How Do You Make a French Bead Flower?

One of the "founding mothers" of French bead flowers in America, Virginia Nathanson, wondered the same thing when she saw some breathtaking arrangements in the gift shop of Bonwit Teller in New York City several decades ago. She used a remarkable method to get the answer: She purchased one of the large arrangements, took it home, and completely disassembled each flower. She unwound all the wires, broke the flowers up, cut them apart, completely destroyed them. By this rather drastic forensic method, Ms. Nathanson learned the techniques. She went on to teach the making of French bead flowers for many years. She wrote one of the first series of pattern books to be published in the U.S.

You don't have to deconstruct existing flowers to learn the methods, however. I can give you the basics right here. There are many different techniques; what I will describe for you for the flower petals and leaf is the "basic" technique, because the center of each petal or leaf is made on what is called a "basic row." What you'll actually be doing is making a basic row, then making circles around it with more beaded wire. The flower's center will be made with what is called the "continuous loop" technique.

You need seed beads, 10 or 11 gauge. I use them from "hanks," which are comprised of 20 strands of 12 inches of beads, tied together at the tops or ends. You'll need some in your flower color and about half as much as that in green. You also need wire. Wire that is matched to your flower color is best, but if you can't find wire the same color as your beads, use gold or silver colored wire. You will also some green wire for the leaves. This wire should be 24 or 26 gauge. You will also need a roll of green floral tape. You can get these materials in local craft stores. If you can't find beads in hanks, get a bagful; a vial will be too few.

Begin the project with your flower color, in both beads and wire. Move the beads from the hank or bag onto the wire. You can just pinch them off the string and transfer them onto the wire if that works. Curl or "crimp" the end of the wire so the beads don't fall off.

Move an inch or so of beads to within three inches of the end of the wire on the spool. Make a loop of the wire under these beads, and twist the top of the loop a few times. Make the basic loop quite long - make it six inches at first. You will use the loop wires for your flower stem when you're done.

Now comes the interesting part. Feed in enough beads from the spool until they are touching the "basic" row beads above the loop. Fit the new beads upwards along the first set of beads so the new beads fit very snugly. Wrap the spool wire straight around the wire just above the "basic row," leaving no room for the "basic row" beads to move at all. Now turn the whole piece upside down. Repeat this process of feeding beads, tightly fitting in and wrapping until you have seven rows (counting from side to side across the front of the piece). Be sure you finish the last row at the bottom of the piece, where the loop is. Wrap two or three times to finish the final row.

Wrap some empty spool wire diagonally down the wires of the loop. Cut the bottom of the loop open and cut off the spool wire at the bottom. Cut off all but a little "nib" at the top of the piece, where that extra wire is. Bend the "nib" over onto the back of the piece, where you wrapped the spool wire. There! You've made your first petal!

Repeating the process exactly, make four more petals just like this one.

To make a leaf, repeat the process with the green wire and beads. Feel free to make more than one leaf if you like.

Make the center of the flower with some green beads on green wire. Move twenty to twenty-five beads to within two inches of the crimp on the end of the wire. Make a very tight self-loop with these beads. Pinch the loop quite tight so it stands up straight. Move along the spool wire just a little bit and make another loop. Make about ten to twelve of these self-loops on the same length of wire. When they are done, cut the wire off the spool. Bunch these loops together and twist the wires together.

Wrap the stems of each piece. This adds stability and "tooth" in the finished flower. Here's how: Stretch a length of tape until it turns a lighter green than unstretched tape. Wrap the end around the top of the stemwires. Turn the tape diagonally down the stem and turn the piece so that the wires are covered completely with tape all the way down. Be careful of overlapping the tape too much; you don't want a thick stem. Keep stretching the tape as you work; stretching is what activates the wax in the tape and makes it stick. Tear the tape off at the bottom of the wires.

When all the pieces are taped, you can assemble them. Take the flower center and start the tape wrapping straight around the stem just under the beading. After 1 1/2 wraps, add a petal with the front, or right side, facing the center and wrap another 1 1/2 times. Add the second petal in the same fashion. Repeat this until all the petals have been joined. Now turn the tape diagonally down the stems as you did before, and wrap down about an inch. Now add in the leaf or leaves. Continue wrapping all the way down to the bottom of the wires, and tear the tape off. Shape all the parts like a real flower.

