I love these suggestions-- also wanted to add that sometimes a thin layer of river rocks on the bottom of a cube vase will help hold the stems in place. If needed, you can wedge the first few stems into the rocks, then add rocks on top of them and this creates a good grid for adding the rest of the blooms.
tips on cutting down the amount of greens in an arrangement
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marigold
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I used to tape, but I have grown away from it. I tell my designers it is like
"training wheels". Tape is a good way to start designing without so many
greens. We use greens as an accent, not as a start, and love the very many different kinds of foliages available and even use stems and branches from our outdoors. I use
willow, angel vine, armatures, handties and criss crossing my flowers.
Recently, a bride who is having her 2nd reception in this state, but got married
in Texas first. She is an older bride. She asked if she could upgrade her centerpieces to look like the ones done in Texas, and could she bring one in
as a sample. She came in with a 1980's white round oasis plastic (with green
tape showing all over the white plastic) and it had at least 1/2 bunch of leather
leaf and mini carnations and daisy poms. So old school! I was a bit speechless!
I didn't want to offend, but, I think I actually started to shake, this thing was
so , well, lets just say, not anything I would want to duplicate and deliver
with my name on it. I choose my words carefully and showed them some lovely
cubes filled with a low and lush assortment of flowers. And, they went with
my suggestions. thank you!!
"training wheels". Tape is a good way to start designing without so many
greens. We use greens as an accent, not as a start, and love the very many different kinds of foliages available and even use stems and branches from our outdoors. I use
willow, angel vine, armatures, handties and criss crossing my flowers.
Recently, a bride who is having her 2nd reception in this state, but got married
in Texas first. She is an older bride. She asked if she could upgrade her centerpieces to look like the ones done in Texas, and could she bring one in
as a sample. She came in with a 1980's white round oasis plastic (with green
tape showing all over the white plastic) and it had at least 1/2 bunch of leather
leaf and mini carnations and daisy poms. So old school! I was a bit speechless!
I didn't want to offend, but, I think I actually started to shake, this thing was
so , well, lets just say, not anything I would want to duplicate and deliver
with my name on it. I choose my words carefully and showed them some lovely
cubes filled with a low and lush assortment of flowers. And, they went with
my suggestions. thank you!!
felicityflowers
New Member
I've boycotted leather leaf since about the third month in my shop. It's not that I have anything against it, really but, there are so many other viable options available. In the spring and summer I use everything from peony foliage, hosta, lady fern, mimosa (especially when it's blooming!), weeping cherry, purple fountain grass....like Inka, if I can cut it, I use it!!
I ordered two bunches of hybrid leather leaf for today it's almost a suede looking foliage...absolutley amazing! Instead they sent me plain old leather leaf....I broke out in hives just looking at it
Leather leaf looks okay if you use it sparingly but, around here it's...uhm...used as more of a focal than it is a green and that's not attractive or valuable to the customer.
I ordered two bunches of hybrid leather leaf for today it's almost a suede looking foliage...absolutley amazing! Instead they sent me plain old leather leaf....I broke out in hives just looking at it
Leather leaf looks okay if you use it sparingly but, around here it's...uhm...used as more of a focal than it is a green and that's not attractive or valuable to the customer.
I use very little greens. When I do I stay away from leatherleaf as much as possible. I like salal, seeded euc, honey bracelet, love myrtle, flat fern for larger pieces. I've even used sheet moss to cover oasis thus reducing the needed greens to cover the oasis.
As for taping the only vases I will tape are cubes and larger bubble bowls (prefer armatures on top of bubble bowls) The tape is a must for transporting keeps those little stems in place!
As for taping the only vases I will tape are cubes and larger bubble bowls (prefer armatures on top of bubble bowls) The tape is a must for transporting keeps those little stems in place!
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To cut down on greenery and add stability in bowls and cubes - I use lemon leaf branches (no leaves on them), or any flexible, clean branch (c. willow, etc.)
But instead of creating an armature that sets on top of the vase, or a gridwork under water, I do the following -
Make a "kubari" or "hana-kubari" - a support of straight, bent, or forked twigs which section or divide the opening of the container. Cut the twigs or branches a little longer than the opening of the cube or bowl. Insert both ends into the container, and repeat with a few cris-crossing pieces.
(check out your AIFD Terminology book for the difference between a hana-kubari and a kubari!)
Hope the pics help explain...
.
To cut down on greenery and add stability in bowls and cubes - I use lemon leaf branches (no leaves on them), or any flexible, clean branch (c. willow, etc.)
