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Fleurs Concept
2062 avenue de Maréchal Juin
F-06250 Mougins
Tel: (33) 04-93-45-89-00
Fax: (33) 04-93-46-87-68
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Jean-Raymond Gally is a well-known French Florist, Master in Floral Art, Meilleur Ouvrier de France - the best professional grade in France, only 100 Florists nomimated since 1927. He has won numerous contests, including the Gold Medal Prestige Hortiflor, France Champion, and was a finalist at the Las Vegas World Cup. Gally is very charming, and in love with his job. He owns two shops on the French Riviera, in the film festival town of Cannes, and in Mougins. As one of the top Ambassadors and Demonstrators of Smithers-Oasis France, Gally travels throughout the world, and just returned from Hong Kong demonstrating his techniques.
Why I use OASIS Foam and OASIS Products
Whatever I am creating, I only use OASIS Floral Foam because of its quick saturation and because it has far better water retention than any other foam. I am sure my arrangements will last for the whole event and longer, even with the tremendous heat we are used to here on the French Riviera. It is the only foam that enables me to re-hydrate my decorations on the spot with a watering can when they are at their final place. I always buy OASIS products for the same reason- they are professional, reliable quality items that never let me down.
The Harvest Buffet Decoration
The start is a vegetable and fruit cone, with all elements bought at the local market and matching the season. The festive wedding touch comes from the white flowers spread over the design. This decoration has been created in a very natural way, but it could also become more dramatic by painting some of the fruit or vegetables in silver or gold with OASIS Spray Paint*. What is special about this decoration is that you can adapt it to all seasons according to Mother Nature's actual offering. The trick for a superb cone is to always respect a spiral in the design.
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Table Decoration Instructions
1. The simplest and quickest base for this decoration is to take an OASIS Wet Foam Cone*. For flowers only, you could use it without wire. As I attached heavy vegetables, I secured the base with additional wire netting. NOTE: If OASIS Cones are not available, I would make the base with 10 wet OASIS foam bricks. I start adjusting the first two bricks into a cheap round waterproof basket, which will be hidden by foliage, or put the final container on the buffet. I pile up the two rows of bricks and mark a triangle form with a stake. I ensure stability by inserting a stake in each row, tying both stakes at the top. Then I cut the foam along the marks into a pyramid, using the extra foam to secure the whole structure in the basket. Finally, I arrange the netting around it, or around the OASIS wettable cone, fixing it with wire.
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2. I start the cone covering the top with an aspidistra leaf in a turning movement, glued with OASIS Floral Adhesive. For maximum holding and natural flair, I beset the leaves with some lengths of raphia, also fixed with Floral Adhesive to stay in place. I then give the first spiral form inserting aspidistra leaves in the foam, each stem in the top of the preceding. The bottom of the cone is trimmed with aucuba, cordyline and aralia leaves hiding the basket. I also scatter some leaves around the Cone in a spinning movement. I always spray on OASIS Leaf Shine* before inserting the foliage.
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3. The next step will be to add all fruit and vegetables, respecting the spinning movement. I start preparing bundles of 3-5 small radishes and of large beans fixed with raphia, simply tied to the wire netting. Courgettes, squashes, fennel, artichokes, cauliflower clusters, mushrooms, lemons and apricots are stuck on skewers, celery, grapes, and leeks are tied directly to the mesh.
4. The flowers are inserted last and give a delicacy, lightness, and transparency to the arrangement, which is rather rustic and adds the festive wedding touch to a traditional buffet decoration.
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My Shopping List:
1 wettable OASIS Cone, 50 or 60cm high (20-24") (or 10 bricks OASIS floral foam and two stakes) OASIS Floral Adhesive, OASIS Leaf Shine*, wire netting, 1 flat round waterproof basket raphia, skewers. Foliage: 4-5 aspidistra leaves, some aralia leaves, a small cordyline and a hedra plant to cut in. Flowers: 5 Lilium aresis, 5 white lisianthus, 5 white ping-pong chrysanthemums. From the market: 5 courgettes or small cucumbers, 9 small round squash, 1 bunch of small red radishes, 3 fennel bulbs, 6 small artichokes, 2 cauliflower clusters, 2-3 celery sticks, 6 white mushrooms, 3 bunches of white and 3 bunches of black grapes, 5 lemons, 9 apricots, 30 large beans, 3 leeks.
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