebrate new beginnings: Spring and my book birthday... and my online workshop!
Wrap a fairy light grid around a fishbowl vase to interweave dried grass for an almost basket display.
Hide the prettiest of flowers in the entire bunch in plain sight by framing it with elegant grass.
Keep all the fresh flower material hydrated in water by weaving the stems from one side of the vase to the other.
An open egg shaped wreath for Easter styling
Favourite Flowers
Cymbidium, Boat Orchid
Rosary vine, Chain of Hearts, Collar of hearts and String of hearts
Related Designs
... take a moment of reflection as we celebrate 5 years! Happy 5th birthday to my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman
Here are a few more examples of woven flax. I also use Typha, palm, iris leaves, Kyogi paper, boat orchid leaves and aspidistra to weave with.
Weave a sphere from grass to catch a precious and exquisite and perfect glistening early autumn dew drop
Loop a grass veil over a lily stem to create a minimalist summer design.
Loosely weave grass to create a decorative grid keeping flowers in place over a square container.
Luxuriously filled design... filled with flowers... filled with grass. But most fun, for us as designers filled with hidden techniques
Mixing permanent and fresh design ingredients to celebrate just how clever the glow of Autumn is.
A closer look at my design at Canada Blooms and The Toronto Flower Show last week. The show was cancelled right after we staged the designs due to COVID-19 concerns.
A creative way to keep foliage hydrated for a cool, water filled summer design.
This week I am so excited to share my article and design that was published in the recent issue of the Floral Art Society of New Zealand's Academy Magazine for NZ qualified...
A bit of a wrong way round pretty Easter design. Put the basket weave inside the egg instead of putting the eggs in a basket.
My article and woven heart basket design featured in the third anniversary issue of DIY Weddings Magazine
After a long winter it is always fun to use the first spring bulb flowers!
This was the first two designs for my Floral Art and craft demonstration at The Capilano Flower Arranging club
