Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Book Review - Beautifully Bold Faux Flowers


Beautifully Bold Faux Flowers: Fabulous Everlasting Arrangements to Brighten Up Your Home In Style

By: Sylvia Hague
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series
Publication Date: March 2013
ISBN: 978-1438001739
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: February 2013

A beautiful flower arrangement never fails to attract commentary and oftentimes the one question people often ask is, “Is it real?” No doubt it would be an ego-boosting complement to the designer had they overheard that question about a beautiful faux flower display they created. There are those rare individuals like Sylvia Hague, whose artistry is awe-inspiring, while most of us don’t have a clue as to how to create a beautiful faux (silk) flower arrangement. Her authoritative skills and artistry are in demand, and in this book she’ll “teach you how to beautify your home with elegant floral arrangements that can last forever.” If you want to infuse your home with lasting floral designs, you too can learn.

Perhaps you’re in need of a centerpiece that will wow your guests and something to liven up your foyer when they step over the threshold. A vase of purple alliums would be an eye-opener, completing that perfectly set table. Setting the scene for beauty could be an elegant display of cymbidium orchids or a vase of white amaryllis to accent your “uber-fashionable minimalist decor.” Whatever your home decor desires, Hague will help you customize a faux flower design to satisfy your needs. Small sidebars interspersed throughout the book offer up design ideas and commentary that one can keep in mind when working on a display.

A gallery of twenty-five silk flower arrangements allows the reader to peruse and imagine in their mind’s eye the perfect arrangements for their own home. Epithets such as “simply sublime,” the “ultimate chic,” and “fun and fabulous” will allow one’s imagination to run wild thinking these displays could grace a table or set on a doorstep. Imagining creating them makes the displays infinitely more appealing and awe-inspiring. Each display is prefaced by a list of items to gather up before starting. Step-by-step instructions, along with photographic visuals, guide the reader along their way to creating their perfect faux flower design. An occasional bit of advice or design idea complements the process.

This is a perfect book to learn how to create elegant displays while adding your own touch. Perhaps you enjoy a splash of color, but simply don’t know how to give it the right touch and balance. For example, if you love to be “Pretty in Pink,” you’ll learn how to arrange a “contrast in shapes and textures” to create a gorgeous year-round display with pink roses and purple wild agapanthus clumps. You’ll also learn about design basics, essential supports, techniques, and you’ll be treated to a beautiful "faux flower spectrum." In the back of the book is an index and additional book and website resources to explore. The websites include specialty stores where you can purchase faux (silk) flowers and supplies.

Quill says: If you want to create “fabulous everlasting arrangements,” Sylvia Hague will be delighted to assist you!





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