Straw work artist Nathalie Seiller Dejean talking about making straw tiaras for Dior's FW23 fashion show.

'The Clerkenwell Flower Makers' (1896) by Samuel Fisher.

Oil on canvas.

Artificial flowers were made in the Crippleage in Clerkenwell. Blind and disabled girls from around the city of London worked to make artificial flowers which were sold for charity. Women from all walks of life would wear these flowers in their bonnets.

Text information from Museum of London.

Make a Paper Flower

Follow our step-by-step instructions below to create your own flower bouquets! In honor of Earth Day, let’s upcycle newspaper in place of tissue paper and twist ties in place of pipe cleaner.

Step 1: Stack six pieces of tissue paper and fold them accordion style. Mix-and-match colors or stick with a single one.

Step 2: Wrap a pipe cleaner around the middle of the paper.

Step 3: Cut the ends of the tissue paper. Feel free to experiment with the shapes. Jagged edges will make a different kind of flower than rounded edges.

Step 4: Gently unfold each side so it looks like a bowtie.

Step 5: Carefully fan out each layer of tissue paper to open up your ower. It’s okay if the paper rips a bit.