This “wedding bouquet” concept provides “something new” for your bridal fashionistas
Colorado-based floral designer Arthur Williams, AIFD, EMC, CPF, owner of Babylon Floral Design in Denver, derived his inspiration for this bridal-attendant-intended floral handbag from his numerous observations of wedding bouquets being tossed away too soon. “The purse was my choice for ease of carrying and the ability to set it down,” Arthur explains. “So many times, I’ve seen wedding bouquets left scattered around a venue; this way, it’s easier to present and set down safely during dinner or dancing.” The techniques used to make this floral handbag, which Arthur calls the “Medusa bouquet,” translate easily for constructing necklaces and headdresses. Learn how Arthur creates these stylized “bouquets” that elevate form and function into high fashion.
Darcey™ (Auschariot), Kate™ (Auschris) and Tess™ (Ausyacht) David Austin English Garden Roses (Rosa hybrida) from Alexandra Farms, palmetto-bud strips (Sabal palmetto) and variegated lily grass (Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’) from Continental Floral Greens; Oasis Flat Wire (Black), Oasis Aluminum Wire (Pink), Oasis Bullion Wire (Apple Green), Oasis Florist Wire, Oasis Midollino Sticks (Black), Oasis UGlu Adhesive Dashes and Oasis Water Tubes from Smithers-Oasis North America; yarn and 14” embroidery ring from fabric or craft store.
This festive pendulous cone-shaped aesthetic can enhance any space – from a home or office environment to a wedding or holiday party venue. Whether used singly or in multiples, these designs, created in inverted vine “Christmas trees,” offer tremendous versatility. Depending on the chosen materials – fresh or permanent – this design idea is adaptable for virtually any occasion, event, season or holiday. For events, for example, they can be suspended in multiples above dining tables, with upright versions, decorated similarly, gracing the tabletops. To say “the sky’s the limit” on this idea’s design potential is an understatement! Here, burton + BURTON’s creative designers share the steps for creating these dazzling designs.
STEP 1
Bind rattan sticks to a 14-inch embroidery ring by tightly wrapping with bullion wire. Repeat the process on a second embroidery ring. The rattan sticks add thickness and become a good surface to glue yarn to, and they help keep the yarn from sliding. Attach yarn to the rings with adhesive dashes, tightly wrapping the entire circumferences of the rings. Multicolored yarn adds depth and texture and is very forgiving where overlapping occurs. Next, create small bundles of rattan sticks and cut green enameled florist wire and flat wire in varying lengths. Wrap the rattan bundles and wire pieces in yarn.
STEP 2
Bind the two embroidery rings together, with wire and yarn, at one point on their circumference. This will become the top of the purse handle. Build the base of the purse by “organically” shaping and attaching the yarn-wrapped rattan bundles and wire pieces to the lower one-third of the embroidery rings (these additions are both decorative and structural). The two rings should be spread apart 2 to 4 inches. The resulting purse base must be stable and secure and must sit flat, but the design of it is entirely your choice. If you make multiples, make sure no two are exactly alike.
STEP 3
Weave blades of lily grass and palmetto-bud strips throughout the design to create dynamic curvilinear lines that mimic, enhance and fill out the existing structure.
STEP 4
Wrap water tubes in multicolored yarn, and fill them with flowerfood solution. Insert David Austin English Garden Roses into the tubes, and wire or glue the flower-filled tubes into the structure.
