Revealing the Layers

For many regular floral design competitors, this title would lead to them thinking about a layered or stacked design style. Whilst I expected the judges would also be looking for this, I wanted to take a bit of a spin on it (as I often do) to test myself by looking at how many design items actually do have layers that I might not previously have noticed.

I like to make my design planning as challenging as the actual design construction – it helps me continue to develop my skills. My thoughts centered around layers being both horizontal (concentric circles) and vertical (stacking of layers).

The base is a slice of banksia trunk with a tall square glass vase placed on it. The vase is covered with a piece of corrugated cardboard that has been cut to reveal the layers of which it is composed. This basic shape was my spin on a piece of pottery that gave me inspiration.

The top of the design is a round placemat that has been deconstructed to show some “layers” of its construction. Made from dried water lily foliage, it is sitting on the top rim of the vase with the deconstructed layers bent down and one strand leading to the base of the design.

Woven flax flower shapes provide interest and form layers naturally when you are weaving these so I have included some at different angles to highlight the layers.

Craspedia is used for pops of colour and to draw the eye through the design. A piece of packaging paper with convenient concertina cut layers is pushed into the design to provide more colour harmony. Lastly some palm influoresence has been joined together tatami style so it can be twisted into shapes that provide layers within the design.

When I looked at the completed design I felt it needed something to balance the visually heavy top placement so slid a square piece of the woven water lily underneath the banksia.

Judges Comments: A creative concept. The height needed to be extended and smooth contrasts needed to be stronger. Excellent workmanship.

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