Astar's Craft: Fashion Week Special
With Astar
Fashion Week Special - Fresh Flowers for Weddings
Button holes, corsages and bouquets
Quick and easy ways to make your own wedding flowers
How to make a Buttonhole and Corsage using Fresh Orchids
I'm using orchids because they are in season, but the basic concept works with all flowers and foliage.
Things to gather
22 and 24 gauge floral wire
Green floral tape
Floral snips
Pearl-headed pin for fixing
Orchid bloom
Ivy leaves
Asp fern or similar
Optional - fine ribbon
Method
Cut and remove an orchid bloom allowing for a 2cm stem
length.
Take the 22 gauge wire and insert into stem as close to flower as
possible. Fold wire back on itself then use the floral tape
to cover. Wire and stem.
The floral tape is stretchy and needs to be pulled then twisted
around wire and stem. The tape not only protects but also
helps to seal in moisture and ensure that any rust from the wire
doesn't get onto your fabric.
Take several small pieces of fern, and place behind wired
orchid. It should protrude beyond orchid several
centimeters
Wire fern using the 24 gauge wire. Bind with tape as per
orchid.
Take several ivy leaves and wire and bind as above.
Lay orchid on top of fern.
Place leaves behind fern.
Now use the tape to bind and hold all together.
Years ago the trend was to fix at the base of the flowers, a small
ribbon. This can be placed now
The stem length of finished button hole or corsage should be about
5cm.
When it comes to fixing to the garment, pin the stem at the top of
the shoulder with the fern pointing down the body.
Quick and Easy Bouquet using an "Oasis" Posy Holder
These posy holders are fantastic. Simply soak in water until bubbles stop. Drain and dry on a paper towel&
Things to gather
Asp fern
Ivy trails + larger leaves
Orchids or flowers of your choice
Florist wire - as a rule 22 is usually enough, but this will depend
on the weight of flowers and foliage being used.
Accessories to match with detailing on your frock - e.g. pearl,
rhinestones, ribbon, tulle, feathers etc.
Method
Working from the base up, insert a ring of ivy leaves,
which forms your support or base structure.
Place on top of the leaves, trails or sprigs of ivy and fern.
Cut sufficient orchids to wire then insert down into foam
ball.
Generally, I wire all flowers with wired prongs a couple of
centimeters longer than the orchid stem length.
Ribbons and other accessories can now be placed in and amongst
flowers.
Should there be any foam showing, fill with another foliage or tiny
flower like gypsophila.
(Broadcast 4 September 2012)
