Pressed Glass Arrangements
What you need:
- 3 White Hydrangeas cut 6 - 7.5 inches
- 7 Pink Peonies cut 6 - 7 inches
- 18 White Roses with Pink edges cut 5 inches
- some Plectranthus Coleoides (Swedish Ivy) from the garden (green & white leaves)
- 1 Pressed glass Pedestal vase (mine is blue) 5 3/4" Diam. x 7 1/4" H
- 1 Pressed glass stem ware glass (mine has a Ruby red band) 4 7/8"Diam. x 5 1/4" H Flowers:
- 1 ribbed stem ware glass (mine is clear)5" Diam. x 3 3/8" H
- 1 Pressed glass bud vase 2 1/8 " Diam. 4 1/4" H
- 1 brick wet pack floral foam
- 1 produce knife
Breakout of flowers for each vase:
- Blue Vase Flowers: 1) Hydrangea 3)Peonies 10) roses & some springs of Swedish Ivy
- Ruby Red Band VaseFlowers: 1) Hydrangea 2) Peony 4-6) Roses & some sprigs of Swedish Ivy
- Ribbed Vase Flowers: 1) Hydrangea 2) Peony 4-6) Roses & some sprigs of Swedish Ivy
- Bud Vase Flower: 1) Peony
Steps: 6 for each pedestal arrangement
Rated: Easy Arrangements
These pressed glass arrangements are made from a grouping of different pressed glass pieces that are different colors, sizes, and shapes. We selected hydrangeas and peonies they are large full flowers and give a round full shape. We added the roses as accents and the green and white Swedish Ivy as trim.
Just what is pressed glass you ask? Well, pressed glass was made by pressing molten glass into a mold with a plunger. Pressed glass began being made in the 1820's in the United States. The Chicago Tribune said, " Sadly, most glass factories closed decades ago, but molds were sold(others were lost) and factory histories survive. Artisans still produce blown glass, but now in studio factories. Collectors still go for pressed glass produced during the good old days."
So now it's time to get out the pressed glass out from the china hutch for these arrangements. The vintage blue pedestal pressed glass piece is a diamond point compote or candy dish. It's a piece that I got from an antique store up the coast in Ventura, CA. It is the largest and tallest of this grouping. The next in size is an antique depression glass bowl with a ruby red cranberry band of color around the rim. It is made by Tiffin Glass and the pattern is called Kings Crown. It has a thumbprint motif. This piece was given to me and I purchased one to match it. You can find these in antique stores or on Etsy. The bud vase was also given to me, and the small clear ribbed glass dish was borrowed.
OK, are you ready to make these little arrangements? I thought so. Here we go.
Gather your pressed glass pieces.
I love the color of this piece.
Like Dorothy's ruby red slippers, this compote is also ruby red.
The little one is ribbed.
And the tiniest, is a bud vase.
"Oh my, I'm upside down again." Turn your candy dish upside down and very lightly imprint its shape onto the foam.
Cut along the line with a produce line.
Then cut the piece in two and separate.
Place in pedestal. Do the same for all three and fill with water.
"Don't forget me!" says the bud vase.
Cut hydrangea 7.5 inches long. Place on right at angle.
Cut Peony 6". Place in front.
Measure next peony so it is higher. It will go in the middle.
Cut that peony 7". Place in middle.
Place 3 roses on side and two up higher. Repeat on other side. Add Swedish Ivy.
TRICK: Stems for Swedish Ivy are soft. You can use the small end of a chopstick to make a hole in the foam for them.
Then you can inset the Swedish Ivy easier.
Like so.
Fini! Now follow these basic steps for the remaining vases.
The Ruby Red Band Vase uses 1 hydrangea, 2 peony, and 4 - 6 roses.
The Ribbed Vaseuses 1 hydrangea, 2 peony, and 4 - 6 roses.
This tiny bud vase has 1 peony.
Here are some close-ups...
Of the peonies, hydrangea, and roses.
They are luscious.
You can display them with table runners. Old books are handy to vary the height.