Friday, October 28, 2011
Dried Flower Arrangements
MGR Designs Inc. brings you colorful dried flower arrangements from California and around the world. Rony Havive from Los Angeles, CA is dedicated to changing the way you think about decorating with dried flowers. Check out our site today for our full line :) www.ronyhavive.com
Cleaning/Caring for Your Dried Flower Arrangement
It is best to keep dried flower arrangements out of direct sunlight and out of extreme environments where temperatures range from very hot and dry, to very cold and damp. Your dried flower arrangements should not be placed in the direct path of forced air heat as the dry air will remove all the moisture from the arrangement making it fragile.
For cleaning dried flower arrangements, we recommend lightly dusting the wreath with a real feather duster. You can also use a standard hair dryer (on the lowest setting) and simply blow any dust off. Another method, if you live in a windy area, is to take the arrangement outside in a nice breeze, not too windy, and simply shake the arrangement. The dust blows out nicely and won’t destroy your flowers like other methods.
It is not recommended that you place your dried flower arrangements on the front door. You can hang dried flower arrangements outside as long as the specific area is fully protected from rain, wind and sun. If the arrangement is placed in sun, colors will soon fade. Obviously the wind and rain would also damage the wreath. If you want to decorate outdoors, make sure it’s in a protected spot.
For cleaning dried flower arrangements, we recommend lightly dusting the wreath with a real feather duster. You can also use a standard hair dryer (on the lowest setting) and simply blow any dust off. Another method, if you live in a windy area, is to take the arrangement outside in a nice breeze, not too windy, and simply shake the arrangement. The dust blows out nicely and won’t destroy your flowers like other methods.
It is not recommended that you place your dried flower arrangements on the front door. You can hang dried flower arrangements outside as long as the specific area is fully protected from rain, wind and sun. If the arrangement is placed in sun, colors will soon fade. Obviously the wind and rain would also damage the wreath. If you want to decorate outdoors, make sure it’s in a protected spot.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Dried Flowers and Foliage for Arrangements
Drie fall flowers for your floral arrangements can extend the enjoyment of your fall flowers. Adding embellishments or selecting containers reflecting the autumn season can enhance your dried fall flower arrangement, making it the focal point of a room.
Decorating for Fall?
One of our customers sent this great idea for Fall decorating. Pick a couple of our colorful dried flower arrangements, tie them with raffia to a small group of dried corn stalks to flank an entryway to your home. Works for front porch or inside with lights. You can use the lights outdoors as well, just make sure you use indoor, outdoor lights. Great Idea! Thanks Susan :)
Thursday, October 20, 2011
A Basic Dried Flower Arrangement
Place your vase on a lazy susan, this is something you will glad you have for floral designing. Find them at art supply stores (sculpting section) or look for one in a resale shop.
Use floral clay to affix your vase or basket onto to the lazy susan - make sure you can turn it easily to view your arrangement from all sides.
1. Wedge a piece of floral foam into your container. Establish the overall shape of the design using line material such as dried or preserved grasses,dried or preserved lavender, dried wheat, straw, etc..Any of our dried fall flower arrangements will work. We have several to choose from.
2. Insert the larger focal flowers like hydrangeas or cockscomb first , then add medium size flowers like dried and preserved roses, straw flowers. Space the flowers evenly throughout.
3. Add some additional line material like larkspur or delphinium to accent the overall shape, and add extra fern to fill in any empty spaces. Use dried flax for fullness.
With the wide variety of dried flower selections we offer, you can add your unique touch to any fall decor.
Use floral clay to affix your vase or basket onto to the lazy susan - make sure you can turn it easily to view your arrangement from all sides.
1. Wedge a piece of floral foam into your container. Establish the overall shape of the design using line material such as dried or preserved grasses,dried or preserved lavender, dried wheat, straw, etc..Any of our dried fall flower arrangements will work. We have several to choose from.
2. Insert the larger focal flowers like hydrangeas or cockscomb first , then add medium size flowers like dried and preserved roses, straw flowers. Space the flowers evenly throughout.
3. Add some additional line material like larkspur or delphinium to accent the overall shape, and add extra fern to fill in any empty spaces. Use dried flax for fullness.
With the wide variety of dried flower selections we offer, you can add your unique touch to any fall decor.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Dry Flower Arrangement Ideas
Dry flowers are light in weight, so the container holding the dry flowers should always be weighted with sand, pebbles or gravel to give stability.
