Loose Open Wreath

This week we were asked to design a loose open wreath. The first thing I did after being told this was to look for inspiration.

Inspiration

Adcock S (2012) Commercial Floristry Designs and Techniques Wiltshire: Crowood PublishingBenjamin, P., van de Sluis, M. and De Bruyne, T. (2007) Creativity with flowers - Sympathy. Oostkamp: Stichting Kunstboek

Benjamin, P., van de Sluis, M. and De Bruyne, T. (2007) Creativity with flowers - Sympathy. Oostkamp: Stichting Kunstboek
Adcock S (2012) Commercial Floristry Designs and Techniques Wiltshire: Crowood Publishing

After looking at different loose open designs, I discovered that the key characteristics are:

• Range of Textures
• Different Layers (different heights of materials)
• Not all one flower
• There isn't a focal point
• Not as structured as a blocked design
• More natural looking than a blocked design
• Softer than a blocked design
• The design flows with repetition of materials

Taking this into consideration, I then began to create the design.

Step by Step Journey of Creating the Design

Materials used

Leather Leaf  x2
Pittosporum   x2

Kermits       x2

Gypsophila    x4
Eustoma       x2
Diathus       x3
Astrantia     x1
Silver Birch  x1
Eryngium      x2

12" open ring x2

Mesh

Mossing Pins

1. prepare my oasis. I chamfered the edges to make them rounded and not angular. I smoothed the edges off and wet the oasis.
Firstly, I had to

 

2. I then had to choose a suitable edge. I chose a green mesh as I felt it would compliment the foliage and flowers that I was using and brighten up the design. I used mossing pins to secure it to the oasis, pinning it in the dry part so it was more secure. I went for a random, ruffled effect, making sure I covered the mossing pins as much as I could. I did this to the inside and outside of the ring.

 

3. Next, I added the foliage to the design. I used the pittosporum and leather leaf. I cut small, short sections of the pittosporum firstly and placed them randomly, in any direction into the oasis. I needed to make sure than the pittosporum was evenly distributed. I then did the same with the leather leaf, filling in as much of the gaps as possible, covering as much of the oasis as possible.

4. I then began to add the flowers into the design. Just like with the foliage I placed them randomly around the oasis. I started with the eustoma. I had 6 fully open buds so I dotted them around, at different angles. I also used the closed buds. Next I added the eryngium. I randomly placed the around the design in the same way I did the eustoma.

5. I then used the dianthus. The dianthus heads were quite full so I cut them down so they weren't too big in the design. If they were too big they would have become a focal point and this isn't a characteristic of a loose, open design. I then randomly added the kermits, filling in any areas were the oasis could be seen.

6. I used gypsophila to soften up the design and fill in any gaps.

 

7. Finally, I added silver birch over the top of the design to create a sort of frame.

Finished Design

 Reflection

The positive features of the design include:

• The placement of flowers. There isn't any 'bunching' of flowers within the design. It is random, with different heights.
• The is visual balance created by the different textures and colours.
• The near complementary colour scheme of green and purple.
• How the gypsophila softens the design and brightens it up.
• The way the edging suits the colours within the design. The brightness of the edging complements the flowers.

If I was to do this design again, there would be a few things that I would do differently. I would use more eustoma buds that were open. I felt that I needed a few more open buds, especially in one area of the design were I had to use a closed bud instead of an open bud because I ran out.

 

 

The area here that is circled is where I feel I needed another open eustoma bud. Although I said that I felt that I needed more eustoma within the design, using too much would have created a focal point within the design, something that isn't a characteristic of a loose open design.