Flowers and Paper Parasols
Posted in Ambiance on 05/23/2009 02:31 pm by lizac
Colorful Asian paper parasols
Asians are very well-known for their use of umbrellas. They say that if you find someone using an umbrella on a very sunny day, they probably are Asian. I must confess when I was growing up, my mother would not let me out of the house without an umbrella. It protects you from the tropical weather – and if you ever learned that Filipino martial art called arnis – it can be used to protect you from assailants as well! Kidding aside though, Asian cultures are known for their beautifully crafted and very colorful parasols – shown on the left.
They are often used to decorate for Asian-themed parties – and you only have to look at their bright colors and intricate prints to see why. My husband and I have this friend who is an expert at floral arrangements and while decorating a big hall with flowers, he utilized these paper parasols in a very unique and interesting way.
White orchids
He place these delicate orchid stems on the under side of the parasol, attached them with glue so that the flowers hung over the edges gracefully. Then he hung the parasol upside down from the ceiling of the hall in different heights. The orchids gracefully flowed out of the colorful paper parasol. It definitely made guests look up to admire them. It provided that unique Asian touch that was unconventional yet created the awe that we needed.
Who said flowers should always be in vases?
Make sure you put your orchids in water-filled floral picks before gluing them to the parasols to make your flowers last longer. Also, single strand of flowers in a stem look better than clumps of flowers when putting together this arrangement. Stringing up the parasol so that it stays in the position you want requires having your string knotted on at least four paper parasol supports before tying it to the main handle then to the ceiling hooks. Make sure your string can handle the weight of the parasol – tie your knots tightly especially if you will be placing guests underneath this floral arrangement.
And there you have it – a uniquely Asian floral arrangement to wow your guests. Never be afraid to experiment with arrangements and have fun while you’re at it!
