Do you trim the emerald/jade that is used in funeral work? Why or why not? This seems a petty thing to post but I have always wondered...
trimming emerald/jade - do you?
- Thread starter hangglidegirl
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Most designers do not trim the jade or emerald. But, I always do some kind of treatment to it. I learned several tricks from Phil Rulloda and it is just hard to put it in a design without that structured look.
I am a certified judge and the people that do a treatment to their funeral work in design contests always get an extra credit from me. I think it cleans up the piece so the flowers become a better focal.
Another reason to do it is because the tips start turning wilted or brown before the rest of the piece if you do not do it. I am a very fast designer, so it takes no extra time for me to give it that extra pizazz.
I know a lot of owners tell their designers not to do this because they think it takes too much time....but, it sure doesn't take me any more time to add a professional touch. . Opinions vary.
Carol Bice
Tracy D'Amico
Well-Known Member
I do and don't, depending on the style of the design. I like the wispy look of untrimmed, but also like the tidy haircut that trimming provides.
tantalizingblooms2005
New Member
Rhonda
Well-Known Member
In order to bring emphasis to the floral design, we trim
especially a stylized design such as abstract or high angle designs.
If it is just to "back" the arrangement, we don't trim usually unless it comes in with dried tips (which happens more often lately)
especially a stylized design such as abstract or high angle designs.
If it is just to "back" the arrangement, we don't trim usually unless it comes in with dried tips (which happens more often lately)
When I was designing, I like trimmed sometimes and sometimes not. I think it used to be a more common practice from an earlier time out of necessity when it took longer to ship and shops stocked more of their own inventory and had to hold it longer and the tips started turning brown.
When I first started in wholesale I remember how shocked I was that you could actually buy less than a box of anything, selling and buying by the bunch was so strange to me. I wondered how anyone that was buying less than a box was doing enough business to make any money.
In Phil & Silveri's book, "Tropical & Contemporary Floral Design" 1990 there is a couple of chapters on weaving and plaiting with different types of greens. Something fun to play with when time is not as important as is the end results.
When I first started in wholesale I remember how shocked I was that you could actually buy less than a box of anything, selling and buying by the bunch was so strange to me. I wondered how anyone that was buying less than a box was doing enough business to make any money.
In Phil & Silveri's book, "Tropical & Contemporary Floral Design" 1990 there is a couple of chapters on weaving and plaiting with different types of greens. Something fun to play with when time is not as important as is the end results.
In very contemporary designs and funeral work I like to trim and do different things with it. If I'm doing a large and very lush look as with tropicals, I prefer untrimmed, it gives it that really lush, tropical forest look that I love, add lots of ti leaves too.
cherrie
New Member
I usually trim emerald and jade leaves.
Just think it makes the flowers look better.
I also leaf shine them.
I had a designer who worked with me from Holland, then moved to South Africa. She applied leaf shine to all greens. Said that's how everyone did from her country.
I'm curious if our European friends make a practice of leaf shining all greens?
Just think it makes the flowers look better.
I also leaf shine them.
I had a designer who worked with me from Holland, then moved to South Africa. She applied leaf shine to all greens. Said that's how everyone did from her country.
I'm curious if our European friends make a practice of leaf shining all greens?
To trim or not to trim, depends on the style of design. I like the trimmed look in certain modern, hi-style type designs but have grown out of that style at the minute. I prefer to use it untrimmed in hand-tied bouquets which generally all we do bouquet wise. I love leaf-shine and use it on all sorts foliages, gives your work a nice clean finish. Any foliage that may look a bit dull, waterspots, grower residue etc. gets a wash or a spray. I love Aralia for finishing hand-ties and always leafshine them. I find when you leafshine things like Aralia, Anthurium leaves, Philodendron and use them in a minimal design, they stand out better and personally I see more value$ in them like you would a flower otherwise they just looked like a bit of greenery.
If I ( HAVE) to use it I will trim it. However, I try to avoid it when at all possible. Emerald, Jade, or Kommodor is sooooooooo over used in this part of the country (to hide a multitude of sins) , that I like to set myself apart and NOT use it.
Tammy
Active Member
Have you tried any of the techniques that Phil Rulloda teaches on ways to use these greens? I t has become one of my favorite tools in design. And the way I use it does set my work apart from all others in the area. In fact, most people would not have a clue as to what the product is by the time I do the magic with it. You are missing a a wonderful opportunity if you don't explore these.
Carol Bice
Rhonda
Well-Known Member
I think that wayyyyyyyyy back a few years ago it was Phil R. who did the "airbrush" technique on some aspidistra in a Portland, ME show. I have used that on occasion, especially special events, due to time constraints on most funeral work.....can't make it work.
I have braided the emerald when it is nice and long but most of the time trim it, spray gloss, and go.. again, being in the "woods" does have some disadvantages.
I have braided the emerald when it is nice and long but most of the time trim it, spray gloss, and go.. again, being in the "woods" does have some disadvantages.
No I haven't and indeed this is something I need to explore! Thank you very much for the wake up.
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