First Come Flowers

The Glamelia Project

Gorgeous Glamelias! Perhaps that's what I should have named this series of posts on this unusual handmade flower.

The Glamelia Series 

Anyway, this is Part 4 on my series on Glamelias. In Part 1 you learned about the origin of the glamelia. Part 2 was a gallery of glorious glamelias. And Part 3 focused on the experiences of floral designers who've made glamelias.

 

Image:  via Studio Blomst

 

Glamelias Aren't Only Hard To Make

As I mentioned in Part 1 of this series on glamelias, I was actually learning as I was writing. I don't usually do that. When I write a series of posts on one topic, I generally have them all researched, planned and written mostly written before one post is published. 

I've been pretty busy here at the shop. So once I decided to write the series I just jumped right in.

Problem was, that unlike the other series I've written, it was pretty difficult finding info on glamelias. Nearly all the articles I found  pointed back to the same 3 posts. Beautiful pictures, but not much info.

 

Image:via The Wedding Bee

The Glamelia Project

Though I don't think I'll ever make a glamelia, I'd like to help further the available information on this subject. So I figured  I'd start small, by continuing to build on my glamelia pinboard, which I just renamed "The Glamelia Project" on Pinterest.

The Goal of The Glamelia Project

To increase the accessibility to information about the glamelia for those interested in buying, making or simply learning about this magnificent floral creation.

 

Image:  International Floral Blogs

  Please Help Me Collect Information About Glamelias

I was hoping to make The Glamelia Project pinboard open to the public, but my understanding is that I can only add select contributors to the page.

 

 You Can Contribute To The Glamelia Project By:

1. Leaving me comments with links to glamelia information and pictures

2. Emailing me at  firstcomeflowers.typepad.com

• links to good information and great pictures 
• links to pinboards with great images of glamelias

 

I'd greatly appreciate your help with this project.

 

Image: Black Orchid Floral Design

 

Search Beyond the United States

I got a significant amount of information on glamelias from florists and floral designers in other countries.  I also had to wade past a lot of junk that used the word glamelia, but had nothing at all to do it.

Remember, you can also search for these other terms for glamelias: composite bouquets, rose duchesse and malmaison.

 

Image: Flora Verde 

I'm going to make every effort to keep the board attractive and informative. Please send me links to great new pictures whenever you can

Looking forward to your help with this!

What do you think of this idea? Have any suggestions for keeping it simple?

Mimi

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 3: How To Make A Glamelia

This is Part 3 of a 4 Part series on Glamelias.To find out what a glamelia is read Part 1.To view different kinds of glamelias read Part 2. 

By the way, I neglected to mention that there are a few other names for glamelias you should know:

• composite bouquet 
• rose duchesse (if made of roses)
• malmaison

 

Glamelia Tutorials 

 

Image: via Bridal Guide

I had a hard time finding one source for making a glamelia that had a step by step process with pictures to guide you along the way. I hope someone will create one soon.

I did find a good deal of info on how to make glamelias out of artificial flowers and paper. I can appreciate that. But for this post on How To Make A Glamelia, I chose to focus on the art, and believe me it is an art, of making glamelias from fresh flowers.

 

In the meantime, here are some posts about how to make a glamelia:

Image: via Victoria B.C. Wedding Tips

 Throw Back - Part 2 - The Composite, Glamelia, Duchesse, Malmaison, um what? - A delightful and informative post on what you need to know before you decide to choose a glamelia for your wedding from the blog, Victoria B.C.Wedding Tips

Image: A Stunning Affair

Glamelia Bouquet by Sky Flowers - via A Stunning Affair's Blog

 

Bridal Bouquet:  Glamelia - How to Make Floral Art  - Slideshow via Expat Guide

 

Image: Natural Beauties Floral

How To Make a Glamelia Bridal Bouquet - Natural Beauties Floral blog by Jan and Jillian Yuhas. It gives step by step instructions, but unfortunately doesn't have accompanying images.

Image:  Flowers By Aileen

Glamelia Rose - Experience of a floral designer making a glamelia with her insights and suggestions at a blog called, Flowers By Aileen.

Image: Young Blooms Florist

It's The Taking Part That Counts - U.K.florist tries her hand at making a glamelia for an upcoming competition. Read her story at Young Blooms Blog.

 

Image: Sprout Flowers

Composite Flower Corsage or Turducken On Your Shoulder - A floral designer talks about a glamelia corsage she made to wear at a floral competition she attended. The name of her blog is Sprout:The Power Of Flowers.

 

Hope you've been enjoying the series on glamelia:

Part 1:     What In the World Is A Glamelia?

Part 2:     Glamelia Gallery

Part 3:     How To Make A Glamelia

Part 4:    A Glamelia Project

 

What have you learned about glamelias that you didn't know before?

Mimi  

 

 

Part 2: Glamelia Gallery

Now that you know what a glamelia is from Part 1 of this series,you may be interested in looking at the boutique Glamelia Gallery I've assembled below.

The images of the glamelias are from across the web. Visiting the links will give you an opportunity to see a few more. 

1.  Image:  Project Wedding 

This is one of my favorites.  I love its "ruffled pink skirt."

