This versatile handcrafted flower vessel concept offers creative designers a plethora of exciting design options.
The light and airy qualities of bright summer days inspire this lightweight and elevated floral expression with a focus on transparency and natural material applications. In this contemporary monochromatic composition, Stacey Carlton, AIFD, EMC, of The Flora Culturist in Chicago, arranged layers of crimson-hued roses and orchids aloft, in a “stiletto” structure she created with wood skewers, water tubes covered in kyogi paper (thin Japanese red pine bark) and a slab of wood. This versatile “vessel” will accommodate any choice of thin-stemmed flowers, in any combination of hues, and the structure can be created in any size or shape, depending on the choice of wood base. As shown, this long, narrow design is ideal as a centerpiece for a rectangular or oval dining table or coffee table, a mantel, or a kitchen counter or island. It also would be striking in mass, in a variety of sizes and shapes, for a party or reception in a contemporary event space.
Garden roses (Rosa hybrida ‘Piano’) from Alexandra Farms; spray roses (Rosa hybrida ‘Red Mikado’), Mokara spp. ‘Azimah’, tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum), Camellia japonica foliage and plumosa fern (Asparagus setaceus/A. plumosus) from suppliers of your choice; Oasis UGlu Adhesive Dashes from Smithers-Oasis North America; Kyogi paper (thin sheets of Japanese red pine [Pinus densiflora]) and bamboo skewers from craft store; plastic or glass water tubes from supplier of your choice; slab of wood.
Step 1
Cut kyogi paper or similar material to desired-sized pieces, making sure they will cover the water tubes. Secure two adhesive dashes to each water tube.
Step 2
Attach a bamboo skewers to the adhesive dashes on each water tube.
Step 3
Place two adhesive dashes along one long edge, top and bottom, of each piece of kyogi paper. Slowly roll one piece of kyogi paper around each water tube, beginning with the nonadhesive edge. Secure the opposite edge of each piece of kyogi paper with the attached adhesive dashes.
Step 4
Continue wrapping skewer-attached water tubes with kyogi paper until you have enough for the design.
Step 5
Drill a hole into a wood slab for each skewered and paper-wrapped water tube. Select a bit size that ensures the bamboo skewers will fit snugly and not require adhesive. Leave enough space between the holes to accommodate your desired stem placement.
Step 6
Place bamboo skewers into the drilled holes in the wood base, and fill tubes with flower-food solution.
Step 7
Arrange botanical materials into the water tubes.