How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh

Some people think the little pack of flower food or even a copper penny will extend the life of fresh flowers. Some think the temperature of the water makes all the difference. How do you keep fresh cut flowers fresh? Often time's classical folk tips and tricks are based on good science and are typically the most effective.

Here are tried and true tips on keeping cut flowers fresh

Copper is a natural metallic preservative and acts like a fungicide to the bacteria and algae that can grow on the stems of fresh flowers while in their vases. Adding a couple of copper pennies to the vase can help keep them fresher longer.

Aspirin is a powerful acid for flowers and can kill the bacteria that spoil flowers.

Adding a couple tablespoons of lemon, orange or pineapple juice or even vinegar to a liter of a quart or two of water will also add enough acidity to the water to act as a natural preservative. This is the same reason why adding lemon juice to fresh foods will help keep their color longer and prevent browning. Make sure though if using vinegar or any other acid that you use a clear or lightly colored one. Dark balsamic and sherry vinegars might smell and taste wonderful but they are definitely not good for fresh flowers.

Here are some other basic guidelines to keep in mind with fresh cut flowers

Make sure to place the flowers in cold, not warm water. Flowers put in warm water will dehydrate.

Placing fresh cut flowers in the refrigerator overnight will lengthen their lifespan by three times.

Make sure to only add enough cold water to the vase to cover 6 inches of the stem. There is no reason to add more water and will only be harder to reduce the amount of bacteria in the vase.

Cutting the stems of your flowers every few days will make them last longer. Make a diagonal cut under water an inch about the last cut. Make sure to put them back into he water as quickly as possible.

Exotic Flowers

There are several types of exotic flowers to best suit any occasion. And of course, depending on your personal taste, you will want to choose the best exotic flowers you can obtain to be the perfect flowers, the most adequate for the purpose they will be serving. For example: at someone’s funeral, you may want to choose bouquet of flowers that the deceased would have loved. Here are some other examples (after all, these flowers are for happy occasions as well as the more tragic ones.

Musas:

The Chinese Musa flower is a stunning example of the kinds of exotic flowers that are perfect for gardens or bouquets.

Calatheas:

The exotic flower called the Genus Calathea is in the Marantaceae family of plowers, however it differs from other genera. The Marantaceae family of exotic flowers, in which Maranta and Ctenanthe are included, are unbranched inflorescences cone-like clusters.

The calathea comes from tropical South America, Calathea, it has about three hundred different species. These flowers love the shade and humidity, they are virtually all grown in much of the world only indoors. These flowers require full shade from the sun. However, if they must, they can handle a small amount of morning sun. These exotic flowers need their soil to be moist but well-drained soil, the use of a fertilizer is recommended.

When, on the rare occasion that these exotic flowers are grown outside—you must be sure that they are healthy, they must be free from all pests and diseases. Some of calathea will die midwinter, but will return again midsummer.

Cymbidiums:

Cymbidiums contain approximately forty-four species they are found in the tropics of the old world. The elegant, large flowered types of cymbidiums come from the higher regions of the Himalayas, and they must be kept in cool conditions in order to bloom well.

Dendrobiums:

Dendrobiums actually have about one thousand different species in their enormous family, they have countess hybrids as well. However, there are many varied growing conditions for this type of exotic flower. It is recommended that one establish from where in the world, and at what altitude their plant is accustom to, in order to determine how to best take care of the plant.

Miltonias:

Miltonias are referred to as the Pansy Orchid sometimes. There are approximately ten different kinds of species, and miltonias are found primarily in Brazil, therefore they are warm-weather flowers, and there are many hybrids with wonderful fragrance, because the militona is such a fragrant flower to begin with. These flowers will add a wonderful sensory ambiance to their surroundings, because in addition to their scent they are extremely pleasing to the eye.