Use wire cutters to shorten stems. Stems can be lengthen by using wooden floral picks.
Never use a bare stub wire in an arrangement.
Arrange the flower in a manner to give them a natural look.
When using clear containers, add marbles, layers of interesting pebbles, shells, or moss to hide the foam.
Think about the size of the space in which the arrangement has to be placed and choose the size and shape of the container accordingly.
Use dry flowers and foliage with different shapes, colors and textures for a more interesting design.
Always allow some space between dry flowers to prevent a crowded effect.
Make sure that the colors of the flowers are evenly balanced.
If the arrangement is permanent, then dip stems in pan glue, white glue or hot glue before inserting them into foam for greater stability and permanence.
Use wire cutters to shorten stems. Stems can be lengthen by using wooden floral picks.
Never use a bare stub wire in an arrangement.
Arrange the flower in a manner to give them a natural look.
When using clear containers, add marbles, layers of interesting pebbles, shells, or moss to hide the foam.
Think about the size of the space in which the arrangement has to be placed and choose the size and shape of the container accordingly.
Use dry flowers and foliage with different shapes, colors and textures for a more interesting design.
Always allow some space between dry flowers to prevent a crowded effect.
Make sure that the colors of the flowers are evenly balanced.
If the arrangement is permanent, then dip stems in pan glue, white glue or hot glue before inserting them into foam for greater stability and permanence.
Dry Flower Arrangements Tips and Ideas
Dried flower arrangement can be made using several techniques and forms. One just needs to explore some wild imaginations to get a beautiful and attractive piece of dried arrangements. While making some dried floral arrangements there are a few things that should be kept in mind to get a more enthralling and long lasting decorative piece.
A list of tools for floral designing & How to prepare floral foam and the containers. Part 2
Anchor pins or foam prongs secure the floral foam firmly to the bottom of a vase. Affix the pin to the bottom of the vase with hot glue or waterproof clay. Then press the foam into the pins of the prong.
Floral Wires or stem wires comes in different gauge sizes, colors and styles. The higher the gauge number the more flexible and thinner the wire is. Floral wires come covered and uncovered as well as in different painted colors. Choose between spooled or pre-cut wires. Floral wires are used to lengthen and support stems. You can use them for hanging wreaths by shaping them into loops. Perfect for securing floral material to wreaths and forms.
Candle Cups are small, inexpensive containers designed to hold taper candles in floral foam. A necessity when making centerpiece arrangements that will have taper candles in it. Use floral clay to secure positioning of your candles.
Floral Foam
Before floral foam was available, arranged flowers were held in place with chicken wire, sphagnum moss, cut greens, pine needles or newspaper. Transporting arrangements was difficult with water sloshing and flowers moving. Flowers lasted a day or two at most. The advent of floral foam expanded the art of floral design.
There are many types of floral foam, and it comes in various shapes, styles, textures and sizes. The blocks can easily be cut with a serrated knife (or florist knife) to fit the size of your container.
Plastic foam or Styrofoam is coarse, non-porous foam. It is very sturdy and a good choice for working with large silk flowers or swags. It can be cut and wedged into a container or cut smaller than the container and secured to the bottom with hot glue or pan melt glue.
Desert foam of Dry Floral Foam is also coarse and non-porous, but it is easier to penetrate than plastic foam. Secure to the bottom of the container with hot glue or pan melt glue. Perfect for silk and dried floral arrangements.
Oasis foam or water holding floral foam is highly absorbent. It is best for fresh plants, because it holds water and is easy to penetrate. Leave a space between the foam and the sides of the container so water can be added to the flowers. This softer, finer foam is also preferable for standard silks and dried arrangements. It is perfect for inserting either thick or fragile stems. When using silks or dried flowers, the foam can be cut up in blocks and stuffed inside the container or shaped to fit, and wedged securely in place.
Preparing the Saturated Foam
Floral foam bricks self-saturate quickly and continue to wick water to the flowers for the life of the arrangement. Water lost by evaporation or consumed by the flowers needs to be replaced. The saturated foam is not a substitute for water. It is best to add bottled water with preservative to your arrangement daily. As little as 10% moisture loss will cause flower wilting.
• Fill a soaking container with fresh water and a proper amount of floral preservative.
