Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Use Firethorn spears for a Vine and Orchid twist support
- 17 July 2024
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Measure a firethorn twig so that it will fit snugly in a bud vase.
Cut away any thorns or foliage that might get in the way but make sure to leave at least one prominent thorn on the twig to support your floral details.
Slip the twig into the vase with the thorn pointing up.
Angle and fit a Phalaenopsis orchid stem to fit into the container and gently press down to spear the stem into the thorn.
Push the stem down just to where you feel it offers resistance so that it is firmly in place.
Spear another firethorn twig into the orchid stem to keep it from flopping over.
Book readers turn to page 140 to see an example of a similar technique used to create a submerged design. For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman
Push the twig down so that it kicks against the sides of the bud vase.
This week in our newsletter I tell you a bit about cutting stems to push against the sides of a container or vase. I send out an email every Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) to let subscribers know that the design is ready for them to view. I also add a bit of "insider" information to turn the email into a flower lesson. If you are not yet receiving the email the sign up is below this post.
Add in a third firethorn twig... this one is more decorative so that it the thorn twigs become part of the design. I place this one at a jaunty angle.
Slip a clematis vine into the water so that it is held in place by the stack of firethorn twigs. Drape the clematis around the vase.
Slip in another vine to drape over the vase.
Use the curls in the clematis to keep the vines in place and prevent the cut stem ends to drop into the container so that the bottom part of the bud vase is clear and uncluttered.
And to finish my design off I add a few dew drop crystals.
See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how and why I add the crystals into my design with a pin.
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