Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Wreath-Rim a Vase with sparkling foxtail and twigs
- 17 November 2021
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Measure out a foxtail fern so that it can wrap all the way around the opening of a small vase.
Strip the fern so that you can place the stem in water. Place the stem at an angle and secure with a drop of hot glue to the vase.
Design note: I always use hot glue when I secure things to vases because it is so easy to remove. Simply soak the container and the glue will pop off. But this also means you have to be sure the container is completely dry where you want to use the glue to secure something. So make sure it is above the waterline.
Gently curve the stem to wrap around the opening of the vase. And secure it with the smallest drop of hot glue.
Be careful not to snap the fern. You want a pretty curve. Book readers turn to page 284 where we discuss manipulating plant material.
I have also included a Tutorial below this post to get you started.
For more information about my book:
The Effortless Floral Craftsman
Start adding a few dew drop crystals to the foxtail fern to make it look like a sparkling Christmas wreath. I explain how I position these crystals in more detail in our email this week. Make sure you are signed up to receive your tip each Wednesday, the moment the design is ready for you. The sign up is below this post.
Nestle a pretty twig over the opening of the vase so that it is kept in place by the foxtail fern.
Place the orchid so that it is kept in place by the horizontal twig.
Tie a ribbon to the bell to add to the design.
Design note: This bell is from Swarovski. And is very special to me... so I wanted to make extra sure it is secure.
Glue a twig to the outside of the vase to peek out from the fern wreath...
Glue in a second twig to the outside of the vase
So that the bell hangs from the sturdy twig but is also slightly propped up by the first twig taking some of the weight so that there is not so much strain on the twigs.
Design note: The foxtail fern lasts for weeks. This way you can place your design somewhere to enjoy and replace the flower as needed. The dried twigs will not rot standing in the water because it is secured on the outside of the vase and the design will also not have to be redone if you want to replace the water.
Pick up the colour from the orchid with a few autumn leaves to finish the design.
I wanted my design to say: late autumn... early Christmas. So I added the autumn leaves and left out the dusting of snow that I usually add to bare twigs when Christmas designing.
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Tutorials
It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
Most stems, twigs and even sturdier branches can be bend into shapes. It takes practice and more than a bit of patience. The main idea is to slowly manipulate the branch without...
Create a sturdy platform from bark to design an entire forest floor on a single foxtail fern frond
… ideal for fresh floral displays because it has a hidden water source that can be refilled and the candle can be switched on and off without disturbing the design.
Use delicate sprigs of cypress or juniper, fir, pine, eucalyptus, ivy or a combination of them all to create a winter themed kissing bough
Connect twigs with puddles of artificial snow to craft a winter armature for your flowers.
Artificial snow covered cardboard mittens to add to a winter themed design.
Cut a small wedge out of a stack of waxy leaves to keep the flower and twig in place.
It all started with my twig being just too small to wedge into the glass vase tight enough to keep my orchid stem in place...
Cut the Phalaenopsis orchid with a bit of green stem attached. This will make them last longer.
Suspend a flower for an unusual but minimalist design over a leaning container lid.
Create a minimal design by placing a single flower on a platform
Favourite Flowers
Cymbidium, Boat Orchid
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