Sympathy Flower Arrangements

Flower arrangement is an art. You have to know how to play with the colors of the different flowers to radiate the mood you want to project. You have to know how to cut the flowers properly for them to stand firmly or to fall properly and not fall because they are starting to wilt and die. There are basic forms that florists can follow like bouquets, wreaths, table centerpieces, or basket flowers. But nowadays, florists are starting to experiment on unorthodox methods to arrange the flowers to enhance the beauty and extract the best moods.

This experimentation continues for sympathy flower arrangement. You can see the conventional wreaths or bouquets or basket flowers or coffin sprays. Nowadays, florists offer customized shapes to give a personal touch to the gift you offer to the mourning family members. There are now heart-shaped flower arrangements, and crosses and crucifixes are not so uncommon anymore. Star-shaped or pillow-type arrangements are also used more often.

Florists use their knowledge and their imagination to mix and match the different flowers to brighten the mood of the already somber occasion. It is never easy for you or anyone to loose a loved one. Often, the news of a departed leaves you in shock and in a state of confusion, even if the deceased is not someone you know personally, but someone whom you knew from a friend, a co-worker, a classmate, a church mate in your congregation, or maybe a team member in your basketball group. It doesn't matter how you know the person, the reaction is the same. Florists use their expertise to help ease the pain of the loss and at the same time be sensitive to the cultural differences and avoid any religious clashes that could occur.

Dried Flower Arrangements and Decorations

Dried flowers can be used as a typical and unique style of decoration. One can get the dried flowers from a florist or can dry the flowers oneself. There are many flowers which dry quickly and easily. Few of them are violets, roses, .daisies, zenias etc. The basic rule for drying is that the moisture in the flower should be removed without rotting it. There are various methods of drying which are as follows:

Hanging: in this method one needs to hang flowers in a well ventilated, dark spot, for about a week, by tying the flowers in a bundle and hanging them upside down.

Sand Drying: in this method one needs to fill the flower with sand by placing it in a box of sand, stem upside down for a week. The most important thing to be remembered is that the sand should not have any moisture. The advantage of this method is you can retain the cup shape of the flower.

Air tight containers: this method is very useful for bulky headed flowers. Just place the flowers in the container, close it and keep it for a week to ten days.

A desiccant: a substance such as calcium oxide or silica gel, which has a high affinity for water and is used as a drying agent can also be used to dry flowers.

There are various things that can be done to decorate with the help of dried flowers:-

You can decorate a photograph, invitation, child's artwork or selected piece of literature in a shadow box, a wedding invitation, highlight a poem, photos or pieces of literature.

A wreath fashioned from dried flowers is an attractive and durable decoration for a front door or mantel. It's a simple project too, requiring only a frame, dried flowers, and a hot glue gun. To begin making a wreath, attach a picture frame hanger to the reverse of your stretcher frames (preferably use, two 8-inch and two 9-inch frames for the purpose). Paint the frames, if you want to. Prepare the flowers by removing their stems. Starting from one corner and working your way around, lay down a strip of glue. Place the flowers on the hot glue and push down carefully. Continue placing flowers along the top side and finish by gluing flowers along the edge.

Apart from this there are some general rules which should be used for Dried Flower decoration which are as follows:

If flowers feel soft like a sponge, do not use them for drying. This indicates that they are old or have been frozen. Flowers used for drying should be firm.
Make a stem for the dried flowers with a wire and secure flowers with floral tape.
Once all the flowers have been mounted on stems, start making arrangements. Check garage sales, etc. for unique vases and bowls in which to display the arrangements.
Find inspiration for arrangements by touring flower gardens or by looking through gardening magazines.

Experiment, create and never be afraid. The end results can give your home the warmth of your gardens.