Area Advent Calendar - 12th December

Welcome to day 12 of our Virtual Advent Calendar.  Today we have an elegant design produced by demonstrator and member of Paddock Wood Flower Club, Sue Thompson.  We love the combination of the rich colours of Christmas, with the pussy willow giving a hint of spring to come.

If you scroll down beneath the photograph you will find Sue's step by step to help you create a similar design

​Don't forget to come back tomorrow!

SUE’S STEP-BY-STEP
You will need:
Floral foam – 1/3 block
Dish
Container
Tape
3 - 5 stems pussy willow
5 stems of foliage – I used senecio (brachyglottis) for its velvet texture leaves and grey/white colour
8 roses – Naomi is a voluptuous red rose
5 – 7 carnations – green or Green Trix has a lovely feathery texture and soft round form
A few pieces of gypsophila (optional)
2 or 3 stems of hypericum berries – red - (strip off leaves)
2 or 3 medium sized baubles – on kebab sticks (secured with hot glue)
2 or 3 dried lotus seed heads – on wire
 
Preparation:
Tape 1/3 block of soaked floral foam into a dish that fits the neck of your chosen container.  The container I chose is glass within a metal framework, I softened the look of this by arranging a length of organza fabric in the container.  It also avoids the arrangement looking like it is “floating” in the air. The dish I used is an Oasis clear “rampside dish”.
Method:

1. Insert uprights of pussy willow stems having trimmed the stems at an angle.
2. Add the roses in a lazy S starting with the tallest rose (with the smallest head) a few inches down from the top of the pussy willow and taking the other roses downwards and to the lower right of the container.
3. Add the carnations. Don’t forget to add some to the rear of the design to add depth.
4. Add the senecio to the left and take it in to the centre of the design and also place some flowing down to the right.
5. Insert the baubles to the centre of the design.  A shiny surface will “draw” the eye.
6. Wire the lotus seed heads by inserting about 2 inches of a .71 stub wire through the papery base of the head and then twisting this wire around both the longer length of wire and the stubby stem of the seed head to create a “single leg mount”.
7. Insert the lotus seed heads into the design
8. Add a few pieces of gypsophila to give the feeling of a light sprinkling of snow (don’t overdo it!)
9. Add the hypericum (if you have it) for a seasonal feel.
10. Fill in with a little senecio where necessary.