A low center flower arrangement...for a non traditional Christmas table

We are having a big family Christmas and I want to do some special flowers.   
I am planning several long low floral arrangements for a long long table, with a loose Amy Osaba inspired style, and I want to incorporate pomegranates, their pink red colour reminds me of Christmas without being to traditional.

I asked the talented Antonia of Ruby Slipper Floral Design to show me how to go from inspiration to gorgeous arrangement, and boy did she deliver!  So enjoy the gorgeous flowers and skip to the bottom to see how you can make your own.

What you will need:

• Several blocks of oasis, or an oasis block like the one we used.
• 3 large store bought pomegranates
• One bunch each of green leaves, roses, mini pomegranates, kalmia, lisianthus (see below)
• Florists wire

Soaking the oasis:

• place each block in a bucket or basin of water and let it absorb the water
• Do not push the oasis down or you may create air bubbles, be patient!
• The oasis is fully soaked when no dry patches remain.
• If your oasis doesn't fit in a bucket (like ours) pour water over it carefully until you are sure it is fully soaked.

Adding your flowers in the correct order:

• Create initial structure with greenery:  Space it evenly without being to symmetrical (see below). The asparagus fern has been placed in the top, and along the sides creating good depth before even adding the flowers.
• Create a test corner:  This is where you will get a feel for how the flowers look together and how you are going to group them.  Once you are happy with the test corner, place your feature flowers, then work around the arrangement adding flowers in a similar but not identical pattern.
• Add the feature flowers:  The pomegranates in this arrangement.  Antonia suggest grouping them loosely in threes.  In our arrangement they are loosely grouped slightly off the center of the oasis block.  (see tips for the pomegranates below)
• Soften with secondary flowers:   Add your other flowers around the focal elements making sure they are at different heights to create depth and interest.
• Place flowers at different heights and angles:  Create texture and depth by pushing some flowers deeper into the arrangment and allowing others to trail over the edge.  
• Work around the arrangement building up the design: Stand back and look at your design from every side.  It is a centrepiece and needs to look good from all angles.
• Fill in the gaps: Add a final selection of flowers and small pieces of greenery to make sure the underlying structure is hidden and that the arrangement is full all over.  This is a good time to add trailing elements.

Arranging the pomegranates:

• Cut several pieces of thick florist wire 10 to 15 cm long.  
• Push the wire through the skin at the base of the fruit (see below) and push firmly into the fruit.  
• Twist the wire ends together 
• Position in oasis as you would a normal flower.  
• Use the same technique for other fruit, accessories like pine cones, or even succulents.
• This worked impressively well and the pomegranates were in no danger of being bumped out of place.

Antonia gathers several roses and a small bit of pomegranate into a mini bunch in her hand (above), then nestles them into the larger arrangement.  A design within a design.

Work around the arrangement, adding flowers from every side so that it will look good from every side of the table when finished.

How to choose flowers for your arrangement

• Select flowers in different tones of the same colour.  This allows you to have a variety of flowers without the arrangement feeling to busy.  In our arrangement the yellow to orange roses toned with the orange mini pomegranates, and the pink lisianthus toned with the softer pink kalmia.
• Use greenery to create the base of the arrangement.  The greenery sets off the flower colour and is an inexpensive way to bulk out a large arrangement.  It also hides the oasis structure. Some of Antonia's favourites are hydrangea leaves, viburnum, magnolia little gem
• Keep it simple and limit your colour scheme.  Antonia recommends using only one or two colours in an arrangement.  
• Use seasonal flowers  This is going to keep your costs down and also ensure the flowers are fresh and will last longer.

Top tips for arranging flowers like a pro:

• Create your base structure with greenery
• Add the feature plants, the pomegranates to the green arrangement, and then soften with secondary flowers.
• Add flowers at different heights to create depth.  Nestle some deeper into the arrangement, have some trailing onto the table top at the edges.
• Use three or four blooms to make a mini bunch in your hand.  Add the mini bunch as you would a single flower into the arrangement.
• Don't be afraid to adjust the position of flowers, but remember to put them in a new place in the oasis.  If you place the stems in the same oasis hole they will lose stability.

Ready for the table!  We didn't take the flowers all the way down the oasis block because I have made a reclaimed wood frame to hide that bit.  You will just have to wait and see how it looks all complete on the gold polka dot tablecloth.  Next post I promise.  Hope this inspired your and gave you some ideas for creating your own special Christmas day look.  And if you don't have time, let Antonia make one just for you.

All photos by Eva of Build House Home, flowers selected and arranged by Antonia of Ruby Slipper Floral Design.

how to create a rustic spring bouquet

I am delighted to share some tips and tricks I learned at a floral workshop presented by Antonia Georgas of Ruby Slipper Floral Design.  To celebrate the start of spring, and all the lovely flowers available, Antonia taught us "straussing" - the art of making a bunch of flowers in your hand.  I am delighted with how mine turned out and will definitely be using this technique again!  Skip down if you want to find out how or just enjoy the pictures of my lovely bunch on my kitchen bench top.

How to make your own rustic spring bouquet.

Selecting your flowers:
Antonia recommends using 1 primary flower, 2 supporting flowers, and a filler.
In our bunches she selected ranunculas (primary), jonquils and Japanese anenome (supporting), and pieris (filler).
Getting ready:

• Strip stems of leaves, twigs and older blooms. 
• Lay the stripped flowers in bunches by type on the table.
• They need to be ready to use and easy to get to as you will only have one hand free once you begin.

The Straussing technique:

• Start with a stem of your primary flower and lay it across the palm of your left hand (swap hands if you are left handed).
• Next select a supporting flower and lay that across the first stem with the flower slightly to the left of the first stem so that its stem crosses the first one from left to right.
• Continue adding flower stems, alternating the varieties as you go, but make sure each stem is added across the bunch at a slight diagonal from left to right.  This achieves the diagonal stem effect you can see in my photos.
• Vary the height of the flowers to create a looser look.  It looks a little strange in the beginning but will make sense as the bunch grows.  I raised every 5th or 6th stem I added so that the flower was higher than the previous one.
• Turn the bouquet in your hand slightly as you go.  Holding all the flowers in one hand feels awkward at first but gets easier as you go.
• Once you are satisfied with your bunch tie the stems securely with twine and trim the stems to an equal length.
• I snipped the twine once I had put my bouquet in a vase and made the arrangement slightly looser, personal preference really.

There is really no wrong way, with such a lovely combination of flowers your bunch is sure to turn out just lovely.

If my description doesn't make sense why not do your own workshop with Antonia at her store in Paddington.   I will be back for more, next time I want to learn how to use succulents.  

Top Tip

• Keep water in vases clean by adding a spoon of sugar to the vase before filling with water.

I have tried to show my bunch from every side so you can see how lovely it looks from every angle.  I think it is one of the prettiest bunches I have ever arranged myself and I will definitely use this technique again.  

Thanks Antonia, it was a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning.