Free Standing Design 27/03/2014

FdA Floristry Design
Level 4
Contemporary Design skills
27th March 2014

Free Standing Arrangement

Physical Balance is crucial for this design, and support is crucial. Using the correct materials and weights is most important for this design to work. 

Fig 1(Akker, P,V) Floral composition 27/03/2014

Fig2(Akker,P,V) Floral Composition 27/03/2014

Inspiration and Ideas
 Pim Vander Akker - Fig 1 Technically successful. All flowers and materials are evenly spaced. Material used collects and creates a rustic raw approach to modern design.
Fig 2 Reminds me of Noah's ark, the construction of this design is very complex, the overall finish is strong and unusual.  The shape is purposefully slanted but i think a more exaggerated lean is wanted.
http://www.pimdesigned.com/floral.php

Home Edition Fleur Creatif 27/03/2014

Fleur Creatif - home edition 
The design shows shows that this type of design can be used at any scale, the workmanship within this arrangement is simplistic but very effective.

Blooms World 27/03/2014

Blooms World Magazine
This designs is much more appropriate for household, commercial subjects. Within this research i will reconstruct this design



http://fleurcreatif.co.uk/
http://blooms-world.com/about.htm









Development

Simple Sketch 27/03/2014

start of construction 27/03/2014

Free Standing Structure 27/03/2014

 Development
Within my sketch that i drew first i have decided to place my orchids to the top of the desgn surrounded by the craspedia. I am hoping for the design to alter as i construct.

To begin development you must construct a snake grass base. To create this base attach snake grass together with cocktail sticks. Other sticks could be used like porcupine needles.
To make the sticks more attractive tidy up by spinning wool around each stick.
Ensure the base is upright and supported.
All stick must interlink for the design to work. Using more than one foliage can add great texture, i have also used twigs. 

For the next and final step you need floral adhesive glue/ tie wrap or wire of your desired choice. 




Overall Design

Orchid arrangement 27/03/2014

close up 1 27/03/2014

lower close up 27/03/2014

Higher Close up 27/03/2014

Over all i am very impressed with my final design. event though it doesn't look like my sketch, i have kept a simple asymmetric line from the top to bottom. I have tried to keep the spacing even but have lost this spacing using the craspedia. I am not keen on the chins on my design, if i could re do this design i would keep minimal types of flowers as it hides the free standing base. The contrasting black medallino sticks compliment the bright flush colours. The sticks are manipulated to resemble the orchids smooth rounded shape and create a curvature overall to my design.

 Orchids, Craspedia, Snake grass, Chins, Twigs.

Funeral Work 20/03/2014

Work Experience - Grandma's Funeral

My Grandparents garden 20/03/2014

Unfortunately my Grandmother passed away, and my pathway into floristry was originally inspired by my grandparents, so I made it my duty to create floral tributes to her fantastic life.
My grandparents garden is a maze of glorious flowers and huge trees, finding suitable foliage and flowers was tricky especially when i had already bought some key pieces my designs had to surround. I bought Gerbera, Calla Lily's, tulips and bear grass originally.

Feather Hand Tie 20/03/2014

Small Hand Tie - A simple effective design made with calla Lily's, bear grass and broom found in grandmas garden. Fresh, peaceful composition with muted spring colours. The feather is a tribute to her life as she worked with birds till she retired, the colours from the macaw feather also give it more vibrancy. Was happy with my overall workmanship of this piece, i wished i had left the stems a little longer as the overall size of the hand tie was petite.
This creation was placed on the end of an aisle in the crematorium.


Gerbera Arrangement Piece - Gerberas, bear grass; broom and Palm Leaves from the garden.

Gerbera Table Arrangement 20/03/2014

This was the table centrepiece to sit in front of grandmas history of photos. The overall design works and has great movement from both the groom and leaf manipulation. The line in the Gerberas has been lost as the spacing between is too close. Colours are natural, fresh.

Arrangement 20/03/2014

 I wish i had covered my oasis more. To stop the oasis from showing (especially as the size of the oasis was too big to start) i constructed a twig basket that resembled a nest. this is perfect for grandma and her life history!!!!
Coffin Cross
This was most tricky to create. This piece has been recycled from last week. Ive changed the overall design because of the choice of flowers i had bought and what i could use at grandmas house. I was totally inspired by my grandmothers bird of Paradise plant and blue orchid plant in her conservatory so i used the lines of the Paradise flower to outline the cross shape and the orchid as a focal point. The tulips were simply manipulated thought the cross. The colours were bright and tropical the shape of the bird of Paradise flower compliments the cross's texture. If i was to do this again i would match all the designs together as they all have nothing in common and my workmanship skill need tweaking.

Cross design 20/03/2014

close up 20/03/2014

13/03/2014 Cross Design

FdA Floristry Design
Level 4
Contemporary Design skills
13th March 2014

Activity Two - (Funeral Design) Loose Cross 
 

Victorian CrossThe History of sympathy (Benjamin,P) 11/03/2014

The Cross is the strongest symbol of Christian belief. A design to be placed on a coffin or can be used as a tribute. Particularly in the Victorian times the cross shape was used for royal funerals. The cross is a symbol of suffering and of the final victory of faith. Techniques being used were wiring, binding and arranging. But as time went on the biggest change in techniques would come with the launch of the first floral foam: Oasis. Initially this change wasnt recognised and stayed technical , because it was invented to replace the packed moss shapes. It was not until the late sixties and seventies that we saw a complete change in design.


