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So, I reviewed this book a while back, but the nice people at New Sheer Creations sent me a copy to give away, and some supplies to make flowers with. (Thank you, Fe!)
Last night, I entirely redeemed a not-so-great day by diving into nylon flowers. Wanna see?
The materials are simple – I’ve made pantyhose flowers before, but I will say, New Sheer’s stuff is the Cadillac version. Wondering what those nested circles are?
They’re petal forms – just choose the size, wrap the wire around it and twist, and you have consistently-sized petals in seconds. Awesome!
The real genius bit, though, is this nylon thread. See how it’s kind of spun in texture? Well, that gives it incredible stretch, so when you wrap it around the base of a petal, it “grabs” the nylon fabric and stays in place. This makes it super easy to tie a double knot and anchor the petal.
UPDATE: Fe emailed me to say that you don’t even have to tie a knot – you can just wind the thread a few times around the base of the petal and it stays in place!
I love this stuff! It’ll have lots of other crafty applications…
Initially, I cut the nylon fabric into squares before stretching it over the wire. But that created more waste than I wanted. So then I tried leaving the fabric intact, stretching the end over the wire and then trimming it off. Worked great – and I was able to get a lot of petals out of a very small amount of nylon.
Incidentally, I love this variegated color! New Sheer also has solids in gorgeous colors.
…Then you gather up a group of petals, with a clump of stamens in the middle.
Oh – and you also need some leaves.
From there, it’s a matter of arranging and floral-taping. The book gives you great guidance on how to place the flowers and leaves along a stem to create replicas of specific types of flowers. Not that you couldn’t go wild and invent your own.
Voila! Here’s my take on a Eustoma from the book. I’ve been obsessively tweaking and curving the petals since I made it.
Now for the giveaway! Just leave a comment here and tell me what flowers you’re looking forward to most during this gardening season. I’ll draw a winner at random at noon PST, Thursday, June 11. International readers, you’re welcome to enter.
Good Luck!
UPDATE: Congratulations to MelodyJ, who won! I’m emailing you for your address now…
I want to say Roses are my most looked forward to flower.. but, I can’t. I just love my little box on th side of my fence full of persalain.
I want to say Roses are my most looked forward to flower.. but, I can’t. I just love my little box on th side of my fence full of persalain.
Right now the poppies, peonies and roses are popping in my garden. I would love to be able to replicate the papery effect of poppies.
Right now the poppies, peonies and roses are popping in my garden. I would love to be able to replicate the papery effect of poppies.
Pantyhose flowers!?
Oh, as a former flower shop clerk/designer, this is perfect for me. No trashing!
Pantyhose flowers!?
Oh, as a former flower shop clerk/designer, this is perfect for me. No trashing!
Peonies… and gorgeous hydrangeas!
Peonies… and gorgeous hydrangeas!
I am looking forward to Roses, Violets, and Jasmine. The Honeysucle that grows wild is always a treat.
I am looking forward to Roses, Violets, and Jasmine. The Honeysucle that grows wild is always a treat.
I’d love some roses! They are definitely my favourite flowers :)
Thanks & have a nice evening
blueberry
I’d love some roses! They are definitely my favourite flowers :)
Thanks & have a nice evening
blueberry
Most of my favorites have been and gone. I guess my next favorite will be the zinnias I put in. The ones the slugs keep eating.
Most of my favorites have been and gone. I guess my next favorite will be the zinnias I put in. The ones the slugs keep eating.
The flowers I was looking forward to most this year were my foxgloves which have flowered and keep getting taller everyday :D
The flowers I was looking forward to most this year were my foxgloves which have flowered and keep getting taller everyday :D
Those look great :)
Those look great :)
I live in FL, so we have lush flowers year round, but I am looking forward to seeing the tiger lillys that grow along the roadside when we visit up north in July. Timing should be perfect.
