Flower Today: Arachnis ‘Magiie Oie’

Look at this beautiful brown-striped yellow orchid. It’s also popular as scorpion orchid.

Another variant, its red color is so tempting

Magnificent

Church Décor: The National Bible Month

Time goes by very quickly, right guys? We have already been in the fourth week of September. And September is stated by the Catholic church of Indonesia as the month of the Bible. The theme of the National Bible Month of 2012 is 'Witnessing the Miracle of God'

Just like its name, so every activity done in this month should be focused on the Holy book, no exception the eucharist  and so is the decor. The Bible is put on a special table. And the table is placed in the front, a bit on the right side of the altar (image above).

The flowers arrangement in front of the altar (image below). The flowers used are white lilies, roses of Avalanche and Aleandra, two kinds of gerberas (white and yellow, which the last is called Mamot), while the foliage is sprengeri, dracaena, philodendron and leather leaves. Overall, those flowers give shades of white-yellow.

An up-close look of the Bible table

The flower arrangement placed at the Cathedral activities facility building, under the photo of Pope Benedict XVI.

Note:

Church Décor: Team Margriet

American Style Flower Arranging (part 7) : Practicing Time

Still remember the workshop of American Style by Andy Djati Utomo, S.Sn, AIFD, CFD? After the first session ended and all the participants got their lunch, it's time for practicing! Then the materials were distributed to all participants. The organizer provided several kinds of vases made of ceramic or wicker woven but unfortunately they couldn't choose what they like. They have just accepted what given to them. Also, when in the first session the participants saw lots of unique flowers and leaves used, but for practicing the organizer provided only standard flowers and leaves such as roses, gerbera, snapdragon (some got tuberose fragrant, instead) and futoy, foxtail leaves, cordyline and areca palm. Each participant was given 5 stems for every flowers and foliage. And they had to make the American style flower arrangement in 30-45 minutes. It's rather a short time for the participant who is familiar with the European style and for the first time got this theory. But we were amazed by their spirit to try something new though some of them were not young people. Just look at this one.

It's pretty good since this was the first time of her to make an American style flower arrangement. More over she could absorb the theory given and then implement it. Here she used most of the American floral design techniques such grouping, basing, terracing, framing and layering. She just should be more careful with the proportion or balancing in her design. That's all.

And here it is how to make an easy American style flower arrangement just like the one above step by step:

1.                  Prepare the container and then fill it with wet floral foam. If you use a tall ceramic vase with small mouth just like this one, then you need the foam thicker than the usual at about 3-4 cm from the mouth of the container so that you don't run out of space to place the materials.

2.                  Then trim the fourth tip fringe of the foam

3.                  Place the cordyline, 2 stems on the left side and 3 stems which 2 of them folded on the right side by using terracing technique.

4.                  Take 5 stems of foxtail leaf then place 3 of them on the center and 2 stems which were a little bit shorter at the front

5.            Take roses of ‘Mohana’, place them by using terracing technique. Then take gerberas, place 3 stems at the front using basing technique and 2 stems higher on the left side. After that place the white snapdragon by using layering technique.

6.                 Take futoy, fill inside with wire, then shape them just like the shape of insect repellent. Place them on the right side.  Pay attention to the length, always keep the proportion or balancing, so the design would be just perfect. Finished.

Margriet's Hot Issues: Regeneration!!!

 

I attended Margriet’s meeting yesterday morning. It was the first meeting after Margriet got the new chairwoman from the voting done last month. It began at 10.15 and 22 members were present on the meeting which took place in the building of the Cathedral activity facilities. Not all members could attend coz of some private reasons.

As usual it was opened with a morning pray and then followed with a short speech by Mrs. Diana as the new chairman. And then proceed to choose the right persons who will assist the new chairman in carrying out the tasks of this organization. Finally the newly board members of Margriet formed, ready to implementing new programs. Thanks God.

Regeneration becomes the main issue for Margriet this moment. It is even far more crucial to be solved right away because most of the members are old now, for example the age of our advisor is 73 and the oldest member among us is 76 years old. So, no matter what, the problem of regeneration should be our top priority now. It means that in the near future there will be more trainings or workshop for new members.

For the shake of our beloved Cathedral church, let's support them so that the regeneration in the group of Margriet may be realized soon.

Flower Today: Paphiopedilum Glaucophyllum

This Lady Slipper or anggrek kantong/kasut is rare. 

The up-close look of Paphiopedilum. Very exotic!

This is another variant of Paphiopedilum Glaucophyllum. Look at the gradation of the color. And if you observe it carefully, it looks like a bat with different wings and beautiful color. Very unique!!! ... more, I think. It’s outstanding!!