Inspiration 
 

Cross 1 Vanden Berghe,M Flowers in Tears 11/03/2014

Cross 2 Vanden Berghe,M Flowers in Tears 11/03/2014

Cross 1: Straight, hard lines and angles is reflected by the material to create the shape. This works because its contrasted by the delicate sweet carnations. Colours are muted perhaps another colour would of created a more exciting tone.
Cross 2: This cross is very contemporary and has loose qualities. the base of the design is linear and clean, white representing purity.  The shape is lost to the top and texture could of been emphasised by using different heights.

Cross Sketch 13/03/2014

  
Developing Process

I did a quick sketch, drawing the main points of my design, i have decided to place all the Calla Lily's vertical and horizontal on the cross to keep the rhythm and overall shape. I have shown the foliage and twigs are to be textured with open space. The colours used are natural apart from the contrasting feathers that will create a unique design.

A variety of Twigs selected

Practical 
For the cross design foraging is a must to develop a unique bespoke piece. I have selected different sorts of twigs that all have different shape, colour and lengths.
To plan the cross, create a simple shape and bind together with wire. This is the same with any shape your trying to create.

Simple base

Try to use the branches to naturally slot into the base. keep the mechanics such as wire, hidden or decorate keeping with the theme. I added colour by spraying pink on one branch, i wish i had used more of this spray to balance out the natural yellows from the dogwood. The pink also brings out the feathers I've used and creates an eye catching colour harmony.
An important point to think about is the size of the design. This design is suited to fit on top of a coffin.

Close up of cross without flowers

Wiring of the Calla Lily

Wiring of the calla lily stem

Once you know how long you want the stems to be, you must wire the bottoms to help prevent the callas from splitting and becoming untidy. To do this: wrap binding wire just above the bottom of the stem and twist the ends together. Simply snip the stem so the wire is now at the bottom. I personally need to improve on this wiring to try and keep it tight and secure.
This image shows my workmanship is untidy and does not looks professional.



 Design Overall

Design on coffin

Overall Finish

Overall i am happy with this funeral design. even though its different from my original plan. I have kept the open shape but both the colour and rythem have altered. The colours are more diverse and create a rainbow of fun. Whether this is appropriate for a funeral piece or not its unique in its design. If i could change this design i would of added more pink spray to balance out the top. The pink is complimented by the natural purple tone from the calla and creates a monotone harmony
The rhythm and shape created by the stems elongates the length on the design. i would of added another calla nearer the top to pull in the top and base.

Inspiration: http://www.cleome.be/

06/03/2014 Loose open wreath

FdA Floristry Design

Level 4 

Contemporary Design Skills 

Hello! 

Welcome to my blog, as part of my assessment i will develop a digital portfolio to record this module. Within this module there will be funeral designs and modern arrangement. This blog will display experimentation and development on my practical work as well as reflective thoughts and and peer reviews. 

Activity One: (Funeral Design) loose Open Wreath

Inspiration 

Fig.1 Bruyne De, T Creativity with Flowers Sympathy 06/03/2014

Fig.1

A loose open wreath is a contemporary style that has no structure or focal point. This is different to a more classic traditional mass based wreath. 

The distribution of the foliage and materials is well balanced. I think the shape is a little more controlled than it should be. The spiky texture from the Passiflora Incarnata complements the smooth lines of the shells 

Fig.2 Bruyne De, T Creativity with Flowers Sympathy 06/03/2014

Fig.2

This wreath was my favourite during my time researching, i love the impact of the roses and the curve produced by the positive space. I think the composition of the deign has a surprising upside down effect with the flowers going from the inside to the outside. 

For a funeral it would represent love - the love of our beloved ones and warmth 

History of the Wreath - Egyptians 

Flowers were to prepare the dead for the journey into the next life 

The Wreath of righteousness that would protect you and see to it that you were accepted as one of the disciples of Osiris, King of the Dead Wreaths were made of connected overlapping garlands. The Circle shape was a symbol of the sun, eternity, eternal life and the God Rita. Shape was thin and detailed because of the design and also because the needed to fit between the mummy and the coffin.

Practical and Development Process 

Step One - Preparing your Oasis

Step One 06/03/2014 

Firstly Choose the size of your wreath depending on its suitability and cost. I picked a large 14" ring this means i will have to consider using a larger quantity of foliage material. 

To prepare the Oasis you must wet under a tap and carve into a more rounded shape this is done to make it easier to place the  foliage 

Step Two - Border

Traditionally ribbon is used in a mass design. To display innovation and a unique design i will experiment with a mesh fabric. This fabric is easy to twist, ruch and manipulate into unusual shapes and gives the wreath a more dynamic finish. To pin the fabric i used german pins. It was difficult to disguise these pins without making the ruched twisted effected too big. The border should balance with the foliage and not to distract. Covered outer and inner rings. 

Oasis Preperation 06/03/2014

Overall Border 06/03/2014

Mesh Technique 06/03/2014

Step Three - Foliage

Foliage Added 06/03/2014

I used Leather Leaf and Pitto for my foliage. The two varieties add different texture, shape and colour. Choosing where to place the flowers and added materials was difficult as i was trying not to create a focal point or shape.

Final Wreath Design 06/03/2014

Close up 06/03/2014

Overall I enjoyed Designing this wreath! The composition works as it has loose open qualities; such as no focal point, and all flowers are well distributed. The harmony from the colours is unusual. I think the green picked out in the border stages the kermits well. I think the green over powers the purple and blue tones and seem to be fighting rather than balancing. The gypsophila was not needed to complete the design and creates a more softer finish than hoping. 

Flowers used: Eryngium, Leather Leaf, Pitto, Kermit, Gypsophila, Eustoma, Diathus, Astrantia, Silver Birch 

Materials used: Oasis 14" Ring, German Pins, Mesh material 

Links for Inspiration

http://souk.oasisfloral.com/designs/designs/sympathy

http://www.tomasdebruyne.com/