Oasis fresh magazine nr. 13

ISSUE 13

fresh

Products, news and ideas to help create inspirational floral arrangements

Distributed to the United Kingdom and Ireland

the CHOICE of PROFESSIONALS brand

FLORAL PRODUCTS

Designed for Maximum Flower Life

Gloomy forecasts can daunt even the most positive amongst us, but with the big three floral peak periods coming up, it’s time to shake down and get into gear. Florists perform on a variety of levels, however you describe yourself floral artisan, jobbing florist, commercial flower seller or all round floral designer everyone needs a little help from time to time.

Whether its finding new key floral looks for the coming season, reshaping your marketing strategy, or refining your profits, OASIS® Floral Products are here to help, and NOW is the time to glean useful ways to make life easier.

• For time saving, profitable ideas, product information and business tips go online to the OASIS® Floral Products website www.oasisfloral.com • Discover exciting video features from the correct way to soak floral foam to inspirational how to floral designs on our YouTube site OASIS®FloralUK • Keep up to date with all the latest news on Facebook at the OASIS® Floral Products UK page. Check out the brilliant photos from the Chicheley Hall Floral event held recently and have a go at the Product of the Month promotion to win a prize. Plus get prompt answers to your floral queries.

• Be motivated and inspired with the latest techniques, know how and tips in fresh magazine. Plus view smart ideas from the very best floral designers all created with profit in mind.

• fresh Mail e-mails come straight to you with ready in a flash, great value ideas and tips for peak periods and event floristry.

If you don’t receive fresh magazine and fresh Mail then simply register online at www.oasisfloral.com It’s a must for the coming peak periods.

With Christmas coming Tracy Tomlinson, our fresh designer this month, shows how to create exciting festive arrangements, on page 3 see inspiring wall art to add another floral dimension to customers homes.

Plus the prettiest Christmas Angel dressed in her best frock is on page 13.

When the going is tough help from your friends is what you need, discover it online with OASIS® Floral Products.

OASIS® Ambassador Neil Whittaker took third place in the Europa Cup held in Havirov, Czech Republic in the first week of September. For a small but noisy group of jubilant Brits it was the culmination of a great competition of brilliant floristry. For Neil with his assistant and partner Anthony Williams from The Design Element, Manchester it was the conclusion of months of hard work and dedication. The Europa Cup is © Smithers-Oasis UK Ltd 2011. All rights reserved. Neither the whole, nor any part of the images or copy in this literature may be reproduced in any form without express prior permission from Smithers-Oasis UK Ltd

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Tracy Tomlinson our fresh designer in this issue needs no introduction, a gifted floral designer with a passion for flowers and floristry she is renowned in the industry for her expert knowledge and creative designs. Chairman of the UK Floristry Judges Guild Tracy was instrumental in creating and expanding this highly successful association founded in 2009. She is also a British Florist Association director, and a member of the Florint technical committee that oversees European competitions.

Tracy Tomlin

With the ongoing discussions in the media about recession, cash crisis, meltdowns and turmoil it’s no wonder retailers are edgy.

son

freshtalk She’s busy, very busy, but in her shop The Tomlinson Flower Company, in Coventry she gives customers a complete flower shop experience in excellence, all within an atmosphere that is sunny, relaxed and friendly. The shop is always buzzing with activity, and with clever ideas to draw in the customers.

Displayed in an eye-catching location near the shop counter is the Flower of the Week promotion. This is calculated to sell the best seasonal flowers with a range of reasonably priced designs, which are fast to make and look fabulous. Tracy mixes modern styling, up to date techniques, quality flowers and perfect presentation with commercial know how to produce great profit making floristry. Tracy says: ‘It’s a fusion of the very best of traditional and contemporary floristry that makes our shop a great all rounder. Modern techniques that cut down the time spent on producing floristry are essential, that’s why OASIS® Floral Products are so great. They are florist friendly and time effective to use.’

The Tomlinson Flower Company has a thriving funeral tribute trade, and Tracy is not afraid to introduce more contemporary high-end styles to clients to give a highly personalised service.

Check out Tracy’s forever summer coffin blanket on page 4.

Tracy’s success is due to an amalgamation of passion, expertise and caring. This is why after sixteen years in the industry, her award winning business is at the top of the tree. held every four years to find the best European florist and OASIS® Floral Products, who were the main sponsors, are always a great supporter of Neil.

Neil said, ‘It is an honour to represent the British Florist Association and my country, and I would like to thank all the sponsors who made it possible for me to attend and win a place in the top three florists in Europe.’

