“Blooms rise from a eggshell-mosaic ovoid and redefine standing bouquets of yesterday” 

Inspiration meets imagination as Phalaenopsis orchids, roses and much more appear almost hatched from a unique and highly texturized eggshell structure that hides mechanics and is supported by the composition’s standing stems. Imagine this stunning piece for a product launch, restaurant brunch, baby-shower décor, culinary presentation or entryway showstopper; the possibilities are endless.

In this free-form modern interpretation of a standing bouquet, innovative designer Lana Chernyavsky, AIFD, encourages designers of all levels to push themselves creatively by incorporating everyday items that can transform the ordinary into extraordinary. Replicate her steps on the opposite page to design your own take on a design likely to leave admirers hungry for more.

Materials

Phalaenopsis orchids, hybrid tea and garden roses (Rosa spp.), African daisies (Gerbera jamesonii), tassel flower/love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus), Scabiosa pods, Freesia, Persian buttercups (Ranunculus asiaticus), sea holly/eryngo (Eryngium alpinum) and pussy willows (Salix spp.) from suppliers of your choice; Oasis Floral Adhesive, Floratape Stem Wrap, Oasis Waterproof Tape (1/2 inch), Oasis All-temperature Glue Sticks, Oasis Bind Wire and Oasis Florist Wire (18 gauge) from Smithers-Oasis North America; feathers from Zucker Feather Products; raffia from Knud Nielsen Company; 12-gauge silver wire, decorative paper, cardboard, brown eggs.

Step 1: Draw and cut out two ovoid (egg) shapes from a piece of cardboard one larger, one smaller. Crush eggshells, and glue the pieces on one side of each of the ovoid cardboard pieces.

Step 2: Create a three-dimensional, four-post “u”-shaped frame to be used as a spacer between the two pieces of cardboard: First, bend two lengths of heavy-duty wire into squared “u” shapes, and shape four additional lengths of heavy-duty wire into large “zigzags.” The “bottoms” of the “u”-shaped pieces should approximately 4 to 5 inches in length.

Step 3: Attach one end of each of two of the “zigzag” wires to the “uprights” of one “u”-shape wire with the green enameled florist wire. Repeat this step to create a second identical piece. Tape the bound areas with stem wrap. Join the wire structures by taping together the lower ends of the four “zigzag” wires with stem wrap, creating a single “stem.” The “u”-shaped wires will be the sides of this structure, which will separate the two pieces of cardboard. The finished structure should loosely resemble two football goalposts, approximately 4 to 5 inches apart, joined by a single center “stem.”

Step 4: Attach the two cardboard pieces, with waterproof tape, to the “uprights” of the wire frame (one piece of cardboard to two “uprights”). Hot-glue decorative paper to the “inside” of the cardboard pieces (the sides to which the wire frames are attached), to cover the wires.

Step 5: Arrange flowers between the two pieces of cardboard, around the edges, using the spiral hand-tie technique. Add Amaranthus and pussy-willow branches last.

Step 6: Bind the stems with raffia, and attach feathers to the two ends of the raffi a. Cut the stems to a uniform length, and stand the bouquet upright in a shallow tray filled with flower-food solution.