1. Arranging Permanent Flowers

2. Variety
quality and variety of permanent flowers is continually improving
requested frequently by customers

3. Permanent Flowers
silk
paper
dried and or preserved

4. Design principles
that guide fresh flower arrangement also apply to permanent flowers
mechanics involved in arranging permanents are different

5. Permanent flowers easier to arrange are not perishable
may be manipulated and mechanically secured without concern for wilting

6. Silk
applies to a wide variety of fabric flowers which are sold to florists
silk, nylon, cotton, rayon and blends are commonly used

7. Silk great variability in the grades of fabric used
resulting in a variety of quality and prices levels

8. Silk
available in two basic types
molded, plastic stemmed
hand-wrapped

9. Molded usually made of polyester
heat molded in a die form to create the petals
placed on a stem made of wire covered with plastic

10. Molded
usually less expensive than hand-wrapped silks

11. Hand-wrapped usually produced with multiple flowers on a single stem
bushes and bouquets are frequently made with this type of silk flowers

12. Hand-wrapped petals are usually cut with a stamp
then attached to wire and positioned to create the flower

13. Hand-wrapped
then secured to a wire stem which is hand wrapped with floral tape
flowers may be hand painted or dyed

14. Hand-wrapped process makes the flowers look real
more expensive because of the labor required
usually sold individually

15. Paper created from rice paper, parchment, and bark fiber paper
formed in the flower shape and most are available with wired petals and leaves

16. Paper flowers and leaves are attached to a main stem
wrapped with paper or floral tape

17. Paper
may be pre-dyed before being formed into flowers or air brushed after the flower has been formed

18. Paper
more expensive that molded, plastic-stemmed flowers because of the amount of labor required to produce them.

19. Dried and Preserved in great demand for arrangements in the home
frequently used for wall hangings and for decorating wreaths

20. Dried and Preserved
can also be combined with silk to create attractive arrangements

21. Freeze Drying
have all the moisture mechanically removed from their cells
flowers retain some suppleness to their texture

22. Freeze Drying equipment is expensive
cost is higher than flowers dried by other methods

23. Mechanics similar to those for fresh flowers
precautions against wilting are not necessary

24. Mechanics
dry foam made especially for dried materials is used to support the stems
two types of foam available

25. Mechanics one for delicate materials other for larger, sturdy stems
styrofoam may also be used

26. Mechanics
delicate stemmed flowers are placed on a wooden or steel pick before being inserted into styrofoam

27. Mechanics
dry foam is easily wedged into containers without additional support
may also be attached with hot glue

28. Mechanics
foam is hidden by covering it with sheet moss or Spanish moss
prevents foam from being visible in the arrangement

29. Mechanics moss is held in place with pins, similar to hairpins
flowers may be glued in place, prevents flowers from turning or slipping out of the foam

30. Mechanics
dipping stems in pan glue before inserting is the easiest method