Thursday, October 07, 2010

It's Time for Pumpkin Bouquets!

  Yesterday I sent Karleen an email, saying that it was time for us to make pumpkin bouquets again.  In a previous autumn I received a phone call from her, saying that she was working on a birthday gift for her friend and wondering if I would like to come and make one too. It sounded so interesting because she said the process used pumpkins, an ice pick, and fresh flowers. I remember thinking that 'housework could wait'! I gathered my kitchen shears and a container and went out to my flower garden to see what I could contribute to the flower craft.

When I got there, Karleen had small pumpkins set out on her counter and some sharp tools so we could poke holes in the pumpkin to stick flower stems into.


Roses, lavender, mums, and amaranth, provided us with more than enough blossoms. Although we've had our first frost, there were enough nice flowers left for this fun project.




Karleen and I each used a different method of tackling our project. I started at the top, creating a cascading effect in an asymmetrical way. Karleen chose to select points at strategic places equal distance from one another all the way around her pumpkin. Her approach was quite symmetrical and balanced. Both methods created fun and pretty pumpkin bouquets. I couldn't help but think how each style reflected our personalities and the way we approach life. I have learned much over the years from my friend about balance and how to tackle a project. Karleen is the one who always finishes a project before she starts the next one; I tend to have a dozen projects going on at once and sometimes some get forgotten before I complete them. I am trying to be more like my friend in this regard!
 

At first it was difficult to know how to deal with flower buds that were taller than others on the pumpkin surface. I finally decided to embrace the difference in height, making it part of the balance and decor.

As time went on, I admit to becoming a little bit outlandish with the heights, but I was satisfied with the end result. Bunches of lavender poking out from the sides, and cascading amaranth gave a very eclectic feel to my bouquet.

It was hard to get enough leverage with the ice pick once we had flowers on the top. So, Karleen found her husband's drill and it worked perfectly in making holes at the base of the pumpkin so we could finish our project. Thanks, Richard! I hope we didn't leave any pumpkin pulp on the drill bit!


Drinking glasses provided as base and height as we neared the completion of our projects. It was easier to see and work with the pumpkin bouquet raised to near eye-level.


  This was my finished pumpkin bouquet; bright colors, sprigs of lavender, and dangling amaranth set in a base of miniature roses and mums.


Karleen's bouquet was soft and sweet with the addition of a strand of mini-pearls on top. Her arrangement is beautiful and is now gracing the home of "the flower lady" down the street. Happy Birthday, flower lady!

11 comments:

  1. Love your Pumpkin Bouquets! Many years ago I took a flower arranging class at the community college. One of the arrangements we did was in a pumpkin, but we opened up the top like a jack-o-lantern and place a container inside for water. Either way it is so fun to see flowers and pumpkins together in the autumn.

    I'm not telling what the word verification is, but it is making me laugh.

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  2. What a great idea! Very Pretty!!

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  3. Very darling...I've not seen them done that way before where the entire pumpkin was covered in flowers. Neato!

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  4. A lovely arrangement and great photos showing how to create this pretty centerpiece.

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  5. Awwwww, very cute idea. Susan

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  6. Oh That is so much fun! I like them!

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  7. Ahhhh... that's so cute! Loved how you did that!

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  8. I love the bouquets! How well do they keep? Do you have to add any water? I'd love to try one of these!

    Nita Jo

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  9. Nita Jo and others who might be interested: we didn't add water to the pumpkins. They were not hollowed out and we didn't cut the tops off. Instead the pumpkin was whole with simple holes drilled into it. The moisture in the pumpkin kept the flowers alive for several days without any added water. :D

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  10. Your pumpkin bouquets are beautiful.

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  11. Oh I love your pumpkin bouqet. Happy Thanksgiving weekend to you dear blogger friend.
    I read your post today (Friday) and smiled. .oh boy ..do I ever know about dry periods .. I even wondered...if I had ever something clever to say.

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