Love Flowers
Fundraising Supplement
Holding your own Love Flowers party is a fabulous way to raise funds for Ovarian
Cancer Action and it’s so easy to organise! Get together with friends, family and work
colleagues and have some creative fun while you raise vital funds.
PLUS!!! There’s an extra special prize for the top fundraiser,
details within!
1) Ideas for your Love Flowers event!
What do I have to do for a Love Flowers event?
Well it’s simple, celebrate women by organising a flower arranging event and raise
vital funds at the same time – it’s easy! Just go with our red and gold colour themes,
and tie in some themes of Love Flowers.
Here are some ideas for your Love Flowers event:
1. Why not get a group of your friends together and attend a local flower arranging
class and make donations.
2. Hold a Love Flowers walk with a suggested donation to take part and observe
some of nature’s finest floral displays along the way to inspire your creativity.
3. Ask your local florist if they would be willing to hold a free master class and then
ask for donations from participants.
2) Top Fundraiser prize!!
We are delighted to announce that the top Love
Flowers fundraiser will be given an invitation for
2 people to spend a day with Mary Jane
Vaughan, an award winning florist who heads up
the busy flower shop in Fulham, Fast Flowers.
The lucky winners will be taken by Mary to the
flower market early in the morning, and then
spend the day with her in her shop learning to
make bouquets and arrangements, as well as
being shown how to create some of her
interesting and modern designs.
The day will start at 7am in the flower market and
finishes at 3pm, after an informal lunch in a local
restaurant. This might be the day that will change
your life!! To qualify for this amazing prize just
make sure you get your money into us by April
30th and if you’ve raised the most money then the
prize is yours, good luck!!!
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3) Some hints and tips for the perfect flower arrangement!
Although some would argue there are very strict guidelines to follow, the reality is that
there are just a few simple rules to follow when arranging your flowers. A bit of
creative flair and following your gut instinct for what looks and feels right will make
your flower arrangement special and something you're proud of
To help with the planning, follow the simple tips below to make sure your flower
arrangement looks great and brings a splash of colour (and scent) to any room.
Step 1: Scale and proportion
These two elements mean that the flower arrangement should fit into its setting. By
getting the proportion right, the size and quantity of the materials in the display will
make sense in relation to the container in which they are placed. In terms of scale,
the flower arrangement should make sense in its location (it shouldn't be too big or
small for the area in which it is placed).
Step 2: A guide to flower height
The general rule of thumb when placing flowers in a vase (or other container) is to let
the vase take up 1/3 of the total height of the arrangement. For example, if you have
a 30cm flower arrangement, your vase should be 10cm tall. Your flowers would then
make up the additional 20cm of the flower arrangement.
Step 3: Know what you're using
One of the most important flower arranging tips is to understand what you're working
with. The basic materials in a flower arrangement are split into four groups: line,
dominant, secondary, and filler materials. If this means nothing to you, check out the
guide below:
• Line materials: are used to set the general line direction of the arrangement.
These materials generally include foliage, twigs, and tiny flowers. These should
be the first materials placed in the arrangement.
• Dominant materials: these are the biggest materials in the entire arrangement
and should be placed right after the line materials.
• Secondary materials: these are slightly smaller than the dominant materials and
are used to help achieve shape and add to the form of the overall design. These
should be placed after the dominant materials.
• Filler materials: generally consist of foliage or small flowers. These are used to fill
up any extra spaces in the arrangement and should be the last material placed.
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Step 4: Make sure your arrangement fits
When creating a fresh flower arrangement, you need to think about where that type
of arrangement will fit best. You wouldn't want to put a stunning dining table
centrepiece in a bathroom.
Think about the colour scheme and style – will the flower arrangement fit in with the
rest of the room decor.
Lastly, will the flower arrangement be off to the side or a centrepiece? If you're
making a centrepiece, be sure to get the size just right so it is in proportion but not
too tall so that people have to strain to see over or around it.
Step 5: Where to place what
This is the most important step of all the flower arranging tips. There is an art to
placing your materials, and if you follow these tips below you'll be thrilled with the
results:
• The largest and darkest flowers are usually placed close to the base of the
design.
