Large scale design challenge

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Michelle McMichael

Michelle McMichael

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Jan 4, 2007
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Ok, I tried to post this once, but I can't find it anywhere now. So if you are seeing this again I apologize!

We have been asked to create two 24" floral golf balls for the opening of a private golf course. They must be delivered at 7 am and in place for the whole day's events. They need to be on a platform that can be staked into the ground.

We have done many spheres, though none this large and they have always been very heavy. Does anyone have any suggestions on the construction of this piece so that it is stable AND deliverable?

My thought is to attach some upright rods on the platform then skewer the foam on it, using dry styrofoam in the center and wet oasis on the outside, with chicken wire wrapping the whole thing.

Any other suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks in advance!
 
This may be a bit labor intensive.....but this is a technique that I have done several times for one function or the other.....Make two half spheres of 1/2 inch mesh chicken wire.....Push the flower through the mesh and use a water tube on the stem to secure the flower and to provide a water source......when the two halves are done.....cabletie or zip tie the two halves together to make one whole sphere.

It is important that the tube you use is wider than the opening in the wire mesh.

The interior of the sphere will be hollow and that will help to reduce the weight.
 
Yes.....You use chicken wire.....The flower head is on the outside of the wire.....The tube is on the inside of the wire - The wire is sandwiched between the flower and the tube.

That is why you do this in halves.....So you can place the flower stem in the opening and hold it in place with the tube

If you are concerned about the flower falling out....You can use the Oasis adhesive tube glue to cover the underside of the flower.....this will let it adhere to the mesh.
 
Rick King AIFD said:
Yes.....You use chicken wire.....The flower head is on the outside of the wire.....The tube is on the inside of the wire - The wire is sandwiched between the flower and the tube.

That is why you do this in halves.....So you can place the flower stem in the opening and hold it in place with the tube

If you are concerned about the flower falling out....You can use the Oasis adhesive tube glue to cover the underside of the flower.....this will let it adhere to the mesh.
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Rick:

Doing it this way, how long would it take to make this golf ball.

why not just chuck up 500 carns in water pics and insert in a styro ball?

Just thinking out loud.

Joe
 
Joe Mioux said:
Rick:

Doing it this way, how long would it take to make this golf ball.

why not just chuck up 500 carns in water pics and insert in a styro ball?

Just thinking out loud.

Joe
Click to expand...

The ones at the bottom of the sphere will fare no better than ones glued or tooth picked to styro as the water will leak out of most of the water pics within an hour and even if they are 1/2 full odds are that the cut end of the flower is hanging in the air.
 
BBJ (Big Bad John) said:
The ones at the bottom of the sphere will fare no better than ones glued or tooth picked to styro as the water will leak out of most of the water pics within an hour and even if they are 1/2 full odds are that the cut end of the flower is hanging in the air.
Click to expand...

Or the ones at the bottom (turned upside down) will have their stems out of water due to gravity. Unless you barely insert the stem into the water pick.

Otherwise, I have use waterpicks upside down and the water held fine.

With that said BBJ, you raise a very good point.

Just thought of this, The event is outside, the golf ball will be outside, even if the water leaks out a bit ( which I doubt it will) who cares? As was stated in the OT the ball is going to be on a stake and stuck in the ground.

There is little concern for damage due to water.

Joe
 
Joe Mioux said:
I have use waterpicks upside down and the water held fine.

Joe
Click to expand...

Depends on the flower used as well as the quality of the rubber water pic cap........some flowers (and carnations are one of them) do not always have perfectly round stems and if they are used with the harder type of rubber caps you're asking for problems hanging them upside down.
 
I think I'd go back in time..............use a styro or other core and then cover it with 1 1/2" - 2" of spagnum moss covered with chicken wire, then steel pick or use cowee sp? picks. You can moisten the moss as much or little as you want and you can mist it when you deliver and since it's outside you could even return at noon and give it another quick misting........To me this would be the lightest weight wise and still give the flowers a moist base.

But then I've be at this since................oh never mind, it's been tooooo long!
 
one other thought on this.......Depending on the quality, and the distance that the observers/guests will be from these peices.....You could do this as a permanent design using some of the more botannically correct permanents.
 
Thanks everyone for your advice!

The weather here has been fairly hot (85-95 F) and we are known for sunny days. Still, I think the "old school" dry styrofoam with carns picked in should work -- especially when the carns are packed so close together.

It's so nice to have you all to bounce questions and ideas off of - especially on projects we haven't tackled before. Thanks again for your help!:hug:

I'll post photos when we're done. We're 10 days out, so anyone with additional advice, feel free to throw it my way!
 
principessa pololena said:
After you make it...

How are you going to transport it?
Yikes.

One of those trucks that deliver roofing supplies or something...with a crane :)

Principessa
Click to expand...

We actually recently did a piece for a memorial that was held up by a forklift behind the pipe and drape at the back of the stage. It was a 10 foot long, 3 foot wide replica of the pole signs that were outside each of his retail stores. We transported it in a trailer and it was one heavy puppy. Luckily we had a few strong men involved!
 
thebloomcloset said:
How did the golf balls turn out?
Click to expand...

Well, when I quoted them the price of $750 each, they had a change of heart... we sized it WAY down and did a tabletop one for the clubhouse. Used an oasis sphere on a piece of sculpting sheet.

We did different pieces for them throughout the buildings. One of them was the wagon wheel piece that I submitted in your funeral thread and I'll attach a few more here just because it's always fun to see what everyone does!
 

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