As the flower arranger progresses in the study of this fascinating art, she will want to learn the secret of making distinctive and original compositions and one of the most frequent questions I am asked when judging shows or speaking from the platform is ” What constitutes originality in flower arranging? ”

Originality is a quality very difficult to define although I would say it springs from a mental awareness of the subject in question and a strong desire to do something ‘ different.’ To be original is to act or think for oneself, in other words not to imitate; 1 would therefore say that the conception of an original arrangement would spring from a personal idea, which after germinating in your mind, you would interpret with flowers and other material necessary.

But how to find the ideas might be the next question. Ideas can come from many sources, especially if you are constantly on the lookout for various materials in different shapes, sizes and colours. In fact when your eyes have become accustomed to ‘seeing’ unusual items, you will not fail to find an idea.

How To Keep Your Arrangements Original

Dramatic MATERIAL is one item that will sometimes suggest an original arrangement and here I would suggest that you do not always think in terms of flowers. Some flowers are very unusual in form, but do not overlook the possibilities of certain foliage, berries and seed pods. These used separately or in combination with other material will often place an unusual stamp upon the design.

An unusual container will also lead you to the making of an out of the ordinary arrangement. Antique and junk shops offer any amount of ideas, and with your mind trained to design, you will easily be able to visualise the shape of an arrangement to fit the container. You could even fashion your own from shells, branches, logs, plaster or stone.

Accessories, such as china models or ornaments should be used with discretion, but they should not be frowned upon for often they are the main-spring of the idea behind the design. If the ornament is interesting, try to tie in the whole arrangement with it, by making the design in accordance with its shape, colour or size.

Contrast of material and dramatic lines play an important part in original arrangements, but whatever you decide to dramatize, emphasize this one point, and do not confuse the issue by using an unusual container with lots of dramatic material, adding an accessory in an effort to be different.

There are many other ways of obtaining a start, but I give you here a few more ideas that will surely find a place in your list of things to do, sometime.

Original Flower Arrangement Ideas

For arrangements for special occasions try:

• Using the grocer’s scales, making an arrangement of fruit one side and flowers the other for Harvest Festival.
• For a festive party, make garlands of flowers or leaves threaded on coloured string and fix these to the door or up the balustrade with bows of ribbon.
• A young girl’s party can economically yet appropriately be decorated with large bunches of white Gypsophila tied with a. bow of ribbon as focal interest.
• Place an empty wine or champagne bottle surrounded by flowers in an ice bucket, and back this with posters from the steamship companies or air lines for a “Bon Voyage” party.
• Make an arrangement of grasses, reeds, bulrushes, stones and stand this on a flat mirror to represent a lake. Add a porcelain duck to the scene and cross two guns behind it for the “Duck Shoot.”
• Try to interpret the reason for your arrangement and you will not miss being original.

For focal interest try using:

• Green pods of Horse Chestnuts, Lime flower panicles, fruit, sprays of black or red Currants, Hazel nut groups. Oak apples, gourds, peppers, Currant Tomatoes, Sycamore seed sprays, Berries, Funkia leaves.

Try these clever combinations:

• Pink Roses and pale green Wheat.
• Blue Spruce and Echinops.
• White Statice and Helichrysums in a black vase.
• Sprays of Weeping Willow and pressed back white Tulips in a wine cooler.
• An arrangement in varying shades of green.
• Centralised Violets with drooping Fuchsia at the sides.
• White Pampas Crass for height, ferns one side, Broom the other and cluster of Honesty in the centre.
• Mushrooms on sticks in a green and white design.

Try these items as containers for a change:

• Goldfish bowls or gas light globes.
• Silver entree dishes, sauceboats, platters and loving cups.
• Baskets, birdcages and painted hanging wire baskets.
• Odd tea pots or choice cups and saucers.
• Painted glucose or cocoa fins. Split and roll edges back.
• Wooden sabots with tin lining.
• Bark wood filled with damp moss.
• Old fashioned sweet jars or even hurricane lamp globes.
• Scooped out marrows, melons and gourds for country material.
• Tankards or small copper jugs for wall arrangements.
• If you are caught without a holder, try using a large potato cut in half. Press this to the base of the dish and insert the flowers or leaves in the potato. If necessary make holes first.