But instead of creating an armature that sets on top of the vase, or a gridwork under water, I do the following -
Make a "kubari" or "hana-kubari" - a support of straight, bent, or forked twigs which section or divide the opening of the container. Cut the twigs or branches a little longer than the opening of the cube or bowl. Insert both ends into the container, and repeat with a few cris-crossing pieces.
(check out your AIFD Terminology book for the difference between a hana-kubari and a kubari!)
Hope the pics help explain...
.
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Lizi
Well-Known Member
Great idea, I love it. I use a lot of pitt, euc, lily and bear grass.
Another question. Greening standing sprays. Most shops in this area use bundle of jade and bundle or more of bakers. I unusally dont use that much, more decorative greens. I let my flowers stand out and above the greens and they have the greens stand out larger than the flowers. Some people percieve the other shops flowers as being larger but they use less costly flowers and mostly filler. Where as I use more focals and less filler.
How do you green standing sprays and what do you use?
I do the same as you Lizi I want my flowers to stand out NOT the greens. This is a problem I've encountered over the years. I think it's a matter of educating the customer and trying to get a feel of what the customer wants. BIG and traditional or a sleeker, upscale look.
- May 3, 2006
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My sprays are like huge cascade bouquets.....when someone doesn't want traditional lam packed pom and carn crap spray....
I am in a very traditional bigger is better kind of world...but I try to get people to go with the nicer flowers look....I have captured a younger clientele with this kind of arranging as opposed to the 70-80 year old average of the customers that I acquired with the sale....i love those sweet old ladies but they like crap and they want big ass showy jam packed full of worthless crap flowers srays and baskets and I had to learn this one the hard way.....
To a flower lover my pieces stand out in a funeral home because they are different. To a it better show up because I'm spending 75.00 flower buyer my pieces look empty, sparse and weird....These are direct quotes from some of my early complaints...Now I know that I need to really listen to these customers and ask a lot of questions when I don't recognize the name or they are not a regular...
I am in a very traditional bigger is better kind of world...but I try to get people to go with the nicer flowers look....I have captured a younger clientele with this kind of arranging as opposed to the 70-80 year old average of the customers that I acquired with the sale....i love those sweet old ladies but they like crap and they want big ass showy jam packed full of worthless crap flowers srays and baskets and I had to learn this one the hard way.....
To a flower lover my pieces stand out in a funeral home because they are different. To a it better show up because I'm spending 75.00 flower buyer my pieces look empty, sparse and weird....These are direct quotes from some of my early complaints...Now I know that I need to really listen to these customers and ask a lot of questions when I don't recognize the name or they are not a regular...
Lizi
Well-Known Member
OMG, this sound just like something I have heard from my customers. I hate to do all carns and crappy filler just because it is showy. My sister told me once, she could walk into a funeral home and pick out my work without even looking at the card to see where it was from. She said the other pieces were huge, but had now design or form. All cheap a## flowers.
I guess I am going to have to start asking more questions when I get calls over the phone. Find out a little more what style they like. Huge and yuck or a style statement.
Have you ever tried the Fern Trust pre-made foliages?? They are cost effective, give you a variety of greens and give you a more stylized look than all one variety of foliage. I get one with variegated pitts, aspidistra leaves, 2 stems leather, a couple of lily grass, 2 fern leaves and stem of ruscus...I loop the aspidistra leaf at the base or roll inside of the vase for mechanics and allows for lacing the flowers without taping the container...Lynne Moss AIFD
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Thanks for your tips...I will start practicing using some of the tips spoken about until I find my favorite way...
Lori And Liz Hit It Right On The Head........because A Lot Of Customers Buy Only Funeral Flowers And Go To Wakes Seldom, They Are Only Familiar With 'old Fashioned' Arrangements.
I Think The Best Question To Ask Is "do You Want A Traditional Spray Or Something Modern And Upbeat ?" Suprisingly Most Will Pick Traditional...yuk! Also Ask The Age Of The Deceased And The Relationship To The Sender. That Gives You A Small Idea Of The Ideas That Might Be Prevelant.
I Can Walk Into A Chapel And Look At The Sprays And Tell The Age And Gender Of The Designer Before Looking At The Delivery Tags ! Emerald Fern Is A True Giveaway! Double Yuk !
I Think The Best Question To Ask Is "do You Want A Traditional Spray Or Something Modern And Upbeat ?" Suprisingly Most Will Pick Traditional...yuk! Also Ask The Age Of The Deceased And The Relationship To The Sender. That Gives You A Small Idea Of The Ideas That Might Be Prevelant.
I Can Walk Into A Chapel And Look At The Sprays And Tell The Age And Gender Of The Designer Before Looking At The Delivery Tags ! Emerald Fern Is A True Giveaway! Double Yuk !
