“WITH EMPHASIS ON STAGING”

A workshop tutored by Auckland’s Colleen Fernie for Southland Area FASNZ.
Text and photos by Helen Spencer FASNZ Southland Area Councillor.

[Click the photos for a closeup view of the design]

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bamboo or flax stalks – 6 x 150cm long and another 6-8 x 90cm long
• (long flax stalks are required to be reasonably strong) – suitable cutters required
• 2 fibre linings (those you would purchase to line hanging baskets)
• Ball of ordinary string and sewing needle with eye large enough to thread string
• Floral art U bends, 1 block of oasis, tinfoil, 5 Gerberas or similar, 12 flax leaves
• Fibre bindings, coloured bulrushes and decorative wire added the finishing touches

CONSTRUCTION:

Working in pairs, participants created their structures by using string to tie flax stalks together to make strong free standing structures

• String was then used to sew fibre into varying shaped bags

• Bags were attached to structures with tinfoil used to protect bags from moisture

• Wet oasis, and flowers were placed within the bags, and blooms were turned to create visual balance

• Flax leaves were placed to create rhythm and contrast

• Fibre bindings, coloured bulrushes and decorative wire added the finishing touches

The Finishing Touches as demonstrated by Colleen - attaching flax to the kaladi stalk