A Creative Lifestyle, By Monica Hirsch

Mother's Day Floral Arrangement Idea

Mother's Day is coming up, and during these trying times we thought we'd offer you a simple, yet impressive floral design idea you can do yourself and surprise Mom on May 10th.

For those of you not so creatively inclined, you can order this and other Mother's Day arrangements from our site: www.monicahirsch.com. "We send what only you can say!"

  

Ingredients:

• 3 Vanda Orchid Stems in fuschia

• 1 large Martini Glass

• Pink Floral wire

• Floral clipper

Method:

1. Cut wire in 1 foot long pieces and bunch them up creating a messy crumbled up shape. Throw it in the vase. Repeat this 3 or 4 times.

2. Cut up one vanda head and place it in the vase.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until the whole vase has been filled (you should use one whole stem of vanda orchid heads for this)

4. Place remaining two vanda stems in vase leaving stems inside and flowers outside vase.

Have fun!

Make your own bouquet

Times are hard for everyone right now... but life goes one and our dream day and saying "I do" is still happening amongst the best of us... here is an idea (for those of you artistically inclined) for you to make your own bridal bouquet and at least save some $ on one expensive item... Look at the bright side of the recession: it may be out of need that you are making your own bouquet but it It may turn out to be quite meaningful and special to walk down the aisle with something crafted by you.  

Below is a simple bouquet recipe and one that you can easily adapt and substitute to suit your wedding colors and style.

Enjoy it!

Sophistication in Green & White

Ingredients:

2 jumbo white hydrangeas

3 green hydrangeas

10 white peonies

Off white satin ribbon (1-2 inches wide)

Method:

1) Put the 2 white hydrangeas together, holding them on one hand forming a dome shape.

2) in between the hydrangeas, and around the hydrangeas, wherever you see a "hole" in your perfect dome that you could fill with a flower, insert a peony.

3) You should be left with a perfect white round dome.

4) Add a touch of green by interspersing the three green hydrangeas in between the white.

5) The secret to making your bouquet a success is to hold onto the bouquet as you add more flowers to it firmly. It should be firm enough that once the flowers are placed they do not move.  And should not be too firm that you cannot fit the flower inside.

6) It is not a difficult technique... it just requires practice so it may be worth it to practice once before before you walk down the aisle with it in hand.

7) Once you are happy with your creation ask someone to help you tie the satin ribbon to the stems. As you do this keep your hand firm so the stems don't move.

Floral Design Idea of the Month: Seasonal In Pink

  Ingredients:
- 6 Large Red Roses (Such as Black Magic)
- 2 Pink Hydrangeas
- 2 Vanda orchid Stems
- 2 Aspidistra leaves (or similar)
- 1 Block of Oasis
- Rectangular Glass Vase (measuring 12 x 3 x 3 or similar)

Method:
1) Soak the oasis for a few minutes in a bucket of water until the oasis has sunk to the bottom of the bucket.
2) Cut the oasis to fit perfectly inside the vase leaving 1/2 inch margin on every side (height, depth and width).
3) In between the oasis and the glass, wrap the leaves so as to cover the oasis completely when looking at the vase.
4) Cut the roses at an angle so that when placed in the oasis only the head of the rose sticks out.
5) Place the roses in groups of 3 on opposite and diagonal ends of the vase.
6) Fill the spaces with the remaining flowers until you fill every gap and no oasis can be seen.
7) Your arrangement should have a slight dome shape covering the vase completely on all sides with flowers.