Volume 1, Issue 8 January 2004
Arrangement In a Tall Glass Vase
Hello Dear Subscribers,
I would like to extend all the very best wishes for a wonderful New Year. I hope that it is a very creative year ahead for you.
Once you learn the basic principles you can go onto create all sorts of wonderful designs.
Simply by using different materials and colours a design can take on a completely different look.
For the start of the new year I have chosen, a design that has natural flowing lines and the colours used give a cool restful look.
White Liliums, purple irises, white roses, mauve freesias, green box foliage, spengeri fern, ivy, green and yellow draceana leaves and spear grass are arranged in a tall green glass container.
The materials used in this arrangement are -
2 white liliums
3 purple iris
7 white roses
3 mauve freesias
green box foliage
ivy
large green and yellow draceana leaves
spengeri fern
spear grass
tall glass container
lime green raffia (optional)
22 gauge wire
- Fill the container three quarters of the way with water. Strip the lower part of the box foliage. Foliage left under the water line will pollute the water.
- Starting from the outside, position the box foliage stems into the container so the ends extend over the edges of the container.
- Fill in the centre with box foliage to form a rounded shape to help hold all the other placements in position.
- Bend several stems of spear grass to form a loop and insert in the centre back of the arrangement.
- Cut one stem of lilium to the desired height and insert in the left side of the container.
- Cut the next stem of lilium slightly shorter and place to the left of the previous stem.
- Cut the irises to the desired length and insert along the centre of the arrangement having an even space between each flower head.
- The draceana leaves I used were a bit long so I trimmed them shorter with a pair of scissors, cutting the tips into a pointed shape, then I inserted them into the container in the back and sides of the arrangement.
- Cut the ivy into the desired length and insert it into the container to gracefully extend down and give a soft flowing look to the design.
- Insert spengeri fern to extend down on the right side of the container.
- Insert the freesias in the right side of the container. Insert four roses in the left side and three roses in the right side of the arrangement.
- Insert four stems of spear grass in the back of the arrangement. Cut each stem to the desired length as shown in the photo. Repeat this step a little bit lower down with three pieces of spear grass.
- Insert a long iris leaf half way between the two lots of the spear grass at the back of the arrangement.
- Bend two pieces of spear grass and insert in the left hand side of the arrangement.
- OPTIONAL: Lime green raffia was formed into a figure eight bow with long ends and wired across the centre by placing the centre of a long 22 gauge wire x 45cm (18") and twist the wires tightly together around each other just below the centre of the bow.
- Insert the bow into the lower right side of the arrangement and arrange the loops and the ends to sit attractively.
- Spray lightly with water
Foliage Tips
There are many different varieties of foliage. They come in wonderful shades from soft green through to dark green. There are also variegated shades of yellow and green and in Autumn shades of oranges, golds and reds.
If foliage is dusty, it can be soaked in a deep container of water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Swish the foliage around then rinse thoroughly in plain water and allow to dry. Do not soak foliage with a furry texture as it will become water logged.
Always use mature foliage. If it is picked too young, it will be very pale in colour and too soft and will not hold up well in an arrangement.
Foliage should be conditioned well before using in a floral design. Fill a container a third of the way with water and add some flower preservative or a teaspoon of household bleach to the water. This will help cut down on bacteria. Give foliage a long drink for several hours or overnight before using.
About Our School
We include instructions for different freestyle designs in our Floristry Diploma Course. For full information on our courses please click here http://www.floral-art-school.com.au
That's it for now
All the best to you, have a great 2004.
Warm Regards
Fay Chamoun,Principal
Floral Art School of Australia and
International Floral Design School
This
newsletter is written by Fay chamoun, who is the Principal of Floral Art School
of Australia and International Floral Design School.
To subscribe to our newsletter or to read past issues please click onto http://www.floral-art-school.com.au/floralnewsletter.htm
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