On my online workbook this week: hang out with.. you know… floristically speaking

Dear

This week's inspiration is mixing and matching what you have in your design pantry to spark ideas. You never know what perfect fit and unusual combinations you are lucky enough to find.

My tip for you this week is a contemporary take on carnations. They are back! Only if you fluff them a bit (actually a lot), of course. Fluffing (also called feathering) carnations is simply opening them up to create a more oversized flower. You want the flower to be dramatically splayed open from the middle of the flower. Extra points if you can see the gorgeous pistil.

If the flower is in tight bud you might want to slit open the sepal slightly so that the petals are released, depending on how open you want the flower. But basically here's what you do: lightly pinch the base sepal part of the flower between your fingers (see the picture above) and roll it. This opens up the flower. Then open your free hand wide, reflexing your fingers back and lightly rub the palm of your hand over the petals in a circular motion to brush the petals apart.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine

ps: if you do not have the glass flower frog needed for this design you can make an extra large version of this wire bauble instead. Or maybe weave a willow sphere . You will also find quite a few design suggestions below the post to get you inspired to make your own flower frog.