Designing with Silk Flowers - 2012

The First Class of the term is a good time for orientation and welcoming new students along with past students returning. This term we will be focusing on frames, structures and container designs.

Students will learn to build and construct a bamboo/reed frame and how to make coil springs using paper coated wire. These aesthetic structures will added a unique dimension to the design and help students use their imagination as they design and construct the design and frames.
 

5 main flowers blooms ie: Tulips - colour of choice

5 secondary blooms ie: Calla Lily - colour of choice

2 focal blooms ie: Green Orchids - colour of choice

5 or more large SILK green leaves – student’s choice

5 or more medium SILK green leaves – different texture and shape

1 pot or bowl - round or square - student choice1 block dry oasis

5 stems of either bamboo or swamp reeds, bull rushes etc.

This week the students have the choice of 2 designs - one with the design mostly outside the container and using the frame - the second design is created totally inclosed by the vase with the design and frame inside.
 

Students doing the Outside Arrangement will build and construct a frame using heavier bamboo or dowel to hang either candles or floral arrangements from and build over and around the glass container or vase.

1 large container or vase

5 larger and thicker bamboo or dowel used for length - random lengths - students choice

5 larger and thicker bamboo or dowel used for width - random lengths - students choice

6 hanging candles

2 large oasis balls covered in moss, sphagnum or lichen

3 smaller oasis balls covered with moss, sphagnum or lichen

several branch stems

handful loose moss, sphagnum, lichen

2 meters paper coated wire - colour students choice

several meters fine wire to hang candles from
 

Inside Arrangement

Students doing the Inside Arrangement will build a miniature design inside the container or vase using a combination of floral and ornamental items - students choice.
 

Students will need to bring:

Students will build and construct on last weeks experience with the frame and create a new design on both sides of the frame using either reeds or in this case long skewers bound together using orange coloured paper coated wire.

This semi vertical design displays all the characteristics of 2 front facing designs placed back to back to each other creating a flow thru feel complimenting the view from all sides.

With this design using only 5 focal flowers on either side this will create a great challenging task for the students - lets hope they can handle the challenge.

5 main flowers blooms ie: Tulips - colour of choice

5 secondary blooms ie: Calla Lily - colour of choice

30 thick skewers, dowel, bamboo or reeds for making screen

5 or more large SILK green leaves – student’s choice

5 or more medium SILK green leaves – different texture and shape

1 pot or bowl - round or square - student choice1 block dry oasis

1-2 metres coloured paper covered wire - colour of choice

assorted foliage and or fill - vine, twigs, berries, moss
 

Horizontal Design

Students will learn to build and construct this design on a frame in a horizontal position. Either elevated or at table level - students choice.

Using the same method to create your frame from week 3 but instead of it being use vertically place it in a horizontal position and then build your arrangement using greenery, twigs, vines, foliage, berries, grapes, succulents and mosses.

The structure for this design is a crystal candle stick with the oasis placed around the candle holder.
 

Students need to bring:

1 candle stick

1 block dry oasis

assorted foliage

2 bunches orchid leaves with roots (see larger leaves in picture)

2 succulents

5 green pitcher plant blooms

2 bunches of grapes or berries – student’s choice

20 thick skewers, dowel, bamboo or reeds for making frame

Students will learn to build and construct a different structure using chicken wire and aluminium decorative piping.

A simple design using only 5 flowers - Gerberas, a mixed selection of foliage and succulents create this 3 dimensional arrangement.

This design gives the student the opportunity to work with many different textures and materials plus using many materials that are not usually connected to the floral industry like chicken wire and aluminium wire yet it works well with this design.

1 container - students choice

5 Gerberas - colour student choice

3 succulents - or similar

approx 2-3 metres coloured aluminium decorative piping - colour student choice

assorted foliage

1 metre green plastic coated chicken wire

1 block dry oasis

bag of loose sisal or coco fibre - colour students choice

Students will learn to make a subterranean design that can be viewed from all sides plus shows the plants roots hanging from a land shelf. This design is made in several stages - bottom, middle and top. First you create your pond floor then attach your roots and other items that will hang from the bottom of your oasis. Then you cover with moss and add the remaining items into the arrangement and when you are happy with the design then install it in your vase. There are a few tricks and you will learn them in class. See you there.
 

1 glass container - students choice - round or square but needs to be tall

3 stems of bamboo - or similar

1 stem of bull rushes - or similar

1 succulent - or similar

2 lotus pods - or similar

1 stem small flowers - students choice of variety and colour

1 stem small leaf foliage - students choice of variety and colour

material to create aerial roots hanging from bottom of design - either organic or artificial - students choice of colour and variety

approx 10 flattish stones of different sizes

quantity of either moss, sphagnum, coco fibre or sisal to cover oasis

1 block of dry oasis (grey coloured oasis)

This is an opportunity for the student to bring and design a SILK Flower arrangement of their own choice. This is challenging the student to reflect over the past 6 weeks and interpret what they have seen and learnt.

It can be as small as a Men’s buttonhole to the Large Urn Arrangements for Home, Wedding, Church or Corporate Functions as long as it is thought out and put together by the student.

Technique, design and construction will be evaluated with a one to one consultation with each student. This will give the Tutor time to watch and interact with every student individually in a work situation offering direct hands on advice and helpful hints.
 

all products
all accessories they feel they will need to create the vision of their arrangement.

Important Notice – Limited product and items will be on sale that day...

1 frame - students choice

3 silk butterflies - or similar

3 tea light candles - battery operated or real candles is students choice

2 large magnolia blooms or 1 stem of 1 full bloom, 1 semi open and 1 bud flower of students choice

1 stem of trailing white wisteria

1 stem of frosted glass grapes

1 metre green sisal wrap - or similar - students choice of colour

approx 10 assorted green silk leaves in size and colour - students choice

1 block dry oasis (grey colour oasis)