• The smallest and lightest flowers are generally placed at the outer edges of the
arrangements.
• In symmetrical arrangements, flowers should be spaced evenly throughout the
arrangement.
• In asymmetrical arrangements the materials should be placed in a way that visual
weight is distributed evenly throughout the display.
If you follow the above flower arranging tips, you'll be thrilled with the result. Always
remember that if you like the arrangement and it makes you happy, it is a perfect
arrangement.
4) Here are some great Spring arrangements for you to get
stuck into!
a) Creating a wildflower bouquet
Wildflowers, the flowers that traditionally grew wild without any tending, can be a
divisive issue for people. Some see them as romantic, a token that someone else
cared enough to gather them and turn them into a beautiful bouquet. Others see
them as the cheap option, proof that someone else did not care enough to spend
their money on a more glamorous bouquet from a trained florist. Regardless of the
connotations, wildflower bouquets can add a sweet touch to everything from a
wedding to a kitchen windowsill. Creating a wildflower bouquet may actually need to
start at the very beginning with creating a wildflower garden, but are well worth the
effort in the end.
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Creating a Wildflower Garden
In the past, wildflowers took their name from the fact that they were
found growing in the wild without the care and tending of a skilled
gardener. Today these flowers can still be found all over more rural
areas, and even in such surprising areas as the cracks between
sidewalk slabs or the strips of grass growing alongside major roads.
However, some people love the look and feel of wildflower gardens
and cultivate them on their own properties.
If you choose to create a wildflower garden, the most preparation you
will need to complete is to remove existing growth in the area. Spring,
Summer and Autumn can all be wildflower planting seasons, though
many traditionalists select the Autumn as that is the natural time
period in which existing flowers drop their own seeds. Regardless of
the time in which you choose to sow your seeds, patting them into the
earth will help to protect them. Pulling weeds and once-a-year or so
mowing will help keep the wildflower garden healthy and blooming.
Picking Wildflowers
Picking wildflowers from public land (or private property other than your own) can be
risky. Not only might the owners of the land be upset, but also such actions could
actually be interpreted as “green crimes”.
If you are truly intent on picking flowers from the wild, ask a local gardening or
conservation society for recommendations and rules for your area. Otherwise, head
to that nice wildflower garden that you have created. Remember not to pick too many
flowers, as you don’t want to decimate your own garden, and to pick only flowers that
have had a chance to mature.
Creating a Bouquet
The great thing about a wildflower bouquet is that it’s supposed to look a little wild,
making it much easier and more informal to create on your own than a rigid bouquet
of more exotic blooms. There aren’t any rules to creating such a bouquet, other than
that go with what you think looks best. Try to get a nice spread of colours in your
bouquet, and try to keep to a nicely rounded shape. Flowers that hang a little should
go towards the edge so that they have the room they need once they are put in a
vase.
Don’t have enough wildflowers for a full bouquet? Little sprigs can make wonderful
boutonnieres for men and can be easily tucked into a woman’s hair for some added
pizzazz. Individual stems can also be displayed in tiny bud vases and placed around
a room to create extra interior interest. Don’t be scared to play around, there’s
virtually no way that you can go wrong with wildflowers!
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b) Flower Arrangement Using Pastel Shades
Pastel colours are very soft and feminine. They appear gentle and calm and can
have exactly that effect when used in a floral design. Beautiful pinks, pale blues, soft
peaches and fragrant lavenders are perfect for evoking these feelings which makes a
Pastel Paradise arrangement an ideal gift for any occasion.
When thinking about creating something with pastel
colours think about an artist’s palette with a beautiful
variety of pale colours. They can be mixed to create
different effects and textures. Experiment with the
different colours – we know pink and lavender go well
together but what about lavender and peach or yellow?
Cream and pale pink? Varying shades of baby blue
flowers make such perfect partners with other pastel
shaded blooms.
Remember your colour wheel and think colour harmony. Pastels are perfect grouped
together and with the odd deeper shade of the same colour, but be careful mixing
them too much with bright colours as these colours can overwhelm the softness of
the pastel and make them seen “wishy washy”.
