Ski'TKMBEK 8, 1910. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



i 



THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 



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THE TIE. 



The Last Artistic Toucb. 



The attainment of both elegance and 

 eJmple daintiness, which is far removed 

 from fussiness, is the ideal to be kept 

 in mind in floral designing. The choice 

 of flowers, the manner of their coming 

 together, the added foliage, and the 

 material and style of the tie all con- 

 tribute to the character of the piece. 



It is possible, but scarcely probable, 

 that a well designed piece may be 

 spoiled by poor taste in the tie. The 

 art of floral designing and the art of 

 fabric drapery seem to be very closely 

 connected. Floral arrangement often 

 springs into a new dignity with just 

 the right drapery addition, or it may 

 become a sodden mass smothered by a 

 heavy color and excessive quantity of 

 even so light a material as chiffon. The 

 tie, properly selected and happily 

 placed, belongs as truly to the floral 

 design as the foliage on the stem; or, 

 if awkwardly added, it may be a color 

 blot or deformity. 



When Not to Use Ties. 



With a little serious study, it will 

 hot be difficult to formulate a few prin- 

 ciples which will be found useful in 

 everyday work. In the first place, it 

 is important to know at a glance 

 whether to use any tie or drapery. 

 There are many times when a collec- 

 tion of flowers appears to better ad- 

 vantage without a tie. To illustrate: 

 Where considerable variety of color is 

 used in one spray, the tie may be dis- 

 pensed with; where a great number 

 of sprays and pieces are sent to the 

 same funeral, a good proportion of 

 them should be planned and finished 

 without ribbon or chiffon; where the 

 style of arrangement does not require 

 a tie, do not add one just for the sake 

 of habit; a tie must have the appear 

 ance of a binding together, else iti is 

 superfluous; it is seldom needed on a 

 solid piece, unless a spray is added; it 

 should not be used where a color is not 

 at hand which will harmonize with the 

 flowers to be used; it would be well for 

 the patrons of some flower shops to 

 pay the artists (?) to keep ribbon and 

 chiffon off their work; it is a false no- 

 tion that white can be used with any 

 color — as a rule it can be, but there are 

 exceptions; where the setting or recep- 

 tacle is decidedly rustic, use no rib- 

 bon or chiffon. In the form of bows 

 or streamers, ribbon and chiffon do not 

 properly belong with a vase of flowers. 



Should Seem to Be Useful. 



How conspicuously may a tie be 

 placed? Let it stop on the modest 

 side of the conspicuous. It is the 

 punctuation of the sentence, the bind- 

 ing cord to the sheaf. It must occupy 

 the position of a serviceable addition 

 in^the design, which does not bar it 

 from' being artistic and graceful in 



color and form. The setting which 

 holds the gem must be in proportion to 



its rarity and value. The tie must be 

 of a worth which measures the beauty 

 of the flowers it holds. 



In colored work let the tie be of a 

 harmonious but lighter tint than that 

 of the flowers. With white a delicate 

 Nile green or violet is preferred, or 

 either of these colors with white itself. 

 With a handsome, large piece of all 

 white, if a tie is required, all three of 

 these colors in one tie "would lend a 

 touch of life so often lacking in white. 



Qood Color Combinations. 



Other colors for all white flowers and 



The Tie is an Essential in this Piece. 