 

2. Image: via Project Wedding

3.  Image: via With This Ring Weddings

 

4.  Image:  Neil Whittaker

Visit The Design Element, the flower shop of award winning  U.K. florist, Neil Whittaker. You can see some of his unique bridal bouquets as well as a few more of his glamelias here.

 

5.  Image:  Project Wedding

A glamelia of lily petals.

 

6.  Image:  Creavea

 

 

7.  Image:  Perfect Moment Weddings

 

8.  Image:   Svetlana Lunin

Learn some interesting facts about glamelias here in this post called, "Hand-Made Miracle" over at Svetlana Floralart. It' s translated from Russian so there may be a few rough patches, but it's well worth the read.

 

9.  Image:  Brides

Glamelia comprised of dozens of pale pink gladiola petals.

 

Michael George                                    Mindy Weiss
 

10. Image:  Wedding Bells

 

Don't forget to read the entire series on glamelias:

Part 1:  What In The World Is a Glamelia?

Part 2:  Glamelia Gallery

Part 3:  How to Make A Glamelia

Part 4: A Glamelia Project

 

Which one of these glamelias do you like best?

Mimi

 

Part 1: What In The World Is A Glamelia?

This is part one of a series on Glamelias. Parts 2 and 3 will offer a glamelia gallery and some tutorials. 

But first things first. What is a glamelia?

 

Image:  via The Knot

Glamelia

A glamelia is a composite bouquet. It's made from the petals of many different flowers to form one large one. Nowadays, any handmade flower comprised of parts of several flowers or plants is called a glamelia.

 
A Real Camelia

Image:  Growing Up With Plants

 

But the name glamelia really goes back to the 1940's and 50's. During the war,camelia blooms were very expensive. So people took the petals of the less expensive gladiolas and made them into what looked like a more expensive flower.

 

Gladiola Glamelia 

 Image: via Blossom Floral Design

 

The petals of the gladiolus were combined to make a camelia-like flowers. So the gla from gladiolus and melia from the camelia were joined to form the term glamelia.

 

 Further Reading:

"Glamorous Glamelia Bouquets" - Blossom Floral Design blog (no longer updated)

"Glamelia: The Glorified Flower" - Rhonda Patton Weddings and Events

"Composite Bridal Bouquets Make Comeback"  - About Flowers Blog

 

Glamelia Adventure

I confess. Up until about 9 months ago I had never seen or heard of a glamelia. I would love to master this technique and place it on the Fly Me To The Moon Florists website. But somehow, I don't think that will be happening. Well not any time soon anyway.

So let's explore glamelias together. I promise I'll share everything I learn.

 

Don't miss the rest of the series on glamelias:

Part 2 - Glamelia Gallery

Part 3 - How To Make A Glamelia

 

What do you think of glamelias?

Mimi

 

 Linking To:

At The Picket Fence

Chic On A Shoestring

Common Ground

French Country Cottage

Ivy and Elephants

My Romantic  Home

One Artsy Mama

Savvy Southern Style

Simply Sweet Home

Sugar and Spice

The Not So Functional Housewife

Tip Junkie

 

 

 

10 Purple Bridal Bouquets

Purple has become a popular color for flowers at Fly Me To The Moon Florists. So we keep a good selection of them at our shop. From the palest lavender to the darkest of purples.

10 Purple Bridal Bouquets 

Here are 10 purple bridal bouquets of varying shades, shapes and sizes:

 

1)  Image: Blossom Wedding Flowers

2)  Image:  Yvette von Einem

 

3)  Sprout Flowers

 

 

4)  Image:  Catie Ronquillo

 

5)  Image:  via Project Wedding

 

6)  Image:  Katya Yeliseyeva  Design:  Sergey Malyuchenko

 

7)  Image:  via  Bouquet Wedding Flower 

 

8)  Image:  Stem Floral

 

9)  Image:  Belle The Magazine

 

10) Image:  Holly Heider Chapple Flowers 

 

Purple Flowers That Would Be Nice In Bouquets

I wish the fragrant hyacinth and lilac were available all year long. There's also a selection of magnificent purple carnations called the "Moon Series" from Florigene. 

 

Purple Centerpieces and Flower Arrangements  

I've pinned some incredible ideas for centerpieces, flower arrangements and event decor on my "Purple Floral Design" pinboard here.

 

What's your favorite purple flower?

Mimi

10 Pink Bridal Bouquets

 

Pink Bouquets Not Just For Brides

I think pink bridal bouquets are so beautiful. They come in so many different shades. I want to inspire you with all the textures, variations in style and shapes.

You don't even have to be getting married to enjoy them. They may spark an idea for an event, a project you're working on or simply enhance your DIY flower skills. Or you can just pin them to share with others.

10 Bridal Bouquets By Color Each Week

 I will post 10 bridal bouquets of a different color each week until I run out of colors.  It might be nice to show centerpieces each week too. I don't know. We'll see how it goes. 

