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GLASS PAINTING 

 

Notes compiled by Dianne Buckles

 

This painting technique is a great look for clear glass containers, such as bubble balls.  This can be done with any Design Master, or flower spray colour combination, but is usually done with 3 main colours.

 

Colours of green, pink and blue were used as an example, but this technique can use any combination of colours.

 

To begin this technique be sure the container is clean and dry.  Pour a small amount of water to form a small pool in the container.  Spray the first colour (lime green) which should be your lightest as you work in reverse on the inside of a container.

 

Spray directly on the pool of water to allow spray rings to appear.  Slowly tilt the bowl and roll the water.  The paint will adhere to the glass as you roll.  Once all the paint has been deposited on the glass the pool of water will clear.  Allow to dry then spray the pool again with the green.  Continue rolling and spraying until you work all the water around the entire bowl, working from the bottom of the bowl to the top opening.  Ensure you allow to dry between sprays.

 

After it is thoroughly dry, you can spray your next colour on a new pool of water and repeat the technique.  A Cyclamen Pink can be used next, followed by Cobalt Blue.  

When you are finished with your 3 colours, back the interior with Gold.  After the Gold is dry, spray Gloss Black to hide the mechanics and to make it look more finished.  Then to help harden and seal the finish, use several coats of super sealer.

 

This container, as with any other you have painted, is a work of art you can never duplicate.  It should be treated as such and is only suitable for artificial or dried arrangements.   To use fresh material use an ancillary container.  

 

To view some of these vases click on the 'Photo Gallery'

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INFORMATION ABOUT FLAX (Phormiums)

Notes compiled by Barbara Kerr including Information printed in a 1996 Tasmanian Floral Art Society Newsletter

 

New Zealand flax is actually a lily.  It was called flax by the early traders because of the similarity between its fibre and that of true flax.

 

There are two species, Phormium Tenax and Phormium Cookianum - within each of these there are numerous varieties with harder, softer, longer or shorter leaves, with varieties variegated or tinged with red, yellow or purple.

 

The Maoris have used and some still do the raw materials to make clothing, baskets, food platters, mats to sleep on, sandals and many other articles used in every day life.  The flax plant has played such an important part of the Maoris life that tradition and ritual is associated with the plant - its cutting preparation and manufacturing processes, the articles produced from it and the initiation of young women into the lore of the House of Weaving.

 

Flax should be treated with respect.  Never step over it, on it and never burn scraps, gather them and put at the base of the plant as food.

 

The central shoot and the leaves either side should not be cut as doing so weakens the plant, and also these leaves tend to shrink as they dry.  The leaf is not at its best when the plant is in flower.

 

Flax should not be cut from the plant in the rain or at night.  Rain, frost and cold weather make the leaves hard and difficult to work because of the added moisture.  Leaves cut on dull, wet or cold days are better left for a time before being used.  In winter they can be loosely tied in a bundle and kept for up to a week in a shed, by which time the leaves will have lost a lot of the excess moisture and be much softer to the touch and easier to work with. In the summer, an hour or so in the sun makes them softer but leaving them too long causes them to roll up and become hard and brittle.

 

For weaving choose your leaves - usually from the Phormium Tenax. As a good guide the softer the leaf feels to the touch and the thinner and more flexible it is the better, for these leaves are much easier to work with.  Leaves of this type often but not always droop down at the tips.

 

Leaving the central shoot and leaves either side, cut the leaves you want with a sharp knife as near as possible to where they join the fan.

 

The leaves are then split into strips for plaiting.  To do this, press the two halves of a leaf together and with the thumbnail of the right hand make slits in the leaf to discard the midrib and the outer edges.  Divide the remaining leaf equally into the number of strips required.  Cut off the butt where the leaf becomes hard and unyielding.

 

The strips are individually scaped to soften them and to make them more flexible. This also removes some of the excess moisture and encourages the flax to dry to a better colour without too much rolling or shrinkage.  The dull underside of the strip is held tightly against the back of the blade of a knife with the thumb of the right hand and pulled through with the left hand.  Now turn the strip over and treat the shiny upper surface the same way.  The flax is now ready to be woven into creative shapes and containers.  Flax flower stalks can be woven together with the flax strips or tied together and used as a basis for a wall-hanging or a floor structure.

 

Flax does not have to be woven,  It is impressive used as tall material in arrangements and can be rolled or split and rolled through an arrangement.  The use of this plant is limited only to our imagination.

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FUN WITH FLOWERS in two minutes    -    

Notes Compiled by Eileen Wenn

 

Flowers for your home and entertaining can be so easy and lots of fun to do using plant material from the garden, bowls and vases from your cupboard, and just a couple of minutes of your time.

 

It is a lot of fun just to throw together something very simple for your own enjoyment or when having guests or a dinner party.    No RULES - NO JUDGES, just please yourself!   Have fun!!!

 

Great ideas for the coffee table and dinner table so that you look down into the flowers using glass bowls, and floating flowers can be done in two minutes.

 

We all love flowers and have very busy lives so its handy to float or submerge flowers in a bowl of water - add candles or an accessory and your family and friends will love it.

 

A small drop of bleach will help to keep the bacteria down and your quick design will last longer.

 

Visitors or dinner guests due in 20 minutes - Some of my quickies are; - 

 

	An aspidistras leaf or more rolled and place in bowl.  Fill bowl with water so leaf is submerged then place a beautiful flower i.e. a rose, camellia or similar so that it nestles above water in the aspidistras.
	This is also a nice way to uses your special bowls.

 

Float some daisies, gerberas or chrysies in a coloured bowl to match your interior décor and add some floating candles this will give a lovely atmosphere to the family room. And lasts for ages.

 

Place one or two tulips, arum lilies or zantedetias with its own foliage into a glass bowl following the contour of the bowl - float candles or glass baubles on top for that magic look.  Takes 2 minutes.