• The foam should be large enough to be wedged into place and extend 1 to 2" above the rim of the vase. This allows for top and side placement of stems.
• Cut a wedge in the foam so you can add water daily. Place the cut out section at the back of the container.
• Allow foam to free float in a flat position. There should be enough water to fill the brick and allow it to float free when fully saturated. Don’t force the saturation or air pockets will form in the foam.
• When foam is fully saturated, place in vase and tape down with waterproof tape.
Floral Wires or stem wires comes in different gauge sizes, colors and styles. The higher the gauge number the more flexible and thinner the wire is. Floral wires come covered and uncovered as well as in different painted colors. Choose between spooled or pre-cut wires. Floral wires are used to lengthen and support stems. You can use them for hanging wreaths by shaping them into loops. Perfect for securing floral material to wreaths and forms.
Candle Cups are small, inexpensive containers designed to hold taper candles in floral foam. A necessity when making centerpiece arrangements that will have taper candles in it. Use floral clay to secure positioning of your candles.
Floral Foam
Before floral foam was available, arranged flowers were held in place with chicken wire, sphagnum moss, cut greens, pine needles or newspaper. Transporting arrangements was difficult with water sloshing and flowers moving. Flowers lasted a day or two at most. The advent of floral foam expanded the art of floral design.
There are many types of floral foam, and it comes in various shapes, styles, textures and sizes. The blocks can easily be cut with a serrated knife (or florist knife) to fit the size of your container.
Plastic foam or Styrofoam is coarse, non-porous foam. It is very sturdy and a good choice for working with large silk flowers or swags. It can be cut and wedged into a container or cut smaller than the container and secured to the bottom with hot glue or pan melt glue.
Desert foam of Dry Floral Foam is also coarse and non-porous, but it is easier to penetrate than plastic foam. Secure to the bottom of the container with hot glue or pan melt glue. Perfect for silk and dried floral arrangements.
Oasis foam or water holding floral foam is highly absorbent. It is best for fresh plants, because it holds water and is easy to penetrate. Leave a space between the foam and the sides of the container so water can be added to the flowers. This softer, finer foam is also preferable for standard silks and dried arrangements. It is perfect for inserting either thick or fragile stems. When using silks or dried flowers, the foam can be cut up in blocks and stuffed inside the container or shaped to fit, and wedged securely in place.
Preparing the Saturated Foam
Floral foam bricks self-saturate quickly and continue to wick water to the flowers for the life of the arrangement. Water lost by evaporation or consumed by the flowers needs to be replaced. The saturated foam is not a substitute for water. It is best to add bottled water with preservative to your arrangement daily. As little as 10% moisture loss will cause flower wilting.
• Fill a soaking container with fresh water and a proper amount of floral preservative.
• The foam should be large enough to be wedged into place and extend 1 to 2" above the rim of the vase. This allows for top and side placement of stems.
• Cut a wedge in the foam so you can add water daily. Place the cut out section at the back of the container.
• Allow foam to free float in a flat position. There should be enough water to fill the brick and allow it to float free when fully saturated. Don’t force the saturation or air pockets will form in the foam.
• When foam is fully saturated, place in vase and tape down with waterproof tape.
A list of tools for floral designing & How to prepare floral foam and the containers
Waterproof tape is an all-purpose method for holding either soaked or dried foam in place. It comes in three colors: white, green and clear. The tape is waterproof and pressure sensitive. Once adhered to a dry surface, it will remain firm and in place even when exposed to moisture. It sticks on pottery, metal, plastic, wood, glass, ceramics... almost anything.
Waterproof clay is the designers’ tool for positioning candles and figurines. It will also anchor dry materials like anchor pins to each other or to vases; frogs to bases, dry foam to bases etc. It is waterproof and heat proof; can assist in positioning and holding ribbons and tissue, and will hold fruit in place for cornucopia displays. Make sure the surface is absolutely dry and free of dust or the clay won’t stick.
Floral Clay Waterproof Tape- Waterproof tape is a fast easy and all purpose method for holding either soaked or dried foam in place. The tape is waterproof and pressure sensitive. Once adhered to a dry surface, it will remain firm and in place even when exposed to moisture.
Pan melt glue pot is a small electric pan, or glue skillet that you can either melt small pellets or (if it comes with an attachment) broken glue sticks at a low temperature. Use it for placing your foam by waiting until the glue is melted, but not hot, dip the four corners of the floral foam into the glue, and push it onto the bottom of the container. Pan melt glue is also used to secure the ends of silk flowers in foam when making large arrangements. Dip the ends of the flower stems into the pan glue before inserting into the floral foam.
