My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Incise waxy Gardenia foliage to decorate the edge of a container

Cut a small wedge in the waxy foliage

Cut a small wedge in the waxy foliage...

Just big enough to slip over the edge of the slanted rim of the container.

... just big enough to slip over the edge of the slanted rim of the container.

Make a stack of the foliage and cut them at the same time so that the wedge is similar in size.

Make a stack of the foliage and cut them at the same time so that the wedge is similar in size.

Add as many leaves as you require

Add as many leaves as you require. If you want to suspend many flowers it might be better to add leaves all the way around for extra support.

Place a pretty twig so that the foliage support it in an upright position.

Place a pretty twig so that the foliage support it in an upright position.

Touch your fingers to lemon before handling the gardenia

Gardenia flowers will start to get a creamy hue as they are exposed to air. Try to avoid touching it, by handling the stem not the flower. Wet your hands and touch your fingers to lemon while handling the gardenia flower because the petals react to the acids and oils on your fingers.

You can also spray the flowers with lemon water (90% water 10% lemon) to slow down the yellowing.

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

1 April 2015 Hana-kubari Bamboo

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,...

3 January 2018 Using a fork in a twig to “peg” a stem in place

A easy to use Hana Kubari technique

26 April 2017 Hana-Kubari twig

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

2 September 2015 Hana-Kubari Bamboo Stilts with a Hidden Water Source

Split bamboo stems to create a water source for dancing orchids

18 January 2017 T-connect twigs to shadow a design

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

5 July 2017 Bits of snipped grass glued to create a net

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

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

Related Designs

9 May 2018 What is the meaning of this?

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

8 January 2020 Rest a bit here

Gently curve a shallow area with a leaf to showcase a gorgeous flower with a short stem in a water filled vase

12 August 2020 A lesson in letting be

Deceptively simple. A design that relies on you working with not against what is already there.

21 April 2021 All A-flutter

Adding a few fluttering petals to a design.

17 November 2021 Ringing in A Very Merry Traditional Christmas… Tradition

A more than just a hint of Christmas tradition design... in a pre-Christmas design.

1 April 2015 The Space Between

Traditional Hana-Kubari flower mechanic

3 January 2018 Happy Coincidence!

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...

26 April 2017 In no time at all

Hana-Kubari twig armature

2 September 2015 Happy Dance

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

5 July 2017 Just A Bit

Glue a bit of grass snippets to suspend over the design

10 August 2016 Saved up

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

27 January 2016 Well, I'll be

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