How to Build a Dried Flower Installation

[@on1accord78]

Gorgeous arrangement! I love how you describe your thought process. I arrange flowers but never know why I make my placement decisions.

[@FlowerMoxie]

Thank you! It's hard to articulate so I'm glad to hear you could make sense of it. XO

[@donnamaddox7023]

I'm doing my first boho/ dry/ fresh mix wedding. 30 plus years in the business and never ending learning. You are a great teacher. So now I'll use foam and fresh (crowning glory the heck out of it). Thank you a million.

[@FlowerMoxie]

Thank you for your feedback and for your kind words! I agree that no matter how long in the business there's always so much more to learn. XXXX, Amy

[@jackdaniel3203]

As a landscape artist. I totally appreciate how you are describing and making your design. I am just now embarking on a new journey with dried flowers and you have totally peaked my interest on how to my new endeavor. Thank you

[@paulaearle1690]

You are always on trend, talented and truthful! All with a sense of humor!

[@FlowerMoxie]

Thank you so much, Paula! XXXX

[@mariafernandawaisman5327]

Loved your sense of humor as well! 😍😍

[@mariafernandawaisman5327]

Where I can find you in social media??

[@FlowerMoxie]

Thank you so much for your kind comment! XXXX, Amy

[@mariafernandawaisman5327]

@@FlowerMoxie got it 😉

[@Badbettypowers]

OBSESSED WITH THIS

[@FlowerMoxie]

Ah thank you so much! ♥

[@dominicajoyce8281]

This is stunning display 😊

[@FlowerMoxie]

Thank you so much!

[@mariafernandawaisman5327]

Loved your creation process! It is a beautiful instalation!!

[@FlowerMoxie]

I hope it helped you on your floral journey!

[@user-jw4fz3sq1w]

Awesome lesson! Thank you for demystifying fans for me😂❤

[@evaburgess3648]

First dried flower arrangement I have really like. I usually feel they are just to flat. This was perfect

[@FlowerMoxie]

That is awesome - thank you!!

[@kellic8665]

This is so not my style but I love it SO MUCH 🤩 The different textures are awesome together and I love how it looks balanced while keeping the asymmetry you were going for. And the color of that eucalyptus keeps the whole arrangement fresh (I live/garden in Phoenix so I generally find any dried plant matter a bit triggering 😅) I love how you are so good at taking the more common floral ingredients like the euc and finding ways to make them shine and look special 💐💖 All of this to say nice job!!! 😊

[@FlowerMoxie]

I totally get it, it's a strong vibe! Thank you so much for always leaving such kind comments, Kelli, I always look forward to your take on things. Also, I lol'd about the triggers of dried plant matter....and I'm also jeally you live so close to Flagstaff. XOXOX, Amy

[@Roseofsharondecor]

Beautiful 🌾🌿🌾

[@vanaleesa]

Omg girl I love how u put me on game with the “same same” I always knew I was doing something wrong but couldn’t put my finger and I hate same same lol

[@ambertaylor8784]

This is amazing! Thanks for the great tutorial. I tend to over-stuff on installations because I’m nervous my clients will look up close, see the foam, and think “it’s not finished.” The angle you have everything at looks great and I know you didn’t cover every inch of foam because those stems are so tiny. Do you worry about covering your mechanics with moss or something or just leave it? What’s your suggestion to help me avoid packing everything in?

[@FlowerMoxie]

You can definitely use moss to help hide mechanics! It's a go to for us to help hide any foam that isn't covered with product! When making a taller arrangement that's sitting on a stand, remember too, that people will be sitting under it, so covering mechanics on the bottom and sides is more important than on top. You can leave the top of the arrangement with some areas showing, guests won't be able to see it!

[@jennifermichel3314]

Unpopular opinion, I don't care for this look but thank you for sharing! Always enjoy your wit 😊

[@FlowerMoxie]

I totally get it, dried is a total vibe and it's kinda polarizing like coconut....you either love it or hate it. Thank you for watching my videos and leaving kind feedback! XOXOX, Amy

[@SWilliams-01]

Hey! Love this for a vow renewal we are doing in front of our concrete fireplace later this year! What are the exact products you used? I dont see the pink fans on your site

[@FlowerMoxie]

I spray-painted them! They are just regular dried palms.

[@stephaniengoki5416]

Thank you, beautiful

[@adrianalozano33]

ℹ love it 😍

[@FlowerMoxie]

Thank you!

[@betydavila9229]

Beautiful mexico

[@FlowerMoxie]

Very!

[@IkaMade]

super!!!

[@deehuckleberry3999]

Question! Ack! The only way I can use thistles in my bouquet and table arrangements is to source dried thistles, but I have wet foam and fresh flower arrangements. How can I coat the stem ends so they don't get soggy and break off? My dad suggested dipping them in shellac or polyurethane. Thoughts?

[@FlowerMoxie]

I've never had that happen, I feel like it would still hold up just fine in a vase of water, but if it's happened in the past then I'd probably buddy-tape it to a trash stem or wire it before I'd introduce a chemical to the fresh flowers. But your dad's idea was super creative and if you wanna try it on a mock-up then go for it!

