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| I like to begin this bouquet by preparing the ivy collar.
Create a round armature to support the ivy with a taped 18 gauge wire. This armature
should be the diameter you desire for the finished bouquet. Attach three taped
18 gauge wires like "legs" to the armature to create spokes for bouquet
attachment. Using several long trailers cut from your ivy plants, wind each around
the armature to cover and conceal the wire. As you work, you will be wrapping
ivy around ivy to get a full and luxurious collar. |
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| Nest, each rose in this bouquet should be cleaned and hydrated the
day before assembly. You will find this will extend the finished life of the
bouquet. To clean the blossoms, remove all lower foliage - leaving just a few leaves
at the top of the stem. Also, carefully remove any thorns. Then, cut under
water and rehydrate in a warm water/preservative solution. Let the flowers sit at
room temperature for 1 - 2 hours. Then, refrigerate if desired. Or, leave them
at room temperature to continue opening. |
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| Assemble this bouquet using the Dutch spiral technique.
Beginning with a cluster of three blossoms, add one rose at a time at an angle. Hold
the stems loosely in your hand. After you add a stem, turn the bouquet in your hand
one quarter turn, then add the next stem. Again turn the bouquet one quarter turn
then add another stem. You may add two or three roses at each time - up to you.
Just be sure that they are added at the same angle and running parallel. No
crossing stems allowed! |
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