Hot glue gun and glue sticks may be used instead of pan melt glue pellets. They come in high and low temperature styles and in various sizes.
Floral stem tape, a strong stretchable tape adheres to itself without sticking to your fingers. It is the ideal way to lengthen and strengthen stems. Use to create corsages, bouquets, headpieces, cascades, nosegays or boutonnieres. As the tape is stretched, the adhesive material is activated. Stretch the material as you wrap it around fresh, dried or silk flower stems.
Waterproof clay is the designers’ tool for positioning candles and figurines. It will also anchor dry materials like anchor pins to each other or to vases; frogs to bases, dry foam to bases etc. It is waterproof and heat proof; can assist in positioning and holding ribbons and tissue, and will hold fruit in place for cornucopia displays. Make sure the surface is absolutely dry and free of dust or the clay won’t stick.
Floral Clay Waterproof Tape- Waterproof tape is a fast easy and all purpose method for holding either soaked or dried foam in place. The tape is waterproof and pressure sensitive. Once adhered to a dry surface, it will remain firm and in place even when exposed to moisture.
Pan melt glue pot is a small electric pan, or glue skillet that you can either melt small pellets or (if it comes with an attachment) broken glue sticks at a low temperature. Use it for placing your foam by waiting until the glue is melted, but not hot, dip the four corners of the floral foam into the glue, and push it onto the bottom of the container. Pan melt glue is also used to secure the ends of silk flowers in foam when making large arrangements. Dip the ends of the flower stems into the pan glue before inserting into the floral foam.
Hot glue gun and glue sticks may be used instead of pan melt glue pellets. They come in high and low temperature styles and in various sizes.
Floral stem tape, a strong stretchable tape adheres to itself without sticking to your fingers. It is the ideal way to lengthen and strengthen stems. Use to create corsages, bouquets, headpieces, cascades, nosegays or boutonnieres. As the tape is stretched, the adhesive material is activated. Stretch the material as you wrap it around fresh, dried or silk flower stems.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Decorating with Tall Dried Floral Arrangments Option 5
When considering your fall decorating, don't forget the outdoors. Take your dried flower arrangement by Rony Havive outside. A sun porch is a natural choice for dried floral arrangements. Already so close to nature, these spaces benefit from bringing a little bit of the outdoors inside. As with the living room, a tall arrangement looks great next to a corner chair, but it also adds height to displays made with pumpkins and gourds, gardening tools and other items made for the great outdoors.
Decorating with Tall Dried Floral Arrangments Option 4
Don't forget those built in shelfs near the ceiling. Decorating the top of your cabinets or shelves that are near the cieling with dried flowers and a small string of lights is an excellent way to add some PoP to your fall decorating. Often the space between the shelf and the ceiling is several feet. Flowers, particularly ones placed on the corner of the shelf, act as a bright visual anchor to the space.
Decorating with Tall Dried Floral Arrangments Option 3
One basic for decorating is that clusters of odd-numbered items tend to look great, so you might stand two tall floral arrangements--each of slightly different heights--next to the floor lamp. Place a tall dried floral arrangement between two chairs in the corner of a living room. The flowers plus the chairs create a focal point for the room and a nice conversation area for all those holiday parties.
Decorating with Tall Dried Floral Arrangments Option 2
By placing two tall arrangements on a table that sits under an entryway hall mirror, adds an excellent touch of color. The flowers should flank both sides of the mirror, giving the area both a shot of color and visual symmetry. Especially, if you want to add a little extra WoW to your decor during the holidays. Rony Havive has put together some fabulous Fall arrangements that will give you that WoW factor you're looking for.
Decorating with Tall Dried Floral Arrangments Option 1
Start in the entryway of your home or office. Have you ever wondered what to do when there is a small corner right by the door that's very narrow. It's difficult to decorate, but would look great if it could be jazzed up. In this case, a bouquet of vibrant colors standing next to an umbrella stand would a nice option.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Dried Flower Arrangements from Rony Havive and MGR Designs Int.
Rony Havive and MGR Designs International brings you the very best in dried flower arrangements and gift baskets. We provide top quality dried flower bouquets at wholesale prices every day
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