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14. SOMETHING DIFFERENT

It is highly improbable that you have anything around the house which is exactly like the pieces pictured in this chapter, since they were collected from various corners in the author's home. But it is very possible that you have similar objects and have wondered what could be done with them.

Perhaps these ideas will set your imagination to work. After you've looked them over, gather together your odds and ends of pottery, and adaptable container materials and see what you can do with them.

Celosia Plumage Figure 95

A - Ceramic swan container with chicken wire holder.

B - Luxuriant plumage added by red celosia.

C - Line design of plant material.

Wheat and ornamental grasses are also adaptable to this type of arrangement.

Rooster's Finery Figure 96

A - Porcelain rooster with open planting area.

B - Diagram showing chicken wire holder.

C - The rooster now has acquired a beautiful, colorful tail of pampas grass.

Cymbidium in a Dutch Setting Figure 97

The cymbidium and fern in each pail adds brightness and life to this quaint Dutch porcelain milkmaid. The diagram shows a water filled glass vial with a rubber suction cup to keep the flower and fern fresh.   The vial is kept in place by crumpled wax paper.

Decorate Your Favorite Porcelain Piece Figure 98A

This type of art work is very beautiful in itself; but perhaps you would like to experiment and even further enhance its beauty.

In Figure 98A we see the use of lotus seed pods, cattails and Eng­lish ivy to form a fresh looking setting for the porcelain. A container of water concealed in back of the piece, keeps the ivy fresh.  The vines(any type will do) may be kept in their original container if it is small enough to conceal.

Figure 95.   Celosia Plumage

Figure 96.   Rooster's Finery

Figure 98A.   Decorate Your Favorite Porcelain Piece

Suggestions for additional plant material for this type of decoration are:

Dried gladiolus,    Iris leaves,    Fern,    Wild oats,    Winter wheat.

Diamond Flower Ming Tree Figure 98B

Before going into the directions for the following unusual project, the author cannot resist the temptation to elaborate on a few thoughts which come to mind.

Nature designs her own arrangements when she sends the wind gliding sharply and smoothly around trees and among their branches. The constant friction of the wind carves the surface of the branches and the force of the wind bends them with graceful dexterity to pro­duce the unequaled beauty of a tree. The Orient is rich with nature's handiwork, and the Eastern people look to nature for inspiration in their arts. Embroidery, drawings, paintings, and floral arrangements all share the same delicate coloring and graceful animation of nature.

It is with little wonder that the art world has welcomed this con­tribution to painting and sculpture and indeed floral arrangement.

The result of this project may be a long lasting Oriental accent for your home. A little Oriental touch is a bit of elegance which need not be shunned because a different interior decoration theme is prevalent. Many types of interiors would be made more interesting with the addi­tion of this diamond flower Ming tree.

The materials needed are: one bunch of diamond flowers (1/4 lb.). These flowers come in rainbow colors. There should therefore be no problems in selecting your shade. A roll of floral tape, florist's wire (26 or 24), one pound plaster of Paris.

The container can be Oriental in character or it may be a solid color, modern ceramic piece. Be certain when selecting your con­tainer and diamond flowers, that you have complete color harmony.

To give the design the illusion of natural growth, the branches are formed with a graduation in the size of the blossoms. When assembled, they create the true feeling of growth from the full flower to the tiny bud at the branch tip. Remove each flower from the original bunch, by the head, not by the stem which is very thin, just before adding it to the cluster.

A - Shows a cluster being formed by patting a bunch of flowers gently with one hand while arranging them in a compact slope. The long stem is vital to the flexibility of the tree.  Do not shorten it.

B - The stems are wired carefully by bending about two inches of the wire down directly under the cluster. While holding the lower tip of this wire securely with the left thumb, wind the remainder of it over the two inch strip and on down several inches of the stem.

C - Shows the method of combining several clusters into a flowering branch. The small top cluster is taped down about an inch and one half. The next cluster is wired on to the first and then taped in the same manner. This step is repeated until the desired amount of flowers form a branch.

E - Will suggest the amount of clusters to be added while creating the various branches. A more compact tree may be designed with each group of flowers placed more closely together.

After completing all the branches that you would like for your tree, group them in twos and threes by wiring and taping. These groups are then arranged into a single unit. A design of this type leaves you lots of room for imagination. Experiment as you wish until you have achieved a pleasing harmony of balance and movement. After the trunk has been taped, cut off all straggling stem ends.

E - Construct a cardboard collar (the inside circumference of the con­tainer). Rub it on the inside with lubricant to keep the plaster from sticking. Place the collar on a flat, clean surface, and put in the position you have chosen for it. Pour the plaster to form a base and let it dry for about twenty-four hours. After it is dry, re­move the cardboard and place the tree and base in the container.

Pebbles or sand are used to cover the plaster and add an inter­esting texture. You may change the movement and direction of the branches from time to time to suit the setting.

B

Figure 98B.   Diamond

Flower Ming Tree

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