I live in FL, so we have lush flowers year round, but I am looking forward to seeing the tiger lillys that grow along the roadside when we visit up north in July. Timing should be perfect.
I can’t wait for sunflowers!
I can’t wait for sunflowers!
I want to make flowers :)
I want to make flowers :)
I’d love to make some fuchsia and some freesia!
I’d love to make some fuchsia and some freesia!
I second the vote for honeysuckle. Pantyhose petals look soooo much better than the old fabric glued to a wire that I used when I made fabric flowers.
I second the vote for honeysuckle. Pantyhose petals look soooo much better than the old fabric glued to a wire that I used when I made fabric flowers.
Lilies, they are so beautiful.
Lilies, they are so beautiful.
GREAT JOB on that flower! Looks like a FABULOUS book!
I LOVE peonies and roses the best, but really LOVE all flowers!!!
GREAT JOB on that flower! Looks like a FABULOUS book!
I LOVE peonies and roses the best, but really LOVE all flowers!!!
I’m looking forward to the jasmine flowering. We have some in a big tub next to the front door, and when it’s in bloom the fragrance is lovely.
I’m looking forward to the jasmine flowering. We have some in a big tub next to the front door, and when it’s in bloom the fragrance is lovely.
I’m not sure what their proper name is but I love the ‘trumpet flowers’. They grow from bulbs and are just gorgeous, huge flowers that look just like trumpets. :)
I’m not sure what their proper name is but I love the ‘trumpet flowers’. They grow from bulbs and are just gorgeous, huge flowers that look just like trumpets. :)
Oh wow, what a blast from the past. My mother taught classes on this back in the early seventies. I haven’t seen anything like that since then! So funny, thanks for the memories. I’m excited about seeing my girls pick cherry tomatoes. The plant is getting nice thick stems and I can almost taste the juiciness now!
Oh wow, what a blast from the past. My mother taught classes on this back in the early seventies. I haven’t seen anything like that since then! So funny, thanks for the memories. I’m excited about seeing my girls pick cherry tomatoes. The plant is getting nice thick stems and I can almost taste the juiciness now!
Sadly the heat is so scorching here flowers are scarce. It is a lovely time though because the desert plants are in bloom and it for a split second makes me forget how hot it is outside. My mom has happened to keep her sunflowers alive this summer so that is a nice surprise. This looks like a very fun thing to do when the day seems to drag. If I do not win it I think I may have to find myself a copy. My five year old just looked over my shoulder and squealed in delight and is also planning on trying her hand at these. haha
Sadly the heat is so scorching here flowers are scarce. It is a lovely time though because the desert plants are in bloom and it for a split second makes me forget how hot it is outside. My mom has happened to keep her sunflowers alive this summer so that is a nice surprise. This looks like a very fun thing to do when the day seems to drag. If I do not win it I think I may have to find myself a copy. My five year old just looked over my shoulder and squealed in delight and is also planning on trying her hand at these. haha
I have to say my peonies! I love them so much, the large flower heads are just wonderful. Close second are my hollyhocks.
I have to say my peonies! I love them so much, the large flower heads are just wonderful. Close second are my hollyhocks.
I love daffodils and pansies. I finally have an attempt at a window-box herb garden this year and I’m really looking forward to the lavender blooming.
I love daffodils and pansies. I finally have an attempt at a window-box herb garden this year and I’m really looking forward to the lavender blooming.
I’ve always been partial to alstromeria, but I also love the different varieties of fuchsia, especially when grouped together in many hanging baskets. EEEE color overload!
I’ve always been partial to alstromeria, but I also love the different varieties of fuchsia, especially when grouped together in many hanging baskets. EEEE color overload!
ooo I love it!
ooo I love it!
Oh my. I’m going to have to try these. I have an unfortunate obsession with crafts that produce life-like flowers. Gorgeous!
Oh my. I’m going to have to try these. I have an unfortunate obsession with crafts that produce life-like flowers. Gorgeous!