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7. TABLE DECORATION

How about the wedding table ? - Flowers in a cake ? –

Floral arrangements work wonders with table decorations. There are so many ways of employing different design techniques in making your table attractive and worthy of the delicious food which you no doubt set upon it.

Gardenias for the Table Figure 41

A - In this design we will use a simple figure eight, which will flow to the center of the design and combine the entire arrangement into one beautiful unit.

B - Novel candle holder arrangement

C - Later, the table decoration becomes an individual corsage for each lady guest.

The gardenia was suggested because of its neutral color, beautiful form, rich green foliage and delicate scent. The rose is a very pleasant companion flower to the gardenia; offering an additional contrasting color which may be combined for the completion of harmony in design of china, linen and candles.

D - Pipe cleaners, twisted around a pencil to form a spiral, may be attached to the sides of the individual butterdishes from the bases. Scotch tape or masking tape will give the spiral sufficient support. A single long stemmed rose is placed in the spiral with the name of the guest decoratively lettered on an appropriate card.

At celebrations of Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays, the use of red, white and blue ribbon on corsages placed by each setting would enhance the table with the spirit of the holiday. A card­board silhouette of the celebrated person maybe placed in the cen­ter of the table with red, white and blue streamers leading from it to small candle holders at each place decorated with a red and white carnation. These may be removed later to be used as a cor­sage tied with a blue ribbon

Figure 41.   Gardenias for the Table

Decorating an Occasion  Cake Figure 42

A - Here is a delightful cake design for a bridal shower. Roses and gardenias flow gracefully across the top of the cake on a bed of English ivy; gradually growing fuller toward the bottom of the cake cradling it in a circle of pink, white and green. A saucy, rose tip­ped, ivy handled parasol perches atop the cake for the spirit of the occasion.

The ivy and flowers are tied together with florist's thread.

B - For a birthday party, the cake would be the focal point of the ar­rangement. In this drawing the candles are surrounded by lilacs which are repeated at the base. Half opened roses are stuck into the cake in an informal design. A lacy collar of maiden-hair fern completes the picture.

C - For that small but all important wedding reception, here is an idea to make people take notice of the cake before its time to eat it.

The tiny bells are given gay movement by sprays of lily-of-the-valley tucked into the top of the cake. Wrap moist cotton around each few sprays of lily-of-the-valley to seal the moisture in be­fore inserting. The lilies are repeated sparsely around the top of each layer and again in abundance around the base. Gardenias and foliage are placed in a formal line around the edge of each layer; fuller ones at the base and less opened ones at the top.

The Wedding Cake Figure 43

The accent on floral design is apparent in this wedding table. The parasol

The handle is a bamboo cane. A glass vial is taped at the top bring­ing the white tape down to cover the entire cane.

Follow these next simple steps:

A - Tape one or two number nineteen wire.

B - Tape the tiniest rose bud with foliage to the wire.

C - Repeat this step (B) gradually using larger roses until you have a spoke of about nine inches long.

C - Make from twelve to fourteen spokes.

E - Attach the spokes one by one below the glass vial, with number twenty six wire, forming the shape of the umbrella.

F - Follow step A and B with one half nineteen or twenty wire, and place each group of roses around the edge of the umbrella, form­ing the rim.

G - Tape the proper amount of stock to twist around the handle as shown in the design.

Figure 43. The Wedding Table

H - Anchor the parasol at an angle on a large block of modeling clay, or use a deep vase filled with sand and topped with stones.

J - Arrange the white carnations in a shallow container of water at the base of the parasol.    Place a bunch of lily-of-the-valley in the water filled glass vial atop the parasol.

K - Each spray of stock on either side of the table is inserted into a water filled vial with a rubber suction cup.

The size of the parasol is optional; using more or less flowers. Do not use too much foliage.

Silver candle sticks create an atmosphere of elegance around the rose decorated cake.

Flower Tree for the Wedding Figure 44

This arrangement may be used on the table for any occasion.

A - Container.

B - Sphagnum moss covered stick, loosely but firmly packed and cov­ered with wax paper.   Tie with string to hold form.

C - Foundation placed in container filled with sand or soil.

D - Diagram showing foliage foundation. Sprays of huckleberry leaves are stuck into the foundation. Some other foliage suggestions are; Boxwood, Brivet, Azalea foliage. Trim the foliage until it is a neat triangle.

E - Completed flower tree showing gardenias placed informally, gradu­ating in size from top to bottom. These may be wired or taped on sticks (picks) and stuck into the foundation.

Centerpiece Figure 45

This centerpiece was designed for the speaker's place at a luncheon.

A - Chicken-wire filled container.

B - Arrange the line design of gladiolus and delphinium.

C - Add your candy tufts and daisies for form and texture.

D - Line and form design.

Centerpieces in general

In designing a centerpiece, a great deal of consideration should be given to its setting. As the focal point of the table, it should be large and bright in color and a bit commanding in design. As a general rule, centerpieces fall into two categories:

A - For round and oval tables.

This is an arrangement which should be designed for surveyance from all angles. The taller flowers are placed in the center and surrounded by an interesting pattern of plant material decreasing in height as it goes toward the outer edges of the design.

Figure 44.   Flower Tree for the Wedding

Figure 45.   Centerpiece

B - For square and rectangular table.

Here is an arrangement to be viewed from three sides. Taller pieces of plant material are placed in the back. Do not make any centerpiece too tall or too wide.

Just Picked Figure 46

Here is something fresh looking for your dining room or dinette table while not in use.

A - Flower basket showing cage holder in a shallow container filled with water.

B - Cut the gladiolus stems about four inches below the flowers. Place them as seen in the illustration; and the remaining stems on the other side of the basket.

C - Diagram of line design.

To Set the Mood Figure 47

The two antique candle holders in the shallow container of water form the basis of a lovely garden like arrangement. As shown in the diagram, the rose buds are supported by a frog under the water line, in front and back of each porcelain piece. Water lilies and lily pads float gracefully in the water.

This arrangement is nice to look at from all sides. The straw mat under the design matches those of each guest.

Cabbage Out of Tulips Figure 48

A - Authentic porcelain cabbage.

B - Shallow plate with frog and one full tulip.

C - Take one petal from a full tulip.

D - This is the tulip after the petal has been removed.

E - Place remaining part of blossom around center tulip as indicated.

F - Completed tulip cabbage.

G - Diagram showing procedure.

Table Ideas Figure 49

A - A magnolia and foliage for each single candle stick.

B - Gardenias and ivy for the centerpiece candles.

C - A ceramic boat of apple blossoms in the wind.   (For a Bon Voyage party).

D - An old colonial bouquet edged with a lacy doily.   Also ideal for brightening up each individual setting.

Figure 46.   Just Picked

Figure 48.   Cabbage Out of Tulips

Figure 49.   Table Ideas

Summer . . . Rose

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