Designing Centerpieces

Transcription

Designing Centerpieces
T
HE FLORAL CENTERPIECE is an established
part of our society. Holidays, birthdays,
dinner parties, and other special events call
for the use of centerpieces to contribute to
a festive atmosphere. Floral designers can
exercise their creativity by designing
centerpieces with specific themes.
Objective:
þ
Demonstrate how to design centerpieces.
Key Terms:
Ñ
accessories
candleholder
centerpiece
Floral Centerpieces
Centerpieces have been the center attraction on tables since the eighteenth century. A centerpiece is a floral arrangement designed to be placed on a table or a buffet. It should be
attractive and colorful. Traditional centerpieces are low so as not to interfere with conversation
at a table. However, contemporary arrangements, such as topiaries, add a splash of color and
design above eye level. A centerpiece on a dining table is viewed from all sides. A centerpiece
on a buffet table at a banquet might be one-sided and coordinated with centerpieces on the
dining tables themselves.
E-unit: Designing Centerpieces
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Copyright © by CAERT, Inc. — Reproduction by subscription only.
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TYPES OF
CENTERPIECES
Types of centerpieces include
bud vases, small vase arrangements, round centerpieces, oval
or diamond-shaped centerpieces,
and conical centerpieces.
Bud Vases
Bud vases are small arrangements suitable for placing at intervals on long, rectangular tables.
Each typically contains one flower
or three flowers. Bud vases are
inexpensive to create.
FIGURE 1. A centerpiece adds a beautiful and festive flair when you are
entertaining.
Small Vase Arrangements
Small vase arrangements are designed in vases in the proportion of 1 to 1 so that they do not
obstruct vision. They are more colorful than bud vases and better emphasize the flowers. They
may be asymmetrical or symmetrical in design, depending on the theme and formality of the
occasion.
Round Centerpieces
Round centerpieces are suited to round and square tables. They may be designed with one
type of flower or a mixture of several varieties and colors. The container that works best is low
and rounded. A round centerpiece looks basically the same when viewed from any point in a
room. The contour of the arrangement may be round or triangular.
Steps to designing a round centerpiece follow.
1. Select a low container with a large-diameter opening that will accept a suitable piece of
floral foam.
2. Position a moistened piece of floral foam in the center of the container, with 1/2 to 1
inch of the foam above the rim of the container. Trim the foam edges for easier stem
placement and shave off the corners at 45-degree angles. Secure the foam to the container with waterproof tape, an anchor pin, or pan-melt glue.
3. Add greens in a circular pattern around the container. Insert the greens about 1 inch
into the floral foam at the same level as the rim. The greens should angle slightly downward, and when viewed from above they should create a circle.
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4. Add foliage in a vertical position at the center of the floral foam. Fill in between the
center foliage and foliage that forms the circle with more foliage to create a rounded or
triangular contour.
5. Position the tallest flower to establish the height of the arrangement. Usually the height
should not exceed 12 inches so that people on opposite sides of the table can see each
other.
6. Take care in placing the flowers. Repeated placement and withdrawal of the stems
damages the floral foam, creates air pockets, and weakens the support for flowers. Also,
once a flower is inserted, don’t pull the flower out a little bit. An air pocket will be created, and the life of the flower shortened.
7. Place five or six flowers at the rim of the container. View the design from above to be
sure the flowers form a circle. The stems of the flowers should radiate from the
mechanical focal point of the arrangement located at the center of the floral foam.
8. Use additional flowers between the tall flowers and the flowers at the base to fill in the
contour. Be sure the stems angle toward the mechanical focal point and that the flower
heads face the viewer. Leave space between the new flowers that are added. Place some
flowers deeper into the arrangement to add depth.
9. Use filler flowers to fill in gaps or openings in the arrangement.
10. Add greens to cover any floral foam that is visible.
11. Insert accessories if desired.
Top View
Side View
FIGURE 2. The top view reveals equal-width placements around the container rim and equidistant placements from the center
of the design (and from the container, too). The side view reveals the effect of varied width and height placements—a
rounded or triangular contour.
Oval or Diamond-Shaped Centerpieces
Oval or diamond-shaped centerpieces are similar to round centerpieces but are more suitable for oval or rectangular tables. Common containers for this style are rectangular, oval, or
circular with low rims. The contour of this design may be triangular or rounded.
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1. Select a low container with a large-diameter opening that will accept a suitable piece of
floral foam.
2. Position a moistened piece of floral foam in the center of the container, with 1/2 to 1
inch of the foam above the rim of the container. Trim the foam edges for easier stem
placement and shave off the corners at 45-degree angles. Secure the foam to the container with waterproof tape, an anchor pin, or pan-melt glue.
3. Place two long, matching pieces of greens at each end of the container. Then, insert the
greens about 1 inch into the floral foam at the same level as the rim. The greens should
angle slightly downward, and when viewed from above they should create an oval or a
diamond.
4. Add foliage in a vertical position at the center of the floral foam. Fill in between the
center foliage and foliage at the base with more foliage to create a rounded or triangular
contour.
5. Position the tallest flower to establish the height of the arrangement. Usually the height
should not exceed 12 inches so that people seated on opposite sides of the table can see
each other.
6. Take care in placing the flowers. Repeated placement and withdrawal of the stems
damages the floral foam, creates air pockets, and weakens the support for flowers. Also,
once a flower is inserted, don’t pull the flower out a little bit. An air pocket will be created, and the life of the flower shortened.
7. Place longer flowers at each end, inserting the stems just above the rim of the container. Place another flower on each side. View the design from above to be sure the
flowers form an oval or a diamond. The stems of the flowers should radiate from the