When I am designing in a tall square or cylinder style vase, I am a big fan of using natural birch branches rather than taping a grid to hold flowers in place. I cut the branches so that some of the "twiginess" (is that a word?) goes down in the mouth of the vase as an armiture, than I insert my other materials, usually greenery first then flowers into the branches, and they stay right where I put them, eliminating the need to tape things. When I do this, my twigs stand tall and become signifigant to the arrangement as well, not just as an armiture.
In design school, my instructor was always preaching that we use AT LEAST 3 types of foliage in all designs to add visual interest, and the only way I use leatherleaf anymore is just to cover any tiny holes that show my foam at the very end of my arrangement, never as a main greenery.
For a typical rose vase, I start with a branchy piece of something like boxwood, oregonia or bonsai eucalyptus right in the center of the vase to branch out all around. After that, I put in 2 tiki fern, to again fill the middle of the vase, and finish with a couple of salal leaves to the sides and a long pointed piece of plumosa coming out of the left front of the vase with a sweeping motion. This creates a pretty tight mesh in which to insert your flowers, and I have very little trouble getting things to stay right where I placed them.
I look at the placement of all my foliages just like I would place flowers in an arrangement. If your arrangement was a picture you were painting, each brush stroke represents an insertion, and you have to see it as a work of art, so every leaf or flower is important to the overall design.
In design school, my instructor was always preaching that we use AT LEAST 3 types of foliage in all designs to add visual interest, and the only way I use leatherleaf anymore is just to cover any tiny holes that show my foam at the very end of my arrangement, never as a main greenery.
For a typical rose vase, I start with a branchy piece of something like boxwood, oregonia or bonsai eucalyptus right in the center of the vase to branch out all around. After that, I put in 2 tiki fern, to again fill the middle of the vase, and finish with a couple of salal leaves to the sides and a long pointed piece of plumosa coming out of the left front of the vase with a sweeping motion. This creates a pretty tight mesh in which to insert your flowers, and I have very little trouble getting things to stay right where I placed them.
I look at the placement of all my foliages just like I would place flowers in an arrangement. If your arrangement was a picture you were painting, each brush stroke represents an insertion, and you have to see it as a work of art, so every leaf or flower is important to the overall design.
A's Garden
Member
Bluebellinata
New Member
Yes, different foliages are my preference...I always believe that the choice of foliages "makes" the arrangement....it gives the design such a sophisticated touch!
Especially tropical/exotic foliages are so beautiful and what a variety there is...
Here is a lovely web page from an Australian supplier....such distinguished greens - please if you feel like having a look:
http://www.afc-greens.com/
I found this page by coincidence - what beauty nature gives us in greens!
But I agree - most = 99% of our customers opt for the Hand Tie in Aqua and cello not for an arrangement with the exception of Christmas~season.
Especially tropical/exotic foliages are so beautiful and what a variety there is...
Here is a lovely web page from an Australian supplier....such distinguished greens - please if you feel like having a look:
http://www.afc-greens.com/
I found this page by coincidence - what beauty nature gives us in greens!
But I agree - most = 99% of our customers opt for the Hand Tie in Aqua and cello not for an arrangement with the exception of Christmas~season.
I have read this whole post and thought someone would suggest the method I use. I just assumed more people knew this technique.
I NEVER tape. I do use a few pieces of greens (maybe varigated pittisporum or other nice textures) and when I have enough coverage, I use a Mini Cable tie. (electrical tie) I put it together in my hands and tie it off.
This method works for all sizes of green bases from miniatures to very large designs. The flowers will always stay in place and you have created a wonderful grid. In large vase, I even include some heavier stems, like curly willow, etc to give it more body.
This is such a speedy way and I frankly like the looks of the end result much better than anything else I have tried over the years.
Carol Bice
I NEVER tape. I do use a few pieces of greens (maybe varigated pittisporum or other nice textures) and when I have enough coverage, I use a Mini Cable tie. (electrical tie) I put it together in my hands and tie it off.
This method works for all sizes of green bases from miniatures to very large designs. The flowers will always stay in place and you have created a wonderful grid. In large vase, I even include some heavier stems, like curly willow, etc to give it more body.
This is such a speedy way and I frankly like the looks of the end result much better than anything else I have tried over the years.
Carol Bice
I am blessed with a large enough backyard with pitt, myrtle, variegated pitt, dwarf myrtle, eunonymous (spelling?), ivy, springerii, etc. I only buy a little amount of leather for funeral work. A combination of any of my greens make our arrangements so much fuller especially with those variegated and yellow foliages.
Hi Carol-- this sounds like a great technique! To clarify, do you cable tie just the greens to create a grid, or the opposite... cable tie the blooms and insert into grid of greens in vase? Thanks in advance!
NavyBrat
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