Aspects of Design: The Shape of Creative Arrangements

"You Have My Heart" Romantic Arrangement

Want to know what’s taking shape in the world of floral designers? In the age of floral wire and other creative accessories, line and form flowers are bending and shaping their way into hearts everywhere.

Speaking of bending into hearts, many people have asked how the designer of the “You Have My Heart” romantic arrangement created the heart shape from calcynia. The designer, Regina Berryman, explains that line flowers such as calcynia and heather can very easily be formed into this shape in just a matter of steps.

Cut the stem of the flower of choice until it forms a better angle for entry into wet floral foam. A standard wood pick with floral wire is the tool of choice for creating the shape. Simply hold the ends of the flowers together and wrap the wire around the tips. Use a high gauge (thin) wire as these are easier to disguise. Simply stick the wood pick in the floral foam and you’re ready to go with a great new shape!

Flowers with a stronger, hollow stem such as Bells of Ireland and equisetum also form shapes well. A slightly different technique can be used to create wavy shapes, curves, hearts and more. Simply cut the end of the flower to ease insertion into wet floral foam (if used). Insert a medium gauge floral wire into the stem and gently ease the wire through the stem, pushing through any knots that support the stem. The distance from the tip where the floral wire should stop is mostly a matter of judgment. This technique allows more flexibility in the flowers for a great shape.

A benefit to this design technique is that often flowers arrive to the local flower shop with more (or less) of a curve than expected. Where many flowers should be straight, packaging and light affect how upright they are upon arrival. These techniques help make lemonade from lemons, or in this case shapes from pretty flowers.

Regina cuts the flowers for freshness and ease of insertion.

Insert the wire into the stem of the flower.

A better look at how easy this technique is!

Here Regina inserts Bells of Ireland at a slight angle.

Here Regina forms the heart shape by adjusting the floral wire.

The other half!

Beautiful flowers and a few bells around the rim complete the design.