#easyflowers

Decor for celebrations doesn't have to take forever to be impressive. Candles, Christmas decorations, a  few Flax or Aspidistra leaves and a bunch of Chrysanthemums is all you need...well almost.

 The technique has been around for a while (Part of the  DVD: Manipulating leaves Volume 1) and it continues to be beautiful and rewarding (in my opinion of course!)  Five members from the Hamilton Floral Art Club created this piece and it has secrets... it is  5 separate designs pushed close together. Throw in as many Obowls and floral foam as you need for the length of your table.

Attach the candle with sellotape and skewers

Start with wet floral foam in each plastic bowl so it is above the rim by  2 cms.(1")

Use sellotape or florists' tape to attach 4 skewers to a pillar candle. Cut the skewers to  the appropriate length so they go right down into the floral foam, but are not right up the side of the candle.

The candle should be really firmly held in place with this method.

U pins hold the rolls in place

  Push one end of the Aspidistra or New Zealand Flax into the floral foam anywhere and curl it into a roll. Where it touches the floral foam insert a U shaped pin. Go right out to the edges as well as  close to the candle. Make  it all loopy and airy so you leave room for the flowers later. Use 5-6 pieces of Flax or Aspidistra (and if your Aspidistra is too wide, split it down the middle.)

By the time you have finished your bowl should look like this. If you can still see the top of the skewers either make your loops bigger to hide them or cut them shorter.

Place the flowers in the gaps