Note:

The Images were taken at the Orchid Asia Africa Expo, Bandung, West Java

Wedding Church Décor: Tropical Pink

It’s a tropical pink wedding décor’s time. Look at the lilies oriental 'Sorbone'. The pink color is so nice and soft. The pink flecked on white color make the lilies sorbone look bright and stand out among the white and green color that surrounds them. Look gorgeous, aren’t they?

When the flower arrangement was put in front of the altar (image above), and when was still not finished yet and the room where we were working was a little bit messy (image below). The materials used are lilies oriental Sorbone, roses Avalanche, roses ‘Dolce’, roses ‘Universe’, Fiji (a kind of chrysanthemum), and hydrangea while the foliage is philodendron, florida beauty, sprengeri, ruscus and leather leaves.

The flower arrangement in front of the psalmist  viewed from the front and right side.

The chairs and pew decoration viewed from some angles. The flowers used only pink gerberas, soft-pink spray carnations, fiji and Kermit. The foliage used was schefflera and the ming fern.

The flower arrangement in front of Jesus statue.

The flower arrangement on the seven candles stand (image above) and the up-close look (image below)

Note:

Church Décor: Team Margriet

Inspiring Wedding Car: Blue Theme

It's been a while since our first wedding car post, and now we'll be posting another one. This time, the car swathed in blue theme flower arrangements. A refreshing view, since not many brides choose a blue theme, usually they opt white, pink or red. All the flowers and foliage are artificial, with the blue theme was carried out by artificial roses

The backside flower arrangement looked very similar with the one in front, except for the size which was slightly smaller.

Details of flowers attached to the rearview mirror and at the handles.

Note:
These images were taken at the front yard of the Cathedral Church, Bandung..
Car Rental & florist unknown. If you know, please let us know.

American Style Flower Arranging (part 6): Bridal Bouquet

Hand bouquet commonly held horizontally by Indonesian brides, but held vertically by American, just like holding an ice cone. It usually gives the consequences of different in making, in using techniques,  in design, in concept and of course in look as the final result. For those who are looking for something different, unusual, new, or beyond your daily look, this one is perfect for you guys. We personally like this bridal bouquet. The design is unique, so bravo for the floral designer, Mr. Andy Djati Utomo, S.Sn, AIFD, CFD.

From the image above, you can see that not only the basic American Floral Design Techniques such as basing, grouping and terracing techniques were used here but also binding, framing, and sheltering as well. Perfect example, isn’t it?

Wanna try to make the beautiful American style bouquet just like the one above? Here’s the step by step how to make it:

1.          First of all, Mr. Andy Djati Utomo showed how the American brides to hold the bouquet - vertically, just like holding an ice-cream cone.

2.               Take 3 pieces of woven leaves of lily paris, then place them in a group at the front. Arrange the length of them that do not look monotonous . Take some ivy leaves. If they're not thick enough and don't dangling beautifully, then tie two ivy leaves with floral wire from the top up to the end so that you are now able to form it as you wish.

3.            Take 2 stems of green anthurium. As we need rather high, so attach floral wire to the stem, then secured it with floral tape. Place them by using terracing technique to balance the lily paris leaves.

Take 3 stems of pink gerbera. Cut them short enough then place them as focus in the center by using terracing technique.

Take 4 stems of two tone color of calla lily (white & maroon) then place them a bit on the right side of lily paris leaves by using layering technique.

Take 2 stems of futoy, insert the wire into the stem then by using framing technique, place them to the opposite side of the calla lilies to give balancing of the right and left side of the flowers arrangement.

Then place the other flowers rest such as caspea, statice, purple roses and red celocia. Also do not forget to fill the foam seen with ruscus leaf.

4.         One more, don’t let the holder looks plain, so this is how to make ‘under the holder’ looks different. It’s done by Mr. Johanes Priyono, the assistant of Mr. Andy.

5.                   Finished.

 This is how the bouquet look from the front

Since it was held vertically, therefore, the back of the bridal bouquet is usually vacant. So as not to contact with the body of the bride as well as her wedding gown because some types of flowers, such as lilies can leave stain (from its stigmas) that not able to be washed easily. So, please be careful if you do with bridal bouquet. Give extra attention to the flowers selection and to the work, for example, do not let any thorns still attached to the stems of the roses that can injure the bride's hands or tear the wedding gown. You don’t want to be sued or pay for compensation, do you?

Note:

Pictures taken at the workshop by Andy Djati Utomo, S.Sn, AIFD, CFD, on May 16^th, 2012 in Bandung, West Java.