1st place Natalia Zhizhko of Russia 2nd place Niina Mikkinen of Finland 3rd place Neil Whittaker of Great Britain

Hung Up Designed for Maximum Flower Life

Wall art is a neglected area for florists and it’s a great design space to make a lucrative impression.

There are very few homes without some sort of wall adornment and creative floral art can give customers unique and affordable works of art. Christmas is a good time to unleash your innovative seasonal style in wall hangings.

OASIS® FOAM FRAMES® Designer Sheets are perfect as a canvas for wall art and can be cut into any shape or size. Shiny long lasting Aspidistra leaves form the base of this picture edged with a fringe of Mikado Reeds giving a smooth background for the textured vertical section. Criss-crossed Mikado Reeds embellished with Ilex leaves connect all elements of the design together.

FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE Aspidistra leaves Fatsia leaves Ilex Rubus ‘Chester’ Papaver – Poppy heads Rose ‘Piano Freiland’ Phlomis Allium Panicum Fountain Grass SUNDRIES OASIS® FOAM FRAMES® Designer Sheet Mikado Reeds Mossing Pins OASIS® Floralife® Leafshine Small Christmas baubles

OASIS® FOAM FRAMES® Designer Sheet

Mossing Pins

Mikado Reeds

fresh designer tips • Always add a secure hook before starting on any wall hanging.

• Do not over water the floral foam, drain any excess water before hanging.

Designed by Tracy Tomlinson

OASIS® Floralife® Leafshine

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Designed for Maximum Flower Life

Designed by Tracy Tomlinson

HOW TO:

Step 1 - Make a thick edging with Muehlenbeckia by teasing out the bundle to form long wide lengths. To secure the Muehlenbeckia to the base use strong Mossing Pins and hammer these into the hard base of the OASIS® FOAM FRAMES® Designer Sheet. Continue until the entire floral foam edge is covered.

Pour water carefully over the top of the floral foam. Do not over soak, as the tribute will become too heavy.

Comfort Blanket

Step 2 - Ruche Organza Fabric to form a rippling river of material along the length of the floral foam. Secure this with decorative lilac Round Headed Pearl Pins at intervals; do not push the pins in too far to avoid piercing through the base of the floral foam.

Wrapped in love this comforting blanket of flowers will symbolise an enveloping adoration.

The rustic look and the forever summer style is a unique approach in coffin adornment, and one that will be a tender loving mantle with a poignant message swathed in love.

Follow Tracy’s easy step-by-step instructions to create a floral blanket.

OASIS® FOAM FRAMES® Designer Sheet

Organza Fabric

FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE Muehlenbeckia Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ Dianthus ‘Green Trick’ Origanum ‘Charm Purple’ Allium ‘Atro purpureum’ 4

6mm Round headed Mossing Pins Pearl Pins

Cotinus Rubus Spray Rose ‘Lovely Lydia’ Astrantia ‘Roma’ Asparagus

SUNDRIES OASIS® FOAM FRAMES® Designer Sheet Mossing Pins Purple Organza Fabric 6mm Lilac Round Headed Pearl Pins

Step 3 - Add groups of flowers and foliage to create contrasting forms and textures, blending colours harmoniously along the length of the floral foam.

Ensure all stems are firmly anchored into the floral foam. Once the floral foam is covered with flowers and foliage overlay long trails of Rubus and Asparagus fern to give movement and elevation.

Remove some of the fronds from the trailing fern to give a finer look. Spray with water and leave in a cool place to await delivery.

Designed for Maximum Flower Life

Serene Spheres The quiet dignity of repeated spheres gives a modern message of unceasing love.

Although not everyone’s choice for a coffin top decoration the simplicity of the spheres linked by meandering branches gives a powerful and evocative show of strength and unity. It’s easy to make the perfect round flower shapes with the precut OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Spheres and the density of the floral foam gives a firm anchorage for flowers.

FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE Allium ‘Gladiator’ Delphinium ‘Blue Heaven’ Rose ‘Aqua’ Tillandsia Xerographica Salix or any contorted twigs SUNDRIES OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Spheres - 9cm, 12cm and 16cm

Design Courtesy of Smithers-Oasis Germany

The placement of the globes graduating in size and colour gives strong impact in modern styling. Controlled and inspiring this tribute shows strength of character, courage and tenacity.

OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Spheres

fresh designer tips • Using a variety of textures is important when shapes are similar.

• Cut a slither of floral foam from the base of each OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Sphere to aid stability.

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Designed for Maximum Flower Life

Glowing Have we forgotten how versatile the OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Cylinders are?

