FREE-STEMMING IN SYMPATHY DESIGN - Creative Edge January 2021
DESIGNS & TEXT BY HITOMI GILLIAM AIFD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY COLIN GILLIAM
“I would like to start off the year 2021 committed to REDUCE, RECYCLE & REINVENT toward Sustainable Floristry.
I am excited to know that there are some exciting alternative environment-friendly products being tested and know that our industry will continue its quest toward more sustainable practices across the board… after all, we are working with Nature’s products.
I’m planning to continue my efforts, testing new methods and/or tweaking old methods to see if there’s some applicable ways to contribute to commercial floristry. The topic which is top on my ‘List to Do’ this year is to continue the feasibility of the FREE STEMMING method in commercial floristry. This refers to designing flowers without water source. Historically, prior to invention of floral foam, a lot of floral designs were being made with Free Stemming. Most sympathy work then (‘before foam’ - BF) were designed without a water source. This included Hand-tied sympathy sprays, Wreath and sprays with picked flowers and greens on Styrofoam, and Blankets with flowers and greens sewed on, etc.
The nature of sympathy design for funeral service is for short term viewing. The lasting quality required for these designs is similar to today’s event designs with a window of 6 to 48 hours from placement. It is exactly the same as wedding flowers as well.”
“Free stemming requires suitable mechanics:
-Structure and/or mechanics eg. plastic pillow/egg/cage or chicken wire counterparts plus rolls
-N.B. Making chicken wire structures is quickly becoming part of new floristic design system.
In my first article of the year, I am presenting Different Shapes of Sympathy Easel Spray and its Mechanics. The color palette I chose for this series of designs are a Split Complimentary Color Harmony of Green/Red Orange/Red Violet its tints and tones based on the brown scale. The flowers alone range from Red Orange to Red Violet and its tints & tones – Analogous Color Harmony
For this article, I created:
GARDEN CRESCENT
FORM LINEAR OR ‘LESS IS MORE’
FLOWER TAPESTRY”
DESIGN one
‘Garden Crescent’
“In this easel spray, the mechanics are bindwired to the easel – Viburnum branch, pillow, chickenwire rolls with Southern smilax overlay. Then with Magnolia and boxwood, the general silhouette of the design is sketched in. The depth of the design first developed with the smilax overlay is bolstered with garden foliage combinations to set the structure up for flowering. Flower placement was sequential by variety to create rhythm. First the outermost flowers, then the core, followed by the focal emphasis area, light overlay and complete with final decorative accent.
All greens and flowers are cut and inserted into the built mechanics – free stemming with no water source. After the frontal 180 degrees view of the design is completed, follow with trimming of extended stems on the backside, some stem ends cauterized with cold glue. Then finish greening the back side. This design then is misted with water and tented with light weight plastic sheeting until its ready to install or deliver. It can be misted with anti-transpirant such as Finishing Touch or Crowning Glory.
The Hellebores are the only stems in water tubes.
At 6 hours: Stocks and Ranunculus were starting to soften. Germini and Jasmine were softening at 10 hours. Mums were softening at 24 hours. Roses and carnations held up perfectly to 48 hours plus.
Understanding the flowers’ ability to hold without water becomes the new science, study, awareness for event work, including sympathy designs.”
BOTANICALS Helleborus orientalis, Ranunculus asiaticus, Germini var., Rose ‘Super Green’, Stocks (Matthiola incana), Carnation-tinted (Dianthus caryophyllus), Chrysanthemum (disbud), Chrysanthemum (pompon), Jasmine officinale, Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant), Boxwood (Buxus microphylla), Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), Nandina domestica, Seeded Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea), Fatsia japonica, Viburnum branch, Meyerii Fern (Asparagus densiflorus), dried Southern Smilax vine (Smilax smallii)
SUPPLIES Handmade wooden easel (built using Poplar1x2’s), 10” Pillow (Syndicate), 2-Chicken wire rolls (as seen on video tutorial), Bindwire
DESIGN two
‘Form Linear / Less is More’
“The mechanics bindwired to the easel initially pre-detemines its shape. The large Viburnum branch is first attached to the easel, followed by the willow whip structure built to size to create the general flow of the form linear design. Then bindwire the pillows in the desired spots for concentrated flowering and greening, followed by the rolls to create the linear curvatures desired. Overlay this with the light vining of dried Southern Smilax to replicate the wild garden feel.