Odontoglossums:

Odontoglossums also have a wide range of species, approximately 0ne hundred and seventy-five. These exotic flowers originated in the mountains of South America, as well as in higher altitudes and are used to wet clouded forests. Thus these wonderful flowers must be tended to under cool conditions, many hybrids exist as well, so there are many types to choose from.

Oncidiums:

These are among the most popular exotic flowers and there are approximately six hundred different species in existence. They come from the tropics of the Americas, and few of them even grow in high altitudes, these also must be supervised under cooler conditions. Fortunately, the hybrids are more tolerant than the species, you will find that this is true for most plants.

Paphiopedilums:

Paphiopedilums, the root word being Paphinia—who was the greek Goddess that the Romans later named Venus. Around sixty species exist, coming from Asia India and New Guinea. There are species with mottled leaved which need to be kept in warm conditions. And the paphiopedilums that are plain leaved and single flowered require intermediate/cool conditions, and plain leaved multiflowered species have to have warm environments to survive.

Phalaenopsis:

Phalaenopsis, or the exotic flower that is often called the Moth Orchid comes from Java and the South Seas, the Phillipines and Queensland Australia. Therefore, they are definitely warm weather growers, and they do prefer to be in the shade. Phalaenopsis would make the perfect houseplant, they are very free flowering and also make great gifts.

Vandas:

Vandas have approximately fifty species. Several hybrids have been derived from the tropics, Asia, and the orient—as far down as Australia. These hybrids require a warm environment that includes plenty of bright light. Many people hang them in their homes or gardens from wooden baskets.

Water Gardening:

Water Lilies and Lotuses are a beautiful touch to your pond, or waterfall etc. Major cultivars of water lilies and lotuses—almost all of which are hybridizers—explore the best landscapes in which to grow these exotic flowers.

Nymphaea and Nelumbo:

The genera Nymphaea and Nelumbo are beautiful species of exotic flowers, other genera in the waterlily family include Nuphar, Victoria, Euryale, Barclaya

Draecena:

Draecena (otherwise known as the dragon’s tree) is an exotic flower that neither requires regular watering, nor does it need much light at all. It’s a symbol of power and prosperity. These flowers may live up to one thousand years. A perfect gift for yourself or a friend or family member who does not have that much time for gardening, but would love to have a beautiful garden, however small, and something elegant and exotic to pass on for generations to come.

Anyone can add a striking touch of color to their home, or even the office with the elegant of wild exotic flowers. Exotic plants and flowers add a beautiful touch to any garden, home, patio or yard, as well as weddings, celebrations, banquets, and more solemn occasions.

Online Florists

You can buy almost anything online these days and the flowers are no exception. However, the flowers are different from other online purchases. Unlike a book or something for your home, the flowers are alive and need special care to keep them fresh and looking great. If you do not receive the attention they need, flowers wither by May or even die before reaching their destination. Because of this, it is important to do your homework and choose wisely when it comes to selecting an online florist.

Here are some things to consider when investigating online florists:

• Location - If you are ordering flowers through a national network, make sure you know the reputation of the local florist with which your order is placed. If you have a good reputation, will have more peace of mind.
• * Reputation - You may already know a reputation for high quality flowers. If so, check if they have online ordering through its website and take this route instead of ordering directly from the network's Web site. That way you know will work with her favorite flower.Take into account all the delivery and handling fees are not so surprised by the costs. The site where the order should provide all this information before your card is charged.
• Some online florists to limit your choice to make things easier when it comes to the orders of gillnets. Do not settle for something that is not what I wanted. If you do not see what you like, contact the florist and see if you can help.
• Safety - Be sure to check the site of the flower has been called safe. Will tell you before you enter as much information from the card. Be careful with any online transaction. If you are uncomfortable, do not place your order.

Florists Online offer convenience and variety is not available in the location of the florist. They allow you to quickly order flowers for a special occasion when you think of it without a trip or a cash transaction. And, online florists are especially useful if you need a last-minute gift or you need to make good on a forgotten birthday or anniversary. If you make sure that this is a reputable florist, you are much more likely to have an enjoyable experience and a return visit for your next floral gift.