When making smaller arrangements they are an economical and flexible alternative with no cutting or wastage of floral foam. Premature wilt proofing with the addition of OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife means a great value product. This design is a blast from the past brought bang up to date with the use of a cork board, beloved in the 70’s, to style small candle arrangements and accessories on, making a glowing table centre.

FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE A few heads of Spray Carnations and Spray Chrysanthemums Moss Pine needles SUNDRIES OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Cylinders Cinnamon Sticks Cream 10cm Double Face Satin Ribbon Burgundy 3cm Double Face Satin Ribbon OASIS® Floral Adhesive Tube Candle Holder Church Candles Cork board, nuts, bark and dried fruits designers own

fresh designer tips

Design Courtesy of Smithers-Oasis Germany

• Cover the base of the OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Cylinders with polythene to prevent water leakage.

• Glue the Cinnamon Sticks to the floral foam whilst it is dry. The Cinnamon Sticks should finish just above the top rim of the floral foam.

• Moisten the top surface of the floral foam for the addition of a few flower heads.

OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Cylinders

Candle Holder

Church Candles

OASIS® Floral Adhesive Tube

Cinnamon Sticks

Double Face Satin Ribbon 6

Designed for Maximum Flower Life

FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE Zantedeschia ‘Highwood’ Ornithogalum arabicum Papaver – Poppy heads Pandanas Fatsia Hydrangea ‘Green shadow’ Aspidistra

SUNDRIES OASIS® Premium Floral Foam Maxlife Bleached White and Black Mitsumata Branches Natural Flat Midelino Coil Clear Double Sided Tape Container - designers own

THINKING FRESH

Innovative design ideas with customer appeal.

This is the section where our designer chooses a signature style that appeals to their customers, and Tracy Tomlinson’s arrangement lives up to expectation.

Clean, modern and professional, inviting the viewer to look again and with a skilled use of space to draw the eye in. It is the epitome of classy style that is perfect for modern homes and a popular style at The Tomlinson Flower Company in Coventry.

Designed by Tracy Tomlinson

“This arrangement is a style of floral design that I love the most, parallel with a hint of movement” says Tracy. Elegant black and white Mitsumata Branches reach high above a curved line of Callas and the container is linked to the arrangement with a decorative band of cane and flowers.

OASIS® Premium Floral Foam Maxlife

Mitsumata Branches

Flat Midelino Coil

Clear Double Sided Tape

fresh designer tips • OASIS® Brand Floral Foam Maxlife is available in three different types – very thin and delicate stems really like OASIS® Classic Floral Foam Maxlife. OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife can handle almost anything and is perfect for most flower arrangements. For flower arrangements with heavy stems, you can always count on OASIS® Premium Floral Foam Maxlife.

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Designed for Maximum Flower Life

FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE Dianthus Barbatus ‘Red Aldo’ Spray Rose ‘Red Sensation’ Echinacea SUNDRIES OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Natural Unpeeled Large Rectangular Willow Basket Lotus Heads Cinnamon Sticks Red Bullion Wire Red Metallic Wire Mikado Reeds Small Gold Christmas Baubles

OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife

Cinnamon Sticks

Designed by Tracy Tomlinson

Bullion Wire

Lotus Heads

Lift the

Lid

Large Rectangular Willow Basket

Raising the profile of Christmas arrangements with quick and clever techniques is essential for the survival of the flower shop.

Mikado Reeds

With multiples and department stores flooding the market with seasonal hand-tieds it is imperative that new, cost effective styles are conceived to counteract loss of turnover. Floral arrangements are a way of achieving this goal and this exciting arrangement lifts the lid on a new concept of design. Follow this step-by-step recipe to raise the roof.

HOW TO...

STEP 1 Line the basket with cellophane to avoid any leakage.

Decorate the Large Rectangular Willow Basket with a central binding of red Bullion Wire. Soak the OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife and add it snugly into the basket ensuring that it stands proud of the rim by approximately 2½cm.

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STEP 2 Make the lid of the arrangement by cutting Mikado Reeds into lengths of around 9cm.

Wire these together in a crisscross pattern binding them securely together with red Bullion Wire.

Continue the framework until it measures the length of the basket.

STEP 3 Arrange groups of materials into blocks of texture and colour. Re-cut the ends of the flowers to a sharp diagonal point to aid secure insertion into the floral foam. Make sure the materials overlap the side of the basket to give a good profile. Add tiny balls of wire and baubles to give a festive look. Place the framework on top of the base flowers, thread a few taller flowers through the Mikado Reeds, then lift the lid and secure it just below the flower heads with red Bullion Wire. Finish the lid with Bullion Wire baubles.