The initial greening with boxwood establish the secure mechanics for free-stemming. Next, insert the feature linear component, flax – thicker base need to go into chicken wire before it gets too crowded. Follow with Roebelenii palm and Fatsia to establish front to back dimension.
All flower stem insertions must be firm and solid in form linear design. Any long stems can get extra support, bindwired to the closest point of attachment to the willow whip structure or southern smilax. Free-stemming for this design was in the following order: Protea, Rose, Carnations, Seeded Eucalyptus, Germini, Tulips (in water tubes), and Anthurium. Finish off with ferns and accenting greens to complete.
The end result is Form Linear – showcasing flower form and contrasting linear emphasis… attractive negative spaces created, ‘less is more’- maximizing size creatively with less flowers. Tropical Nouveau blending with inclusion of Protea and Anthurium creates intrigue, a sense of adventure.
This design can be expected to last for 12-24 hours with only tulips requiring watertubes.”
BOTANICALS Protea ‘Pink Ice’, Tulips (Tulipa var.), Anthurium andraeanum, Rose ‘Super Green’, Germini var., Carnation-tinted (Dianthus caryophyllus), Seeded Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea), Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant), Flax (Phormium tenax) , Roebelenii Palm (Phoenix roebelenii), Meyerii Fern (Asparagus densiflorus), Boxwood (Buxus microphylla), Southern Smilax (Smilax smallii),Viburnum branch, Fatsia japonica, Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), Nandina domestica, Willow whips (IKEA Torka)
SUPPLIES Handmade Easel, 3 Chicken wire pillow (watch video) 2 Chicken wire roll (watch video), Bindwire, Willow structures, UGlu Dashes
DESIGN THREE
‘Flower Tapestry’
“The Free-Stemming method of designing is best used for event installation work like Weddings – for Moon Gate, Arches, Columns, Flower Clouds, etc. The quick build is impressive, cost effective and makes this method profitable for designs which need to last for limited number of hours.
The base mechanics begins with bindwiring the fascinated willow to the easel, adding in the 3D willow whip structure for extra dimension. The 3 chicken wire pillows are placed in strategic spots of concentrated stem insertions, and the chicken wire rolls bindwired in place to connect curving arcs for soft and gardeny flow of flowers and greens. In this vertical tapestry form, most flowers are designed short stemmed and are well supported, placed tight to the structure. The tapestry is an extra long vertical with showy, luxurious display of beautiful blooms framed by dramatic combination of greens – its an exhibition piece. The size and effect achieved for the quantity of flowers in this recipe displays Economy of Means, ideal for commercial floristry.
Cost of flowers and supplies used = $180 CAD x 3.5 markup = $630 CAD
$630 + 50% labor $315= $945 CAD = $742 USD Retail price
$248 labor for 40 minutes of work- start to finish including building the mechanics.
Designing quickly and efficiently, without needless steps equal higher profit.
Study of flowers and cataloguing its longevity out of water can be a new study which can contribute to feasibility for short term event designs.”
BOTANICALS Helleborus orientalis*, Anthurium andraeanum, Protea ‘Pink Ice’, Ranunculus asiaticus*, Stocks*(Matthiola incana), Germini var.* Rose ‘Super Green’, Carnation-tinted (Dianthus caryophullus),Tulips* var., Chrysanthemum (disbud and pompon)*, Southern Smilax (Smilax smallii), Boxwood (Buxus microphylla), RoebeleniPalm (Phoenix roebelenii), Fatsia japonica, Seeded Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea), Jasmine Vine*(Jasmine offinale), Nandina domestica, Fasciated Willow, Willow Whips (IKEA Torka)
SUPPLIES Easel, Chickenwire pillows & rolls (watch the video tutorial) bindwire