And you don’t just have to stick to solely flowers and
foliage when creating a pastel design. Because the colours
are so delicate why not add a few feathers to create gentle
movement in your arrangement? Or some beautiful sheer
gossamer ribbon? All will add to that feeling of softness
and femininity but will also add texture and lightness to it.
Pastels can be used in any arrangement. They are perfect
for wedding flowers and look stunning in bouquets. They
also look muted and respectful in sympathy tributes.
A pastel design is a perfect gift for any age.
How to create a Pastel Paradise
This arrangement can be used in a variety of ways – it’s a subtle blend of pinks and
lavenders. It is perfect for a young bridesmaid to carry at a wedding or it can be just
placed in a vase for a special occasion gift. The choice is yours! This is a wired
arrangement so can be time consuming but wiring does allow you the flexibility to
move your design around for a perfect effect.
Materials
One hybrid rose (pale pink); one calla lily (pink); one stem of open spray carnations
(pale pink); eryngium (Bluebell variety); pink feathers (about eight); wires; tape;
ribbon; eucalyptus; hebe.
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Method
• Lay out all your materials, remove any leaves or thorns
and cut to size. Make a bow from your ribbon
• Wire and tape all your materials
• Use the rose as a focal flower. Behind it and slightly
risen as if the rose is lying on it, place a stem of
eryngium. Place two other stems to the side of it. In
these three sections place a group of hebe and a group
of spray carnations
• You now have what looks like a small-elongated
bouquet! Place the wired calla lily directly below the rose
and surrounding flowers so it creates a “tail”
• Fill in around the design with the eucalyptus creating a small teardrop shape and
leaving a longer stem below the calla lily
• Create a frill with the feather before tying at the binding point and taping the
handle. You can move the flowers around to achieve the effect you are after.
Cover the handle with ribbon and add the bow at the binding point.
c) Rose and Lily Hand Tied Bouquet
Hand-tied bouquets are wonderful and have a wide appeal. They
are virtually suited to any occasion from a birthday to Mother’s
Day an anniversary to a get-well gift. They are also perfect for
weddings and on the opposite end of the scale, as funeral
tributes. You can make a hand-tied look as minimalist or as full
as you want to create different effects. It can be natural with a
“just picked” look, or structured with an imaginative use of leaves
and grasses.
A hand-tied bouquet really is a perfect gift because if it is done
correctly all the person who is receiving it should have to do, is place it in a vase. The
beautifully round shape tied at just the right point will look as though you’ve spent
hours arranging your flowers to look just perfect In fact this type of bouquet is very
quick and simple to make once you have mastered the technique. You just need to
remember that although the basic principle of hand-tied always remains the same,
the choice of flowers and foliage will vary depending on the type of design you are
after.
Generally any flower or foliage with a sturdy stem is perfect for this design. The
longer the stem the better as this gives you more flexibility when cutting it down.
Chrysanthemums, carnations, roses and lilies are perfect flowers for a gift bouquet,
while a bridal bouquet would need smaller headed flowers, more tightly packed with
delicate foliage such as soft ruscus or ivy. Mimosa, small-headed roses and lily of the
valley are perfect. Palm leaf, hosta leaves and leatherleaf are perfect for framing a
larger hand-tied design.
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How to Create a Rose and Lily Hand-tied Bouquet
Roses and lilies are one of the most popular choices for hand-tied. Roses are
beautiful in any colour and exude luxury while lilies add that touch of the exotic. The
roundness of the roses and the linear shape of a lily still in bud complement each
other beautifully and the fragrance can fill a room.
Both lilies and roses are widely available now and not just for the luxury end of the
market. You really can create a lovely hand-tied bouquet for a fraction of the cost of
what it did a decade ago.
Points to Remember
Lily pollen is notorious for causing stains, so if any of the lilies you use are open then
remove the stamens. Always remove all the thorns from the rose stems and any
leaves, which will be below the water level.
Materials used: five large roses; four stems of lilies; three gerbera; three
chrysanthemums; five palm leaves: hard ruscus.
Method
• Lay out the flowers, foliage and filler;
• Take the lily and a few stems of ruscus and place them
together to create a focal point. Hold them tightly in one
hand
• Start adding the roses, in a clockwise direction at an angle.
