Flower Arranging

Outlining Three Vital Books...
and Explaining their Inspirational Effects

Flower Arranging... an in depth guide to which books are indispensable to everyone interested in learning to arrange flowers... or in improving and expanding their design knowledge. (Also featured throughout this page are various tips and links which I hope you will find useful.)

[If you want to arrange Silk and Dried flowers one extra book could prove MOST useful.]

Why not check out our new eStore when you have finished with this page... you'll find all the latest flower books there!

Whether you have just decided that you would like to learn to arrange flowers, or whether you are a seasoned flower arranger... the three books I am about to mention can become your 'best friends'!

If you are new, then, maybe, you will go on a course. Your joy and ability, to begin with, will be dependent upon the teacher's ability to put across the basics, in order to enable you to create a beautiful arrangement.

There are good and bad teachers... and so-so ones... some people can do, but not teach! [OK, that's the opposite of what is normally said, but true, nonetheless!]

If you don't progress as you would have wished, don't give up. At least buy the book by Fiona Barnett... you can't fail with that... and, if nothing else, it's a delightful coffee table book!

Flower arranging has moved on in the last few years at a staggering rate. Now a very few flowers can make a delightful arrangement, and be enjoyed individually. The vast areas of colour that used to be required to create an impact are no longer a real necessity. Less is now more!

(This page has moved on too! Please check out the vital new links at the bottom of the page... very useful facilities!)

The two most helpful and up-to-date books on the subject are featured below:-

The Betty Belcher book has more written material and explains the theory very thoroughly, it has some beautiful 'modern' arrangements which should get you thinking 'out-of-the-box'!

Add to this... a brief history of floral design... the basics, containers, mechanics and plant material with instructions on drying... plus, principles and elements of design, including color... and a step by step guide to traditional designs... and you have a pretty comprehensive instruction manual.

The Fiona Barnett book covers a much wider range of designs, less writing, but many, many, more pictures. A lovely addition is the list of the meanings of flowers, and, also, the very useful list of 'plant preservation techniques'.

It is divided into four basic sections... Techniques... New ways with fresh flowers... New ways with dried flowers... and Flowers for special occasions, which is a particular favourite of mine!

A particular benefit, in my opinion, is that each arrangement has a short list of the required materials... with pictures. And then the arrangement itself is shown as it is being created [at several different stages]... so that there are wonderful step-by-step directions... no-one could fail! And you can learn so much more than you realise by doing.

Both books feature prominently within my own personal library, and together with one which is now out of print, are the mainstay of my collection.

The out of print book dates back to when I did a City & Guilds course in Flower Arranging in the 1980's. The Author was Jean Taylor and the name of the book is 'Creative Flower Arrangement' published by Stanley Paul.

If you wish to obtain a copy go to the 'Choosing Books' page and try one [or both] of the recommended specialist suppliers of rare and out of print books.

The book is simply THE number one authority and takes you from a clear and brilliant explanation of the elements and principles of design on through the basics of creating the designs themselves, with clear explanations of the mechanics required.

There are plenty of detailed little diagrams and small black and white pictures which illustrate the points made. Of particular interest are pages 75-77 where you will find a description of the geometric designs which form the basis of most arrangements.There is an explanation and very useful diagramatic clarification of the points made.

On page 75 there is a beautiful illustration of a pedestal design... something which is not often shown now. Pedestals are very useful for large halls and churches, especially for weddings.

The book also has extremely detailed information on plant material, its best uses, its conditioning, and also methods of preservation.

Some of Jean Taylors other flower arrangment books may have better pictures, and are well worth obtaining, but the above book is the 'bible' for flower arrangers!

Whilst you are at the Bookstore try to obtain a copy of one book which I would recommend as a Bible of Everlasting Flowers.

The title of the book is 'Everlasting Flowers'... [such an uninspiring title for a book which is a total inspiration]. The book is by Patricia Crosher, published by Batsford, and the ISBN is 0-7134-7533-1.

If you only get ONE book specifically for your silk flowers, dried flowers, glycerined plant material, artificial plant material and seed heads, cones, etcetera, hobby... this MUST be it!

'Everlasting Flowers' covers inspirational actual arrangements, the choosing, obtaining and drying, conditioning and preparation of materials... also mechanics.

Mechanics can, to put it mildly, present a problem with many of the conventional dried flower arrangements... they show! The lack of foliage to hide them can be a major stumbling block... and needs to be addressed early on in your silk flowers career... help is at hand.

Ideas for Wedding Flowers.

Should you be looking for inspiration for Wedding Flowers, page 59 [of 'Everlasting Flowers'] has a delightful basket arrangement, which, if you use a small basket with a handle, would make a perfect flower girl/bridesmaid 'bouquet'.

Look at pages 22,118 and 114... combine the ideas, change the colours to suit your theme [the arrangement on page 110 has some delightful components which might appeal]... and then you could have the right inspiration for your ideal bridal bouquet.

In short, if you are looking to create some silk or dried flower arrangements or bouquets for a wedding, then 'Everlasting Flowers' is an ideal book for you... it aids thinking outside the box!

Add it to the Fiona Barnett book and you will have all the inspirational ideas you could ever need... The New Flower Arranger by Fiona Barnett [see above] has a 'special occasion' section which is full of ideas for weddings made with either fresh flowers or delightfully arranged dried flowers. [A real inspiration].

Next a resource which is 'new to this page' for finding (and getting at the best price anywhere in the world) any book you particularly need.

Or you can type in any general search term into their search box and up will come a host of ideas. (A bit like the daffodils on our home page.)

Since I've found this brilliant helpmate, I use nothing else... www.FetchBook.Info: New & Used Books
Find the Lowest Price - Compare more than a hundred book stores, 60,000 sellers, in a click. Incomparable.

It is well worth checking out our 'flower tools' page for new tools and accessories which make arranging your flowers easier... and, if your flower arranging incorporates an interest in pressing flowers, you could well find our... Flower Tools   page of special interest.....

We have a list of worldwide distributors for the new microwavable type of flower press on this page. It should certainly speed up the process. Also the colors of the flowers are said to be far superior.

One or two external links which I can recommend follow:-

Clicking the following link will take you to an information packed website... Flower arrangement
Arranging flowers for any event. Helpful tips for the care of your flower arrangement

Visit the Flower Arranging How2 for a growing selection of helpful hints and tips, plus a DVD course for beginners.

Now please let me mention our new Flower Arranging Plants page... with lots of helpful and thought provoking ideas and useful links. Well worth a visit.

Or you could leave this page to check out our 'Courses' page.

I hope this page has helped you find a source of helpful knowledge with which to answer any flower design questions which may have been puzzling you.

An afterthought... if this has inspired you to take your flower arranging a step further... why not join your local NAFAS?