Whilst all the kits contain the flower wire, stem wire and floristry tape (and the bigger kits include the vase/pot/gravel etc) that you will need to complete your project, you may find that you start to accumulate your own materials. Maybe you have downloaded one of our PDF patterns and are ready to start making more flowers on your own?
Your materials checklist must contain wire (the basic ingredient along with the beads!). All our flowers are constructed using 0.4mm anti-tarnish silver wire. This is copper based and coated in the silver. You can buy more wire in the shop but also from most craft outlets too.
You may also require sturdier wire for the stems - we use 1mm galvanised steel wire. This can be purchased from us or most garden centres and hobby shops. The other wire commonly needed is 0.4mm green wire, available in the shop or most florists and craft shops.
Florist tape is invaluable for creating realistic looking stems and hiding all the wire! You can buy tape in several shades of green and brown, depending on your project.
Now it gets fun - start collecting display vases, terracotta pots, aluminium buckets, jugs, bottles - just about anything can be turned into a display piece! Charity shops are perfect hunting grounds for unusal pieces along with home decor shops (I love shopping at Sostrene Green!). I have amassed a collection of pots and vases, some I will probably never use, but they sure look pretty on a shelf anyway!
Most craft and hobby shops stock wicker wreath bases, wooden macrame hoops, various other ingenious display ideas. Try your local florist for dense floristry foam which helps to hold your flowers in an upright position in crates, buckets etc. You can also use an air-hardening clay in the base to give it some weight. Florists may also be able to supply you with reindeer moss - a gorgeous product to hide the floristry foam or filler! I use aquarium gravel a lot and this can be purchased from pet shops and craft stores.
Most of these items, including some pretty vintage finds of my own, are available in the shop.
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