10 Pink Bouquets:  

1)  Image:  Fleurology

2)  Image:  Martha Stewart

 

3)  Image:  Floral Design Events

 

4)  Image:   The Kitty Pad

 

5)  Image:  Martha Stewart

 

6) Image:  soul flower

 

7)  Image:  The Stylish Bloom

 

8)  Image:  My Wedding Flower Ideas

 

9)  Image:  via Funky Trend

 

10) Image:   via Funky Trend  

 

Okay. You're right. That last bouquet is not pink, but someone who likes callas and pink would love it.

Which one of these pink bridal bouquets do you like?

Mimi

 

 

6 Secrets for Making Flower Arrangements in Vintage Tins

Flower arrangements in vintage cans boldly announce that Spring is here. They're great for indoor and outdoor celebrations. But how do you create one yourself?

 

The Poor Sophisticate

 Here's how to get the look:

 1) Look for vintage or vintage-inspired cans - You can find them either at yard sales and thrift shops or in stores like Home Goods or TJ Maxx.   Places selling  garden-related accessories might also have a nice selection.

 

justcallmegrace

2) Line the can - Vintage -style tins are  not water-tight.  So use a plastic container or smaller vase to hold the water for your flowers.  If you find a can that can hold a potted flowering plant then get it.  But you'll still need a liner of some kind.

 

Three Dogs In A Garden

 3) Cut your flowers.- Hold the flowers in your hand next to the container to see how long you want the flowers to be.  Cut and place them in your lined tin. You may want to add some branches of foliage, which you should put in the tin first.

via Vintage Rose Brocante

4) Resist the urge to over - arrange the flowers.  You want your final flower arrangement in a vintage tin to have that" just picked from the garden look."  Even if you don't have one.

 

via High Street Market

5) Change the water. - It's easy to forget to change the water in this type of arrangement. You're so busy being proud of yourself for making such a lovely flower arrangement in a vintage tin that you forget it's alive and needs care.  You don't see the water getting all murky and funky.  It's the "out of sight, out of mind"  thing.  Remove the flowers and rinse the stems. Wash the liner and fill it with water.  Throw away any dead or decaying flowers.  Give all remaining flowers a fresh cut and place them back in the water.

 

via The Knot

6) Find a great spot for your flower arrangement. - You can place it wherever you want, but keep it out of direct sunlight which will do your flowers in prematurely.

 For more information and more images, read "Spring Flowers In Vintage Tins" on the beautiful garden blog,  Three Dogs In A Garden .

 

 What kinds of flowers do you think would work well in this type of flower arrangement?

Mimi

 

Linking to:

2805

At The Picket Fence

Beyond The Picket Fence

Chic On A Shoestring

Common Ground

Elizabeth and Co.

French Country Cottage

Home Is Where My Story Begins

Ivy and Elephants

My Romantic  Home

No Minimalist Here

One Artsy Mama

Primp

Redoux

Savvy Southern Style

Serenity Now

Simply Sweet Home

Stuff and Nonsense

The Charm of Home

The Not So Functional Housewife

The Shabby Nest

Three Mango Seeds

 

 

 

 

You Can Make What With Flowers & Foliage? Part 3 Furniture

Furniture  made of flowers and foliage? Yeah! but, I'm not so sure how comfortable it is.

 

Ariel D. Bravy

 1) Chaise Lounge - A beautiful bed of roses in a garden.  Might be hard to put your glass on that side table though.

Debra Prinzing

2) Armchair - Shabby chic style chair with matching table. Perfect for sipping tea and reading a good book. 

Inhabitat

 

3) Table - Or I suppose you could use it as a desk for doing "light work." But, please don'tuse your good china on it.

Moss Acres (Guess picture came from catologue)

 

4) Overstuffed Armchair - Like the quilted effect on this moss green chair?  It would work well in your living room, as long as you keep it moist.

 

Inhabitat

5) Desk Chair - A great straight back chair. As long as you don't mind housing woodland animals beneath it.

Did I miss any flower and foliage furniture? If so, email it to me and I'll post it.   

Mimi

firstcomeflowers@gmail.com

You Can Make What Out of Foliage? Part 2 Amazing Green Animals

Topiary animals all dressed in green. Take a look at this emerald menagerie of leafy animals.

 

scfestivalofflowers

 

Steve Manning

 

wn.com

 

small world

 

swns

 

What kind of topiary animal would you like to see?

Mimi 

Green Flower Arrangements for St. Patrick's Day

If you don't like the corny died green carnation St. Patrick's Day flower arrangements, you might like these designer creations better:

1) Martha Stewart - The long green Bells of Ireland play a major role in this floral arrangement.

 

2) Wedding Flowers and Reception Ideas - Green flower arrangements look great when coupled with purple blooms.

 

3) Fly Me ToThe Moon Florists - Note the various textures and foliage used in this emerald design.

 

 

4) Amy Lynne Originals - Creative artistry abounds in this floral arrangement in a silver pot.

 

 

5) Fly Me To The Moon Florists - Green anthurium, rattlesnake, spider mums, fluffy green trick carnations, hanging amaranthus  and hypericum berries  comprise this floral arrangement.

 See other designer green flower arrangements for St. Patrick's Day on my "Green Floral Design" pinboard.

 

Which green floral arrangement would you like to have delivered to you?

Mimi