The Freeze-Drying Method In Floral

Freeze drying is a commercial method of freezing the flowers first before drying them. Flowers are placed in large refrigerated vacuum chambers, which removes the moisture from the plant tissues. The flowers look very natural and hold their color. The cost of the chamber is prohibitive for most people.

DESIGNING WITH EVERLASTINGS (DRIED AND SILK)

Designers of dried or silk arrangements must employ the same principles and elements of design that are used with fresh flowers; however, some of the mechanics and specific techniques are slightly different. Designing with dried and silk flowers gives much flexibility to the designer. Stems can be lengthened or manipulated into various shapes. Materials may be glued, wired, and taped in a wide variety of ways that are not possible with fresh materials. A diverse range of containers can be used, including those that do not hold water. In many ways, designing with dried or silk flowers is much easier than with fresh flowers; because, wilting is no longer a concern. Designs will not need water added; wilted petals or leaves do not need to be removed. Care should be taken to avoid sunny or humid areas.

Stem Techniques

Many flowers or leaves are dried without any stems at all. Both dried and silk flowers may need stems to be lengthened or strengthened. The methods used will depend upon the flower type and stem thickness. New or added stems should be taped with floral tape in the appropriate matching color before using them in a design.

To create a new stem, a heavy wire can be glued (with pan melt glue or glue from a glue gun) and secured to the flower. Another method is to use the daisy hook wiring method.

To lengthen or strengthen stems, several methods are available.  Pick machines attaches a metal pick or stem to single or clustered silk or dried flowers to add length and strength. A wooden pick, a narrow, pointed piece of wood with a wire attached at the top, can add stem length. Stems can be lengthened or strengthened by wrapping the wire on the pick around both the stem and the wooden Stem length can be added for a short flower by placing it into a hollow stem, removed from another flower. Tape the flower to secure it. A designer can tightly tape a short flower or leaf to a longer stem without wire or glue or hollow stem. This method is quick but the taping must be very secure to keep Hot glue can attach a longer stem to a short flower or leaf

To operate a pick machine, begin by loading the metal picks into the slot at the top of the machine. Next, the handle is pulled forward to feed the pick into the front of the machine. The stems of the dried materials are placed over the top part of the pick. The stems should be thick enough to allow the pick to grasp them; if too thin, the stems will slip out of the pick. Then, the handle is pushed downward with a firm, steady grip. The prongs on the pick close over the stems of the dried materials, clamping the stems tightly. The dried material is ready to use in a design.

To shorten designing time, several flowers, fillers, or leaves may be attached to one stem and placed into a design adding several small filler flowers on the same metal or wooden pick or hollow stem shortens the design time and gives a full look to the design. Larger flowers can be wired and taped to quickly add color, depth, and fullness to a design.

To secure silk flowers and leaves, some silks may need to be removed from their stem, hot glued, and reattached to the stem. Before designing with silks, determine if this step is necessary with a gentle tug on a silk flower or leaf. If the parts come off easily, gluing is essential to secure them.

To shape silk flowers, use the wired petals, leaves, and stems and position these parts in a natural way. Unfurl the petals and stage the flowers to look partially to fully open; position the leaves to appear growing and not wilted; the stems may be slightly curved to look "real"

Designing Tips

Floral foam created specifically for silk and dried flower arranging is available. The foam should be securely attached to the container or wreath frame by gluing or wiring. To keep the wire from cutting through the floral foam, moss can be added before wiring. Moss is also used to conceal the floral foam and other mechanics. Wooden picks can also be placed at the foam edges to keep the wire from cutting through the floral foam.

When designing, each stem may be glued before placing it into the arrangement. Experienced designers can use this technique as they design; novices may want to glue the stems of the finished arrangement.

Designs with everlastings should not appear flat. Layering, the technique of placing some flowers deeper than others within an arrangement, will add fullness and avoid a flat look. Some flowers and fillers will appear quite "leggy" and layering avoids the see-through appearance. Display finished designs away from direct sunlight and high humidity. Sunlight will fade the colors and humidity will "wilt" dried flowers.

Dried and silk materials are long lasting and low maintenance. These types of designs will need occasional cleaning by dusting with a lightweight feather duster, spraying with a commercial spray designed for cleaning dried and silk flowers, or a quick dusting with a hair blow dryer on a low setting.

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