Designed by Tracy Tomlinson

Designed for Maximum Flower Life

FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE Rose ‘Grand Prix’ Anthurium ‘Tropical’ Ilex ‘Golden King’ Rhipsalis Conifer

SUNDRIES OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Church Candles Round Acrylic Bowl 25 x 6cm Cinnamon Sticks Pine Cones Lime Green Bullion Wire

Merry & Bright For a modern twist on a Christmas candle arrangement this labour saving design is cost efficient and eye catching.

The Church Candles from OASIS® Floral Products are one hundred percent wax meaning they have long burning times that will give greater pleasure to customers.

OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife will also ensure the flowers in this stylish arrangement will live longer. Horizontal Anthuriums lead the eye into the central placement of Roses and the Round Acrylic Bowl is cleverly filled with inexpensive Holly leaves that provide a decorative method for concealing the floral foam.

OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife

Round Acrylic Bowl

Cinnamon Sticks

Church Candles

Bullion Wire

Pine Cones

fresh designer tips • To avoid getting the Church Candles dirty leave the wrappers on until delivery.

• Candles can be a fire hazard, keep all materials well away from flames and always send out with care instructions and a disclaimer.

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Designed for Maximum Flower Life

A drop in the temperature is the signal to turn up the heat in the shop with an abundance of rich autumnal colours.

Try out a homegrown harvest theme this year concentrating on locally grown produce, berries and fruits to support others in our industry and win the support of the community.

This classy topiary is packed with seasonal delights to communicate the autumn feel of the hedgerow. Made on a 60cm OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Cone this design will last well into the Christmas period and be an economic purchase for the savvy customer. With three sizes to choose from a range of differing sized topiaries can be made to suit everyone’s pocket.

OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Cone

6mm Round Headed Pearl Pins

Pine Cones

Lotus Heads

Cinnamon Sticks

Flash Wire

Metallic Wire

Mossing Pins

fresh designer tips • Pin Flat Moss onto the cone first then bind tightly with Metallic Wire for a neat flat finish.

• Add Flash Wire in copper to give a glint of autumn sun.ty.

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SUNDRIES OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Cone - 60cm Lotus Heads Pine Cones Cinnamon Sticks Copper Flash Wire Chocolate Metallic Wire 6mm Red Round Headed Pearl Pins Mossing Pins

Designed by Tracy Tomlinson

Autumn Tapestry

FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE Rubus ‘Chester’ Flat Moss Kumquats Viburnum Opulus Bark Echinacea

Design Courtesy of Smithers-Oasis Belgium

Designed for Maximum Flower Life

Sunshine AUTUMN

FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE Helianthus – Sunflowers Malus – Crab apples ‘Red Sentinel’ Hypericum ‘Jungle’ Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ Hydrangea ‘Green Shadow’ Mixed Autumn Foliage Equisetum SUNDRIES OASIS® Table Deco Medi Red Aluminium Wire OASIS® Floral Adhesive Tube

The summer may have gone but this sunshine table arrangement is a recipe for success this autumn.

For fast and fabulous table decorations an OASIS® Table Deco is perfect, coming in three sizes its slender dimensions make it an ideal width for table designs. With the tray already filled with OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife there is no fiddling about, it’s straight into designing.

OASIS® Table Deco Medi

Aluminium Wire

Sunflowers are guaranteed to make people smile and together with rustic fruits and berries it makes an ideal accompaniment to an autumn Sunday lunch.

fresh designer tips • To extend the length of a slender table arrangement add Equisetum entwined with twigs and fastened with Aluminum Wire to either end of the floral foam.i

OASIS® Floral Adhesive Tube 11

SOLACE

Designed for Maximum Flower Life

The textured style of this wreath is a modern take on a traditional shape. ®

OASIS® FOAM FRAMES® Ring

®

The OASIS FOAM FRAMES Ring base is bound with brown Rustic Grapevine Wire for a natural look, which is continued with the choice of delicate garden flowers.

An OASIS® NAYLORBASE® Join it spring is used to secure a small piece of OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife to the base, this gives the floral spray an elevated feature.

OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife

OASIS® NAYLORBASE® Join It

Designed by Tracy Tomlinson

Rustic Grapevine Wire

fresh designer tips • For ease of use cut the Rustic Grapevine Wire into lengths to attach to the base.

• For security use an OASIS® NAYLORBASE® Join It to attach the floral foam to the wreath base.

