On my online workbook this week: And just like that, it is The Pumpkin’s Turn

Dear

This week my inspiration is irresistibly autumnal… something between a magical hovering pumpkin and the enduring power of clever craftsmanship.

My tip for you this week is the magic of craftsmanship… we are reducing clutter and to do this we need to make that big fat papyrus culm… disappear.

It’s as easy as… refraction. Above the vase we need the petal-less flower cluster to create the lightest possible fluffy cluster of grass like rays for our barely there pumpkin display but below in the vase we basically arrange light and water to create the illusion of a minimal base.

The umbel of the papyrus of course grows on top of the culm. This thick green stem keeps all the delicate strands together. Cutting the stem long enough to rest deep in the vase keeps the papyrus hydrated and lifted in position so that we can nestle the pumpkin into it without weighing it down. But now we are stuck with this huge green stem that completely spoils the magical and ethereal aesthetic! Simply design the arrangement so that you use the light rays coming from the tip of the stem to make it disappear. When these rays pass from water to air they change their direction (they get refracted). When these refracted rays reach our eyes, and our eyes trace them back as straight lines and the rays appear to come from a point slightly above the original position… and appear to be at an angle in the water. We can use this angle to turn the stem completely out of view.

Place the papyrus, then turn the container (see pictures above) until when viewed from what will be the front of your design the stem vanishes from your view. When you have that just right continue designing in the floral details to create the light as air pumpkin display.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine

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