Tips & Care
Our stems are 16” to 18” in length, which is taller than most vases. They are made of wire that is wrapped in thread, and their ends have been sealed with glue to prevent unravelling.
To shorten your stems, bend them up into a U shape. To reset your stems to their original length, return them to a straight position. You can remove any kinks in your stems by gently compressing the wire between your fingers. Using this technique will allow you to change the height of your flowers and greens over time, for different vases and arrangements.
If you’d like to permanently alter your stem length, clip your stems with pliers/wire cutters and seal the ends with glue or floral tape to prevent unravelling.
shortening your stems
Arranging your flowers
Start by adding a couple of inches of rice, beads, or clean pebbles to the bottom of your vase. This will help to hold your flowers and greens in place, especially if your arrangement is smaller.
I find it easiest to add my flowers and greens to my vase one at a time, starting with my exterior greenery, followed by my largest/tallest stems, and finishing with my smallest/accent stems.
To begin arranging your flowers, place your vase at the edge of a table. If your stems are currently bent, bend them back into a straight position. You can remove any kinks by gently compressing the stem between your fingers.
Hold your first stem up against the vase to determine its desired length/height in your arrangement. Once you are happy with the height, pinch your stem where it meets the bottom of the vase. Working from the pinched area, bend your stem upward to form a U.
Insert the stem into your vase. Repeat this process for each stem in your arrangement.
Once all of your stems are in your vase, it’s time to fine tune. The great thing about felt flowers is that their wire stems can be shortened, lengthened, angled, bent or curved over and over again. Many leaves are also individually wired, giving you extra control around placement. Don’t be afraid to play with your arrangement until you’re happy with the placement of your flowers and greens.
Do be careful as you go. While your felt flowers and greens are carefully constructed, they are delicate and should be moved as gently as possible to avoid damage. Many flowers have been stiffened to help seal the felt edges and retain petal shapes, so take care with your adjustments. Avoid pulling or twisting your flowers and leaves, as this may cause damage. Instead, focus on moving the wired stems to reach your desired arrangement.
Scenting Your Bouquet
Wool balls are natural diffusers. Feel free to drop essential oils on your craspedia or poppy buds to scent your bouquet. I do not recommend dropping oil on your felt flowers and greens as it may cause staining over time.
Caring for your flowers
It’s always best to keep wool art in a temperature-controlled, dry environment. While your flowers and greens are colourfast, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may cause fading.
Every so often, remove your flowers from their vase, turn them upside down and gently tap to remove light dust. If any dust or hair remains, use a piece of tape to carefully remove it. I do not recommend blowing air at your flowers, it may cause damage. Similarly, felt flowers will be damaged by water, so washing is not recommended.
If you have played with your flowers a lot, your felt may release fibres. You can carefully snip stray fibres away with a pair of sharp scissors.
Wrapping your bouquet
Step 1: Arrange your flowers and greens in a pleasing way. Try to place stems with a long profile (such as eucalyptus, lavender or ruscus) towards the back of your arrangement. Then add large flowers in front of/just below your largest stems. Finally, tuck your smaller flowers and filler into gaps. Try to give each flower its own height and space.
Step 2: Once you’re happy with your arrangement, hold your stems firmly in one hand just a couple of inches below your lowest flowers and leaves. Use the other hand to wrap the thin piece of wire provided tightly around your stems. This should hold your arrangement in place.
Step 3: Open up your bouquet wrapper and insert your arrangement. Your bouquet should nestle in the wrapper, but still be visible.
Step 4: Firmly squeeze the bottom of your wrapper around your stems and hold. Wrap the string provided tightly around the bottom of your wrapper a couple of times and tie to secure.
Step 5: Insert a tag onto one string and pull the tag tight to your bouquet. Tie your string in a bow overtop. Cut excess string, if needed.
