Scale and Arrangement styles with lots of GREEN!

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I was a floral designer for three major big box stores back when they offered custom design services, (sadly-arrangements are made in China now). I also worked in fresh floral shops, but am allergic to molds...the bane of florists.

I always enhanced my pottery displays at shows with seasonal greens and florals. I taught tons of floral classes, but you really don't have to be a 'Designer' to make miniature greenery arrangements. 

Just, keep it simple!

See previous post for tools and supplies needed.

Choose your pot--for your space. Rule of thumb for an arrangement is 1 1/2 times the height and/or width of the container. So make sure you are close to that scale. Need it smaller, choose a smaller container.

 Keep in mind how large the arrangement will be completed. If you have to draw measurements on paper to control your creation---by all means do so. 

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The container for this shelf is a white plastic blind mounting piece I found in the garage. I've used these for mini-totes, napkin holders, cake pop holders in the bakery and now a pot. The are just over an inch and flat on the bottom and come in different colors. 

  For small greenery arrangements I generally use only one type of greenery, (pot-1 1/2" or less). Here I used mini-lime eucalyptus, just the tips cut from a bush. Small arrangements are usually shaped all around and balanced.

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This is a mini ceramic pot. I was going for a contemporary look, tall and thin, more than the 1 1/2 rule. Grass, a clover, and an airy weed flower for some muted color. Three elements which is max for this size pot, but works for this location.

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Succulents are so popular now. I found a multi colored one at WMart and used the individual plants for four arrangements in the townhouse. I knew it was the perfect size and tone for this house with a bit of lavender and blue with the muted green. 

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This round pot, just fits on this shelf. It has a pretty strong design, so I used some twigs, one succulent (shape echoes the shape of the pot) and some airy spiky plants bits. (Really only three elements carefully placed.) Tall branches up---one focal point and three fronds arching out from the focal point. 

Design isn't just the shape of the arrangement, but it's relationship to its surroundings. 

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Here Vanessa holds one of those accessory 'ball' wedges with succulents and mini-eucalyptus.

Medium arrangements of up to 3", again I use no more than 3 elements.  Here, 3 mini eucalyptus and 3 small succulents with the moss which I consider an element fills the wedge container for the wall.

This piece is for the bathroom and is simple with 3 elements.

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This piece is in a glass jar filled with moss and foam and has three elements: fern, eucalyptus and a branch that sticks up. I showed this in the last post---close up.

The design is simple, branches up, and stems radiating from the center.

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Four elements: This vase has white berries (to the left to coordinate with the pot,) a plant tropical plant in the center (tallest), some lime eucalyptus and a few draping fern fronds. I had something else tall in this, but it was too much as the antique slag glass urn has so much going on. The urn becomes an additional element, making 5. Larger arrangements in large pots, you can get away with 5 elements in your mini-world.

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This is a plum glazed floor pot for doll scale @ 4" tall. Three fronds of fern, two tall and one draping flower twigs, a succulent focal point and some small leaf branches with a bit of smaller dark fern to fill in holes. 

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This  arrangement is just under 1 1/2 times the pot in height which would have been eye height for the dolls, so I kept it a bit lower.  I then widened the arrangement to balance it out with the trailing plants. The fern shapes echo the lines of the tub, but still have a contemporary feel.

Greenery adds life and realism to your dioramas. If you add flowers-keep it to one kind and simple. 

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This piece is really a floral arrangement but very basic.

The pot is an upside down broken glass drawer knob filled with moss. I also glued some around the top as the hole was so small. A bit of tall grassy stem,  three single roses, some lime eucalyptus, a  sprig of white 'weeds' for a texture and two bits of fern tips. The pot adds a classy look to a simple green/floral arrangement. 

Designs with a tall line representing growth are energetic, while long and low arrangements create 'calm'.

Working in groups of 3's works well for small arrangements. Keep a file of ideas for arrangements from real life photos, and try and duplicate their shape and design and have FUN!

Quick Tips for greenery/florals.

Determine the size of your final piece.

Choose the right size container for the spot.

Keep the number of 'elements' to 1, 3, no more than 5.

Relate the arrangement to its space.

Keep it simple and Have Fun!

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