mechanical focal point of the arrangement located at the center of the floral foam.
8. Use additional flowers between the tall flowers and the flowers at the base to fill in the
contour. Be sure the stems angle toward the mechanical focal point and that the flower
heads face the viewer. Leave space between the new flowers that are added. Place some
flowers deeper into the arrangement to add depth.
9. Use filler flowers to fill in gaps or openings in the arrangement.
TOP VIEW
Oval
Diamond-shaped
FIGURE 3. Low, horizontal centerpieces may be oval or diamond-shaped when viewed from the top.
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10. Add greens to cover any
floral foam that is visible.
11. Add accessories if desired.
Conical Centerpieces
Conical centerpieces are cone
shaped or three-dimensional isosceles triangles. These designs date
from the Byzantine period. A centerpiece that looks like a Christmas tree is conical.
ACCESSORIES
FIGURE 4. A conical design can be created using either a floral foam
foundation or a chicken-wire base.
Accessories are items that
can be added to a centerpiece to
create a certain atmosphere or
interest. These items should be in
harmony with the design and
properly placed to be effective.
Candles are often used. A candle
can be stabilized by using a
candleholder. This plastic
device is round at the top to
secure the candle and pronged on
the other end to fit into floral
foam. Candleholders come in a
FIGURE 5. Green plastic candleholders provide a secure foundation for
candles used in a centerpiece.
variety of sizes to fit the many
sizes of candles. If using more
than one candle, space them at least 1 inch apart. Ribbon, fruit, cones, seasonal items, and
other objects might also be used as accessories in a centerpiece.
TAKING FLORAL ORDERS
To make decisions about the design of a centerpiece for a particular event, gathering necessary information is extremely important. The image of the business relies in part on good communication skills by the person taking orders. Taking a floral order involves making a sale for
the business and should therefore be a promotion of the products and services. In taking an
order, it is important to be courteous and to speak clearly. It is also necessary to be assertive
without being overbearing and to guide the conversation. To complete the order, a series of
questions must be answered, including what, when, where, how, and why.
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1. Why is the event being held? Is it a wedding, banquet, graduation?
2. When is the event (date and time) and how much time is needed to set up?
3. Where is the event?
4. What are the style and size of the room?
5. What are the room colors, and what are the colors associated with the event or event
sponsor?
6. What is the preferred style of the event (formal, informal, casual, contemporary, or elegant)?
7. How many tables will need centerpieces, and what are the shapes and sizes of the
tables?
8. How many additional floral designs will be needed?
9. What is the budget for flowers?
A florist should visit the site and become familiar with the surroundings before creating the
floral work. Sometimes banquet halls and hotels have mirrors and candles that may be used,
but they need to be reserved for the event in advance.
E
NT
HE
LP
A
W
D
ON THE JOB…
CAREER CONNECTION: Floral Designer
Floral designers are also referred to as florists. They select live, dried, or silk flowers and
foliage to create bouquets, corsages, table centerpieces, and wreaths. They are also hired to
make floral pieces for weddings, funerals, holidays, and other special occasions. Floral designs
include containers, ribbons, and accessories, such as balloons, candles, toys, candy, and gift
baskets.
Floral designers must be creative and be able to communicate their ideas visually and verbally. Problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and under pressure also are
important traits. Individuals in this field need self-discipline to budget their time and meet deadlines.
Most floral designers work in small independent floral shops. The shops may specialize in
custom orders and handle large orders for weddings, caterers, or interior designers. A floral
designer may meet with the customer to discuss the arrangement or work from a written order.
He or she notes the occasion, the customer’s preferences, the price of the order, the time the
floral display or plant is to be ready, and the place to which it is to be delivered. For special
occasions, floral designers usually help set up floral decorations.
Floral designers are not required to obtain formal postsecondary training. Most floral designers learn their skills on the job. However, many designers do seek an associate’s degree from a
community college or a bachelor’s degree from a four-year university.
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Summary:
2
A centerpiece is a floral arrangement designed to be placed on a table or a buffet.
Traditional centerpieces are low so as not to interfere with conversation at a table.
Types of centerpieces include bud vases, small vase arrangements, round centerpieces, oval or diamond-shaped centerpieces, and conical centerpieces. A round
centerpiece looks the same from any view. The contour of the arrangement may be
round or triangular. An oval or diamond-shaped centerpiece is similar to a round
centerpiece but is more suitable for an oval or rectangular table. The contour of this
design may be triangular or rounded. A conical centerpiece is a three-dimensional
isosceles triangle.
Accessories are items that can be added to centerpieces to create interest. Candles,
ribbon, fruit, cones, seasonal items, and other objects are used as accessories.
To make decisions about the design of a centerpiece for a particular event, gathering
necessary information is important. A series of questions must be answered, including what, when, where, how, and why.
Checking Your Knowledge:
´
1. What is a centerpiece?
2. What are the types of centerpieces?
3. What are the steps taken in designing round and oval or diamond-shaped centerpieces?
4. What are accessories?
5. What information must be learned to complete an order for a centerpiece?
Expanding Your Knowledge:
L
Design a variety of centerpieces as a project at home or in class. The program at
school can take orders for events and fill them as a class project. Follow the steps to
making centerpieces outlined in this unit.
Web Links:
:
Rittners Floral School
http://www.floralschool.com/floral-ed-center.htm
Table Arrangements
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/tabarcen.html
The Table Centerpiece
http://www.800florals.com/care/easy_center.asp
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Designing Centerpieces

Transcription

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