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FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE Veronica ‘Caya’ Nigella white Brunia Clematis seedheads Ceropegia woodii Rhipsalis Senecio Rowleyanus Succulents SUNDRIES OASIS® FOAM FRAMES® Ring – 14” OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife Brown Rustic Grapevine Wire OASIS® NAYLORBASE® Join It

Designed for Maximum Flower Life

Angel Christmas

This trend setting Angel dressed in floral couture heralds the start of the Christmas season, and makes an eye catching window display, memorial tribute or funeral design.

Dressed in best cherubic style it is made on an OASIS® Bioline Angel with Stand, and with the sectioned floral foam it prevents excess drainage when standing. Fluffy Marabou Feathers edge the wings, and this fashion conscious seraph wears a bodice of Hydrangea teamed with a ‘Green Trick’ Dianthus skirt that is finished with an embroidered berry waistband and hem.

A shiny silver Halo completes the celestial style for this upwardly mobile Angel.

OASIS® Bioline Angel with Stand

White Marabou Feathers

Aluminium Wire FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE Dianthus ‘Green Trick’ Hydrangea ‘Green Emerald’ Stachys Lanata leaves Viburnum Opulus berries Spray Rose ‘Red Sensation’ Kalanchoe Tillandsia

Designed by Tracy Tomlinson

OASIS® Floral Adhesive Tube

SUNDRIES OASIS® Bioline Angel with Stand White Marabou Feathers Silver Aluminium Wire OASIS® Floral Adhesive Tube

fresh designer tips • Glue the Stachys leaves on first in a neat pattern using the OASIS® Floral Adhesive Tube.

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Design Courtesy of Smithers-Oasis Belgium

Designed for Maximum Flower Life

Snow Storm

FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE Twigs Spray Rose ‘Vivianne’ Waxed Apples White Pine Flexi Grass SUNDRIES OASIS® Table Deco Mini Instant Snow OASIS® Glue Gun and Glue Sticks 10mm Ivory and White Beads White Pearls on a Reel 14

Brrr! Whether it’s snowing or not at Christmas a frosty winter look is a reflection of the season and always a winner.

Piling up twigs around an OASIS® Table Deco Mini will give an outdoor look, then sprinkle with snow to give an icy feel. Here is a style where much of the design can be prepared in advance and the flowers popped in just before delivery. Minimal flowers are needed to transform this arrangement into a cost effective winter wonderland embellished with glistening Pearls and Beads.

OASIS® Table Deco Mini

Beads

OASIS® Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Instant Snow

Pearls on a Reel

fresh designer tips • Glue the twigs together and let dribbles of glue form decorative icicles down the twigs.

• Use Instant Snow with care as a sprinkling of snow looks better than a blizzard.

Designed for Maximum Flower Life

FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE Roses ‘Avalanche’ and ‘Supergreen’ Larix decidua – Larch Twigs

Served on a cake plate this arrangement is good enough to eat.

It’s certainly a design to add to your repertoire this Christmas as it is simple to make, stylish to look at and the base can be decorated in advance in a variety of mediums. Use the versatile OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife Cake Dummies that come in two sizes, and make up an assortment of different sized cakes.

Cut out cute cup cake sizes or use the larger 14cm and 22cm OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife Cake Dummies for more extravagant concoctions. Another reason customers will love your cake arrangements is that they will be long lasting with a combination of short stemmed flowers and OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife to aid longevity.

Design Courtesy of Smithers-Oasis Belgium

SUNDRIES OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife Cake Dummie Silver Pearls on a Reel Natural Finland Moss Natural Bindwire Mossing Pins Green Magnolia Leaves

Christmas Cake

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife Cake Dummie

fresh designer tips • Pin Magnolia Leaves to the sides of the OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife Cake Dummie then entwine Bindwire, twigs and Pearls on a Reel to give a decorative finish.

• Use a cake plate with a lip to hold any excess water.

Pearls on a Reel

Mossing Pins

Magnolia Leaves

Bindwire

Finland Moss 15

NEW

Designed for maximum flower life

© Smithers-Oasis UK Ltd 2011. All rights reserved. Neither the whole, nor any part of the images or copy in this literature may be reproduced in any form without express prior permission from Smithers-Oasis UK Ltd

Up to 50% more Christmas cheer

Seasons Greetings last longer with arrangements made using OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife With New OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife, flowers are proven to live longer than any previous floral foam and as long, if not longer than flowers in a vase. It maximises the lifespan of a variety of flowers, even Gerbera. It prevents early browning, wilting, petal drop and bent neck. Flowers look better, for much longer. You’ll see.

SEEING IS BELIEVING - Visit www.oasisfloral.com to see our special Christmas feature.