Designing Silk Flowers-Both Art and Science 

The Silk Flower Artisan

Even an untrained eye can see that the advancements in silk flower crafting have been blossoming--literally! Silk flower arrangements are becoming more realistic, more affordable, and easier to take care of each year. Being that silk and plastic haven’t changed, how is it that silk flowers and plants are getting better?

The answer is simple: the expert floriculturists who craft silk flowers and Silk Rose Arrangements  are constantly improving their craft. Silk flower artisans are experts in horticulture and have worked as nursery owners, florists, and landscapers. Like all artists, silk flower artisans typically have private studios in their homes, full of supplies, good lighting, and inspiration. A silk flower artisan must be skilled in everything from flower arranging and color to different stages of plant development and hand-eye coordination.

Silk plants and flowers are more popular today than ever. Many brides are choosing silk for their wedding centerpieces, bouquets, and corsages. Offices are replacing messy potted ficuses, that no one has time to water, with Blooming Garden Planters. Husbands have even started giving silk flowers in place of the traditional dozen roses for Valentine‘s and Mother‘s Day. For the same price as a dozen roses, why not give an arrangement that will look fresh and vibrant for years? Soon, we’ll probably have all-weather silk plants out in the front yard.

With the consistent growth that the silk flower industry has witnessed, the artisans crafting these high-quality, natural-looking arrangements are starting to finally see their dedication and focus pay off. Mainstream recognition has been a long time coming. Now, there are even books and classes available on the subject of “Silk Flower Making.”

How do the silk flower arrangements made at the artisan’s studio make it to the store? After the artisans have hand-cut each leaf, petal, branch, stem, and bud for proper size and shape, then finished them with the right color and texture, the silk components are arranged to create a beautiful and life-like final product. These final products are then re-created in factories and mass produced, making the artisan’s creations readily available and affordable.

Adding to the ease of silk flower ownership is the increased availability of products for upkeep and maintenance of silk arrangements. With low-cost sprays, dusters, and cleaners available at even the local grocery store, the life of a silk flower arrangement or plant has gone from a few years to decades. Many of these cleaning products are as easy to use as just spraying the surface of the plant and letting it dry.

More than just owning a beautiful work of art, people who display silk plants and flowers in their homes get to enjoy the creations of the artisans on many levels. Where paintings and photographs can add color and help set the mood of a room, silk flowers can do all that plus provide texture. Additionally, a silk flower or plant is mobile and not restricted to merely being displayed on a wall. Furthermore, many silk flower conniseurs are primarily vase-enthusiasts looking for an affordable and easy way to display their vase collections. In some houses, up-lights have even been installed to further enhance the beauty of hand-crafted silk arrangements.

For most of the artisans, their greatest joy is being told their creations were mistaken for real flowers. “My mother-in-law came over and saw my new Orchid Bouquets. She actually said to me, ’I didn’t know you could grow orchids.’ I never told her that she was right!” Twenty years ago, a silk orchid was unheard of. Today, stories like these are abundant for many of the artisans.   

By Staci Marquez-Nichols

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