We all know that, no matter how many techniques we try, cut flowers will only last so long. And if it’s longevity you’re after, paper flowers could be one of your options. Artificial flowers are becoming increasingly popular as a beautiful long lasting alternative to fresh flowers, either for your home decor, wedding or any occasions.
You might think there are no fake flowers which could look real enough to wow you – but look closely at Posy & Pot‘s paper flowers, and I bet you’ll be proved wrong. These stunning faux blooms are made in such a way that mimics the veins and contours of a real petals. Not to mention the rich colours which appear so life-like.
Posy & Pot’s paper flowers are handmade by a women’s community in Thailand, who receive a fair wage and use local materials. This small studio employs around ten craftswomen. When they get busy, they also distribute the work to housewives and artisans in the local community.
The paper flowers are made from sustainable material: mulberry paper is made by hand from the bark of the local mulberry tree. This plant grows rapidly, so it’s perfectly sustainable, as it is essentially a weed, replacing itself faster than it can be used. The bark is soaked and boiled, and then it is pounded into pulp.
This long fibered pulp is placed on a submerged screen, then lifted out to dry. The resulting paper is strong, beautiful, and can be custom made for thickness and size.
Posy & Pot use the beautiful handmade mulberry paper to create different types of flowers. The process of making is to cut paper into different petal shapes, dye the petals into the required colours, and create texture using different kinds of hand tools to make them look realistic.
The final step is to put all the components together. At this stage, the craftswomen learn the aesthetic aspect of the flower they are making. This encompasses the quantity of the petals, and how should they be arranged to mimic the real flower.
They make diverse use of their flowers, with creations ranging from small fashion accessories to keepsake posies and bouquets. There are even larger displays for events such as weddings, skilfully selected and put together with just the right blooms.
Paper flowers are not only beneficial to those who are environmentally minded, but also to those allergic to fresh ones. The joy of arranging paper flowers or any other artificial flower is that you can use your creative side. You’ll even find yourself mixing and matching non-seasonal flowers with paper leaves or real foliage. They are also pollen free, so it’s a relief for allergy sufferers and pet owners.
Sadly, just like normal paper, paper flowers don’t like water. Therefore it’s best to keep them away from moisture. Also, be aware of direct sunlight, which could fade the colour. Otherwise, they will last for years!
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