FLORAL DESIGN COMMITTEE
This committee promotes a knowledge and love of floral design including the unusual use of plant materials, design mechanics and techniques. This committee’s projects and workshops are for novice and recreational designers as well as for those interested in exhibiting in Club or other shows. The committee is responsible for writing the Floral Design Schedules for all Club flower shows and provides guidance and encouragement to Members exhibiting in shows, encourages Member participation in Club, GCA and NGC floral design shows, and assists the Flower Show Committee in the planning of all Club sponsored flower shows. The Chair or Vice Chair of this committee serves on the Flower Show Committee.
RECOMMENDED FLORAL DESIGN TOOLS AND SUPPLIES
FLORAL SCISSORS
No one tool that can do everything. It is helpful to have different scissors for different things. From pretty to practical, here are our top 3 recommended snips and why they are so great.
Niwaki Sakagen Flower Scissors are durable, comfortable, lightweight, and ever so comely in an array of fun colours. Sakagen founded in 1903 is a Japanese company that manufactures and sells scissors for flowers and gardening. $20
Niwaki Sentei Garden Scissors are fast, accurate, deliberate, and very sharp. They have traditional round handles that are made of a smooth, forged carbon steel making them comfortable, strong yet lightweight and perfect for deliberate cuts with their strong angled blades. These really are a great all-rounder and as they are a bit heavier than the Sakagen they are best suited to quicker jobs such as deadheading, light pruning, ikebana or editing flower arrangements in the vase. $35 + shipping
Straight Floral Knives Scissors cut through flower stems by cutting and smashing at the same time. Sharp knives make clean cuts and do not pinch water-conducting vessels the way scissors can. This fact alone makes them one of the most important, versatile tools in the floral designer’s toolbox. If you know how to use a knife properly, you will not fear it, but see it as a necessary and handy tool. Its benefits make it a necessity for working with fresh flowers. $12/Box of 10.
OASIS® BIND WIRE 26-gauge paper-covered wire that is strong and malleable. Available in tan or green. Easily camouflages and useful for binding and structural support. 673' per roll. $!5/roll.
Floral Design Committee
Barbara Cairns, Chair
Lisa Giacco, Vice Chair
Ann Ashley
Anna Biggs
Sally DeWees
Kay Ellsworth
Grier Flinn
Pattie Miller
Pinkie Roe
Wendy Russell
Connie Wissing
R E S O U R C E S
BY DESIGN Magazine
By Design is a quarterly online publication of the GCA. It is chock full of ideas for the floral designer regardless of experience. It covers a wide variety of floral design interests, including step-by-step arranging instruction, cutting edge trends, and beautiful photography. There is also a Random Resources page where readers can share helpful finds and new ideas and is an excellent teaching and reference tool. The magazine is available in digital format. Print subscriptions are no longer available.
INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING CLUB FLOWER SHOWS
For more information about show schedules, guidelines and to download exhibitor entry cards, please go to the Flower Show Committee’s landing page. You may print and fill out an entry card by hand OR download the file, fill it out on your computer, and then print it.