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.