BY HAND, A HOW-TO GUIDE ON CREATING A FLORAL ARRANGEMENT WITH FLORAL STYLIST, FIFLAR

A table with loved ones gathered, sharing a meal and celebrating togetherness means more than ever before. Whether your table is full of family, friends, or food, florist Fiflar, shows us how to adorn our tables this festive season to bring the beauty of nature into our homes.

Vessel of choice or floral oasis, scissors/secateurs, water, chicken wire (if using a vase), towel, foliage strippers, lazy Susan. 

 

You can purchase each of these items from Bunnings or your local florist, and you can find a lazy Susan at Kmart.

 

Prepare

Lay your sundries out in front of you, ready to use.

 

Each arrangement you create will either have a floral oasis as a base or a vessel. Before beginning, choose your base. If you are working with a vessel fill it with chicken wire and top with water.

 

Here we used floral oasis which we soaked in water first. The oasis will turn a dark green once thoroughly soaked. While foam is hydrating, prep the flowers by removing any thorns or excess leaves on the stems with your foliage strippers. Place your floral oasis in a shallow dish and secure it with floral  waterproof tape over the top.

 

Florist Tip: use a Lazy Susan and place your base on top for ease of access to each side of your arrangement.

 

Build

Begin to build your arrangement by adding the largest base-building bloom, such as dahlias, to create your foundation for your more special flowers. I like to use these blooms to cover most of the base instead of using the more expensive or unique florals at the bottom. I tend to create a dense and grouped base of one or two different varieties grouped together. Place stems firmly into the floral oasis to secure the base.

Shape

With your floral foundation set, it’s time to add in your unique flowers. We love using quicksand roses or orchids as our standout bloom. Take your time to place and remove if needed. Enjoy this process and let your chosen flowers' colours and textures inspire you to create shape, depth and height; think valleys and hills, as someone once told me!

 

Focal Point

 

Save the most exceptional colour or an exquisite flower as your focal point, whether that is the highest peak or directly in front to elevate your arrangement and draw you in. As you design, step back and look at your arrangement from every angle to make sure all sides are covered and there is something to marvel at from each direction; that's why we love our lazy Susan!

Adjust

Move, shuffle or turn your arrangement until you’ve found the perfect angel for it to be displayed. Adjust any stems that may have moved or add blooms to fill any spaces.  

Place

If you have one large table arrangement, place it in the centre for balance and your blooms will be admired from each seat at the table.

 

Admire

Creating something from hand becomes even more valuable when the beauty can be shared with those around you. Enjoy your floral arrangement and the colour, fragrance and texture it brings to your space.