 

Cut some lemons or citrus and submerge into a glass vase or bowl.  Fill with water and float daisies, pansies or whatever you may have in the garden on the top.

 

Fill a short vase with kumquats then fill with water, cut some marigolds and place casually into the vase.  The kumquats will hold the short stems in place.  This is great if you love the warm bright colour of orange.

 

Fold some flax or umbrella grass into vase and trap pansies into the spaces.  Then fill with water so that the pansies are submerged.  This is a stunning look.  Choose colours to suit your décor.

 

Use a favourite glass platter - Cut some citrus slices (See the lovely Flower form in the citrus) Stand a small candle on top.  Add your finger food etc.  This idea is limitless depending on the shape of your platter.

 

Remove the heart from an iceberg lettuce.  Place an iceberg lettuce into a plain glass bowl - Fill bowl with water and place iceberg roses in centre.  Use enough iceberg roses to give a compact effect.  This is a very elegant dinner table quick design.  A purple kale with Angel face roses  is beautiful as well.

 

Fill a glass vase with Xanadu leaves - then fill with water for a modern look.  The leaves look great submerged.  Remember to add a drop of bleach and this will last for a month.

 

The quick ideas are endless and usually inspired by what's in the garden rather than what you might like!

You can achieve ALLSORTS. Have a go you will be surprised how these 2 minute quickies' can give you so much pleasure.

 

NEXT TIME YOUR ENTERTAINING TAKE TWO MINUTES AND HAVE FUN WITH FLOWERS!!  ENJOY!   

 

From Eileen Wenn

 

To view some of these designs click on the 'Photo Gallery'

 

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TATAMI MATTING / MATS (notes compiled by Sara Quail)

 

The Tatami mat is the traditional straw matting that is used on the floor in Japanese homes.  Tatami evolved over a long period, first beginning as a thin easily folded straw mat on which people sat or slept.  Later more layers of tightly woven rice straw were added to the core to increase comfort. The core was then covered with woven rushes and edges hemmed with cloth.

 

In traditional society, Tatami come to be associated with privilege as exalted members of society sat upon them, while others sat on the wooden floor. Tatami mats can be found in teahouses where tea ceremonies are performed along with traditional Ikebana arrangements.

 

Uses in Floral Art:

·      Decorative and textural. Structural to create depth and planes

·      Support to weave plant material through and around. Creating a 3 dimensional form.

Can be made from:

·      Steel grass, Twigs, Skewers

·      Cocktail sticks, Chopsticks, Broomsticks

·      Anything fairly rigid and straight (Asparagus, Knitting needles maybe?)

Bindings:

Anything that has the properties of wire that is easy to twist eg;

·      Paper covered wire

·      Decorative wire – coloured

·      Reel wire

·      Plastic and fabric coated wire

·      Pipe cleaners

Points to consider:

·      When using fresh horticultural material, make allowances for shrinkage.

·      Length of binding needed is approx. 4 times the desired finish width.  This accommodates the circumference of the sticks used with a bit to spare.  Joins are hard to disguise, so its best to check the length before you start.

·      When using relatively fragile materials that can break easily such as steel grass, double up on the first row of sticks to increase strength.

·      Fold binding wire in half and start at that point. For even spacing, use the same number of twists each time.

·      Twists should be in same direction for uniform appearance.

·      Increasing the number of twists increases the distance between the sticks.

·      It is easier to work on a flat surface and roll the mat up as you go if it gets too big.

·      When using steel grass, ends can be straitened up by cutting afterwards. Rather than pre-cutting to exact length before you start.

·      Firm twisting is needed to keep the sticks in place, using pliers helps.

 

To view some of these designs click on the 'Photo Gallery'

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'RITZY RECYCLING' 

Recycling Christmas Cards into Gift Boxes

Notes compiled by Dianne Buckles 

A wonderful way to recycle your Christmas Cards and an excellent way to entertain children during holidays.  The size of the box will be determined by the size of your card.

 

Requirements :

Old Xmas Cards or other cards (preferably  with design in centre area)

Ruler / Pencil / Scissors

Stapler (or Glue or Tape)

 

	Cut down the spine of the Xmas card, giving two pieces.
	Cut 1cm (or just under) from top and side of the BACK CARD.
	Find the centre of both cards by ruling from corner to corner forming an “X” which will be your central point.
	You may at this point rub out lines but leaving dot for central point.
	Fold sides into the centre point and press down firmly.
	Now unfold and there should be firm lines on card.
	Fold top end into the centre point and press down firmly.   Now unfold.
	Where top creases meet side creases CUT DOWN FROM TOP AND UP FROM BOTTOM OF BOTH CARDS.
	You have now formed ends to be turned in.
	Fold sides in and top over to form box.
	Repeat enclosing bottom and lid of boxes.
	Staple or glue your boxes together.
	Inside of boxes could also be lined with material or coloured paper.

 

To view some of these designs click on the 'Photo Gallery'

 

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WEAVING WITH WEEPING WILLOW

Notes compiled by Leonie Cherry 

 

MATERIALS :

Paper covered wire

Pliable stems of weeping willow

 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

	Remove all foliage
	Separate branches into single stems
	Take a long stem and wrap to form circle about the size of a 20 cent coin
	Cut 3 long pieces of paper covered wire and attached in 1/3rds around the circle
	Use pliers to tighten paper covered wire and willow tight
	Keep wrapping willow in circle and tie with wire as you go.
	Join in more willow as required
	As the circle gets bigger add 3 more wire strips in between original pieces
	Continue creating weaving and tying until desired width is reached and trim off remaining wire.
	Paint or decorate as required.

 

To view some of these woven pieces click on the 'Photo Gallery'

 

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