Hold the bouquet lightly in one hand so that the materials are
supported between the thumb and the forefinger
• Place three sections of chrysanthemums in a clockwise
direction at an angle while at all times holding the bouquet
lightly in your hand and keeping the stems going in the same
direction. This is tricky but practice does make perfect in this case!
• Add more filler in sections and then put in the gerbera in three equal sections
around the bouquet before adding even more filler
• Place the lilies in three equal sections while again still holding the bouquet lightly
and turning it as you add the materials in at an angle
• Finally add the palm leaf (five pieces) as a “frill” around the bouquet
• Carefully tie it with pre cut string and bind this for added security with tape before
cutting the stems to the required height – and at the same level. You can test this
by seeing whether the bouquet will stand up by itself.
Packaging
A properly packed hand-tied can look amazing. Placing aqua-packed bouquets in
decorative boxes is very popular these days. It’s like presenting the bouquet
complete with a vase. These boxes can be bought very cheaply from a good floral
wholesaler.
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• Cut twice the amount of cellophane you need and place a coloured sheet of
tissue, which will complement on one half of the cut cellophane. Fold the
cellophane. Put the bouquet on top of the cellophane in the middle. Pull up top
create a collar around the bouquet and secure with Sellotape. As added security,
tie with a piece of coloured string at binding point.
• Pour water into the cellophane and then place bouquet in the box. Add a beautiful
coloured bow and even some coloured sisal to create the perfect gift.
d) Tulips-A Typical Addition to Your Spring Bouquet
It's hard to think about a fresh, colourful spring bouquet without picturing tulips
prominently displayed in the mix. In fact, many people consider the first flashes of
bright tulips as the true measure of when springtime really begins.
Said to be the third most popular type of flower worldwide, there are now an
incredible number of facts and tips circulating about growing great tulips. During a
successful season there are a variety of ways to include tulips in beautiful spring
bouquets.
Tulip Fun Facts
Tulips are thought to have been first cultivated and then hybridized by the Turks. For
this reason tulips came to symbolise the Ottoman Empire. However it is Holland, not
areas of Central Asia, with which tulips are most associated today. This is because
Holland has a great love of tulips and displays large flower fields full of the colourful
bulbs.
During the time between April and September the country also hosts a number of
colourful flower parades that showcase millions of blooms. There is even a tulip
museum in Holland containing great amounts of historical information on these
flowers.
Types of Tulips
There are over 3,000 registered varieties of cultivated tulips now registered. Of these,
three main classifications of tulips exist. Early Flowering Tulips are those that bloom
in March and April. Midseason Flowering Tulips are those that bloom in April and
May. Late Flowering Tulips are those that bloom throughout May.
Growing Tulips
Tulips are relatively easy flowers to grow as well as easy flowers with which to make
colourful garden designs (due to the many different shades of blooms available). As
a general rule of thumb, the bigger the bulb that is planted the bigger the bloom that
will grow. Bulbs should be planted at a depth that is about twice the diameter of the
bulb, and if more then one bulb is being planted then they should be spaced more
than 15 centimetres apart. Other than that, nature can take its course and tulips
should be allowed to grow naturally until they die.
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Using Tulips in Spring Bouquets
Tulips are a mainstay of spring flower bouquets. Not only can tulips of the same hue
make a striking bouquet, but tulips of complementary colours create a soothing
picture as well. Tulips also work well with other spring flowers such as roses,
delphinium, lilies, hyacinths and carnations.
Displaying Bouquets Which Include Tulips
Tulips have long stems, so displaying bouquets including tulips usually require
sturdy, upright containers. Tall vases, pitchers and flowerpots are usually ideal
containers for displaying such bouquets. If stems are cut very short, single blossoms
in shallow containers can also be grouped together or positioned alone to create a
stunning, simple centrepiece.
Tulips are flowers that are easy to grow, blossom into vibrant colours and make a
welcome addition to most any bouquet. For these reasons tulips are generally
considered the third most popular flowers in the world. The next time you are putting
together a fresh spring bouquet, see if you can include one or more tulips of varying
colours to really jazz it up.
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