Floral Simplicity

Basic Wire Designs Presented by Janine Morgan & Klair Scattergood

Creating Buttonholes By the end of this presentation you will know and understand :- How to wire and stem- tex different types of choice flowers How to wire basic leaves and foliage How to create a simple but creative Carnation Buttonhole from Start to Finish

Stem-tex Wire Practice Stem-tex is wrapped around wired materials to seal stems and cover the mechanics. This green tape is stretchable and tacky, it helps the production wired designs. When Stem-texing delicate items use scissors to strip tape so its half width. This helps to prevent bulkiness in the design and is high standard practice. You will need: mm gauge wire 2.Stem-tex Have a go with half width tape, attempt to get a fully covered, smooth, tight finish

Wiring Basic focal flowers Different types of flowers need different wiring techniques to strengthen and help flexibility Following are 3 examples of wired flowers:- Gerbera – Hook method, with stem wrapped support Carnation – Wired through the Calyx, with stem wrapped support. Rose – Pinned through the sepals, then wired through the Calyx with stem wrapped support.

Wiring Focal Flower 1 Gerbera You will need:- 1.A Gerbera mm gauge green wire 3.A length of Stem-tex Gerberas have a hollow stem. They can be wired through the base of the shortened stem. A hook is then created, the wire is secured and full width stem-tex is used to seal moisture and secure the wire.

Wiring the Focal Flower 2 Carnation You will need:- 1.A Carnation mm gauge green wire 3.A length of Stem-tex Carnations are hardy flowers perfect for beginners. The method demonstrated is the ideal practice method for wiring techniques used on other more expensive flowers such as roses and freesia. Carnations have Nodes bumpy stems When cutting always cut above the node.

Wiring the Focal Flower 3 Rose You will need:- A Rose A few rose pins:- These can be made from 7.46mm gauge silver wire mm gauge green wire A length of Stem-tex These flowers are pinned. This helps to keep green sepals/outer leaves out of the way and also prevents petals from blowing open or blooming

Wiring Foliage Different types of foliages are wired using different techniques. This helps strength and flexibility. Foliage leaves are taped in half width stem-tex for neatness and to save bulk. 4 Buttonhole foliages are wired as examples Ruscus Ivy Tree Fern Looped Bear Grass with threaded Hypericum Berries

Wiring Foliage 1 Ruscus You will need:- 1.A Ruscus leaf mm gauge silver wire 3.A length of half width Stem-tex When wiring foliage, aim to have one short wire, the same length as the stem, and one longer wire, for coiling and Stem-texing.

Wiring Foliage 2 Ivy You will need:- 1.An Ivy Leaf mm gauge silver wire 3.A length of half width Stem-tex The ivy leaf technique is very similar to the one you have just seen used on the Ruscus leaf

Wiring Foliage 3 Tree fern You will need:- 1.Tree fern mm gauge silver wire 3.A length of half width Stem-tex Tree fern should be split into individual fronds so that it can be recompiled. This makes it easier to handle.

Bending Wired Leaves Once the leaves are stitched and wired it supports and helps flexibility. Leaves can be bent and shaped once they are wired, this can help to create the design with ease and interest. For stronger, thicker leaves use stronger thin green wires. For longer, slender leaves use thinner long green wires

Wiring Foliage 4 Looped Bear grass with threaded Hypericum Berries You will need:- 1.Some Hypericum Berries 2.A strand of flexible Bear Grass 3.A length of Stem-tex 4.A 7.46mm gauge wire to create a hole in the berry ready for threading. This can be used to add interest to your foliage

Producing a Carnation Buttonhole You will need: –A standard Carnation –x2 wired Tree Fern sprigs –x2 wired Ivy leaves –x2 wired Ruscus leaves –X1 wired looped Bear grass with threaded Hypericum berries. –14.90mm green and 7.46mm silver gauge and wires. –A roll of Stem-tex

Wiring Your Buttonhole Putting the wired focal flower and foliages together then Stem-texing. The overall procedure of wired designs is simple; the design is created using foliages and materials to enhance not overpower the focal flower and incorporate interest and detail.

Finishing Off Your Buttonhole How to finish & pin your buttonhole You will need:- x2 corsage pins Gold bullion wire A round item for twisting wire stem e.g. a clean round stem Always aim for a professional and contemporary finish to your buttonhole

Ideas for Buttonholes Experiment with different types of flowers and foliages to create your own eye- catching designs. Neatness and workmanship are the key to a good standard buttonhole along with Be warned wired designs take time, practice and patience. The following examples were all created using the techniques you have just learned

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Created & Produced by Newcastle Under Lyme College Module Q Project Team Bob Gerrard Janine Morgan Klair Scattergood Graham Tinsley Liz Wyman Music written, created & produced by Paul Ritchings, Newcastle under Lyme College

© 2006 Newcastle Under Lyme College