Floral Arrangement

Meeting 1: Dried Flowers & Miniature Worlds 

Part 1 (45 minutes): The Art of Dried Flowers

• Discussion: Start by discussing why we use dried flowers and how they are different from fresh flowers. Talk about the process of drying flowers (air-drying, silica gel, pressing) and the best flowers to use.

• Activity: Dried Flower Arrangement: Provide a variety of dried flowers, grasses, and seed pods. Demonstrate how to arrange them in a small vase or container. Members will learn about the principles of design like balance, proportion, and texture as they create their own arrangements.

Part 2 (45 minutes): The World in Miniature

• Discussion: Introduce the concept of miniature floral arrangements and terrariums. Discuss the importance of scale and choosing the right container, from a tiny thimble to a small glass jar.

• Activity: Miniature Arrangements: Using tiny blooms, dried flowers, and small moss, guide members in creating a miniature arrangement. This can be as simple as a single bud in a tiny bottle or a more complex miniature scene in a cloche.

Part 3 (30 minutes): Clean-Up and Reflection

• Show and Tell: Members can share their creations and explain their design choices.

• Clean-up: Clean up the workspace and discuss preparations for the next meeting.

Meeting 2: Leather and Wood Flowers 

Part 1 (60 minutes): Creating Leather Flowers

• Discussion: Talk about the unique properties of leather as a craft material. Show examples of leather flowers and discuss how to cut, shape, and dye the leather to look like a real flower.

• Activity: Leather Rose: Provide small pieces of scrap leather, leather dye, and a hot glue gun. Follow a tutorial to create a simple leather rose. Members will learn how to cut heart or petal shapes and layer them to form a blossom.

Part 2 (60 minutes): Wood Flower Bouquet

• Discussion: Introduce sola wood flowers, which are popular for their natural look and ability to be dyed. Explain how to prepare and color them.

• Activity: Dye and Arrange: Provide plain sola wood flowers and a variety of paints or dyes. Guide members in coloring their flowers to match a theme. Once dry, they will use floral wire and tape to arrange their new wooden blooms into a small, everlasting bouquet.

Meeting 3: Mixed Media Arrangement & Showcase  

Part 1 (75 minutes): The Final Arrangement

• Planning: Start with a brief review of all the skills learned—design principles, dried flowers, miniature work, and crafting with leather and wood. Members will sketch a plan for their final arrangement, deciding which techniques to combine.

• Creation: Provide all the materials from previous meetings, plus a few new ones like ribbon, preserved moss, and different containers. Members will work independently to create a final arrangement that showcases at least two of the techniques they learned. This could be a dried flower arrangement with a handmade leather flower as a focal point or a miniature wood flower terrarium.

Part 2 (45 minutes): The Final Showcase

• Final Touches: Members will add any last details to their projects.

• Show and Tell: This is the most important part of the meeting! Each member will present their final piece, explaining the materials they used, the challenges they faced, and what they learned. This is a great way to build public speaking and presentation skills.