[@deehuckleberry3999]

@@FlowerMoxie Would buddy taping work to get a too-short stem of something into my bouquet?

[@FlowerMoxie]

@@deehuckleberry3999 Absolutely, and if it's fresh you can always water-pick it and buddy tape it to a trash stem. I did that a lot when I was a new florist working with orchids.

[@katyb2793]

@@FlowerMoxie i saw a youtuber use something like a wooden skewer, and she wired a dried flower to the skewer and covered it with tape. Would that work? I have some dried plume celosia with very short stems as it was a dwarf variety, and I thought it might be fun to add them into a bouquet.

[@teresaazcui5197]

Thank you

[@lucyscolorfuldresscloset7553]

Do you use the regular natural flower foam for dry also?

[@FlowerMoxie]

We used a wet floral foam cage (but *without* soaking in water!) because that foam tends to be softer. However, you can use dry as well!

[@carieyoungers1838]

Loved this so much!! I loved hearing your thought process. You mentioned that you take requests and I probably should look through your videos before I request this, but hey that would take some time LOL, but I struggle so much with water based flower arrangements. For some reason when I do one, all of my schooling goes out the window and I act like I have no clue about the elements and principal of a design like I do with foam. Could you explain that a bit more for me, your thought process is so easy to understand. I need to know why I am placing this flower here and that flower there. Thanks so much!

[@FlowerMoxie]

Thank you so much! When creating an arrangement directly in a vase I typically like to work with a lazy susan so I can turn my vase more easily, this allows me to see every angle of my design quickly. I would recommend starting out with a greenery base which will help you get your desired shape and then inform where you'd like to place your flower stems. I like to work in little groups (2-3 stems) and then place them in a diagonal pattern, working from the bottom of the vase until I reach the top. This will ensure that you have a good spread of color but also that nothing looks too spotty. I'll save my more delicate stems for the top of the vase so they can really show off! And don't forget that with water if you don't like the placement of a stem you can simply remove it from the vase and shift it somewhere else, unlike foam which will break down, water is more forgiving! And most importantly... HAVE FUN!

[@carieyoungers1838]

@@FlowerMoxie Thank you so much for your helpful tips! So very much appreciated!

[@FlowerMoxie]

@@carieyoungers1838 You're so welcome! We're happy to help!

[@bethleitch123]

Hi, Can you leave dried flower arrangements outside overnight? Just need to know whether to build at the venue the day before. Thanks

[@FlowerMoxie]

That's a great question! That would depend a lot on the time of year as well as the weather conditions. If it's going to be super windy or humid overnight, I would definitely avoid leaving it outside overnight. Keeping any of the arrangements in a garage or basement would be totally fine. If it's a large scale installation that's hanging from a tent then that might be ok. You'll also want to take into consideration any wildlife that might be in the area. You don't want to have any deer or squirrels chomping on your arrangements!

[@ynmelbaortiz7074]

Hermoso delicado

[@jessme32]

How do you hang it?. I see so many people make them but never show how they hang/put on them on the wall.

[@FlowerMoxie]

Oh dang, I didn't even think about addressing that. I'm sorry! Ok, so with cages I always use zip ties to attach it to posts and such. But if for a wall, there are little holes on the base of the cage that work perfectly with a small nail, screw, or hook. The problem is venues don't like nails in the wall. For a dried piece, you could get away with Command Hooks because dried is light weight....however, for fresh flowers and a wet foam cage you'd need a nail for sure. If you are unable to use a nail, then you'll need to shift to using Oasis Tube Garland and using a ton of Command Hooks. This is why installs can be a beast. XOXOX, Amy

[@syedamirza5972]

I enjoy watching your videos. I love foam ( too bad)

[@FlowerMoxie]

Thank you so much, Syeda! And yes, I struggle when working without foam for large installs. I keep challenging myself, but when I was an active florist, I had to use what I had to use to ensure I delivered on what I promised to my client. XOXOX, Ames

[@ninabicanic7173]

Do you think this could work with pool noodle instead of foam?

[@FlowerMoxie]

We've never tried a pool noodle before, but I'm not sure how that would work since a pool noodle is hollow and the foam bricks that we used are solid. A solid foam will hold the stems in place and floral foam also lets you change you stem position, although you'll want to limit this, since the foam can break down. A lot of dried floral have delicate stems too, from the drying process, so I would hesitate to try to insert them into a pool noodle, for fear of breaking my stems.

[@ninabicanic7173]

@@FlowerMoxie I’m sorry I forgot to add I meant for arch purposes. Not standing flowers. I saw people use pool noodle with zip ties on arches and then put the flowers in. But yes you are right, dry floral have delicate stems so I don’t know how would that work.

[@FlowerMoxie]

@@ninabicanic7173 I think a pool noodle would work if you're using faux florals, which have almost indestructible stems, but any delicate dried floral stems I would be hesitant to use. Dried floral with stronger stems like protea, palm spears; things like that would probably work just fine!

[@ninabicanic7173]

@@FlowerMoxie thanks! :)

[@jackdaniel3203]

Very Asian love it.

[@ИрШи-н8е]

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