Using a fork in a twig to “peg” a stem in place

Hana-Kubari is an Ikebana flower mechanic. Only natural materials such as pebbles, sticks and branches can be seen to support the flowers. Traditionally no twine or wire, nails,...

Cut a few willow twigs to split to create legs for the armature

Split a twig to create a t connection to hover a twig over the design

Slip a twig over the side of a container to keep an elegant flower stem upright

Splitting the chopsticks or a wooden branch, such as a willow twig creates a natural (and glue-less!) clamp.

The trick to any freestanding design is to get your first three stems standing stable and secure in the water. Once you have that you can build the design around it.

Glue a fragile sheltering net to soften the look of a summer design

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

Latch a few bamboo pieces together to create a scaffold for the flowers to hang from

Create a panel for the flowers to hang on

Create a minimal design by placing a single flower on a platform

Drill holes in a piece of lumber and insert dowel sticks to create an armature

Some designs really do just make themselves. I received this tiny vase for Christmas from Marius (thank you, Marius!) and while cleaning out my design room I found this little...

Create a minimal design with a few leaves to keep is all upright.

Simplicity to showcase the perfection of the Lisianthus buds

Wire a sparkling tinsel garland to dress up a single, elegant Arum lily.

Keeping this tulip upright requires less magic and more hot glue skills... but it looks magical never the less.

A tranquil design that just takes a moment to do... when you need to take a moment to... breathe.

Adding a few fluttering petals to a design.

Traditional Hana-Kubari flower mechanic

Split a few bamboo sections to create a happy water source for miniature orchids

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

Freestanding willow twig armature design

Tie twigs to shape a hanging armature

Hana-Kubari twig armature

Leaning floral stems to stand on their own in a shallow container

Glue a bit of grass snippets to suspend over the design

Cut lengths of bamboo to place in a shallow container as a flower frog

Floral Sushi Dinner, for two

Place a water tube at an angle in lumber so that the Zantedeschia float just above the base to show off the delicate grass snippets scattered up the stem

Create twig steps to display the orchids

A demonstration presented at Canada Blooms, Toronto, Canada I was invited to share the stage with designers from Bermuda, United Kingdom, France, South Africa, Barbados, United...

My contemporary floral art design demonstrated at the Canada Blooms flower show in Toronto.