Here is a list of the tools and materials you will need during the flower panel making process. Please feel free to substitute any of these for your own versions that you may have available to you.

TOOLS :

Secateurs

Wire cutters (pliers with wire cutter option are fine)

Floristry scissors (Optional)

Tape measure (If you need to plan sizing)

Gloves for wire handling and cutting

Scissors for cutting out templates

Pen for drawing a template outline

FOR CIRCULAR FRAME MAKING:

String

Pencil

Awl or pointed equivalent for creating a rudimentary compass centre point.

MATERIALS

Chicken wire mesh

Floristry binding wire

Floristry bullion wire

Cardboard for templates (the can be a re-used cardboard)

Pen/pencil for marking out template

String for circular template

Willow/sticks or equivalent for panel frame making. This could be bamboo for straight sided frames, or a pre-made metal or wooden hoop or a heart shape for the other curved frames if necessary.

Dried flowers for decorating.

This really depends on a few things – the size of the panel, how complex the design is, and your ability and speed. For a general rule of thumb, a 40cm x 50cm straight sided flower panel would take approximately three- four hours to make from start to finish, with a fairly comprehensive design.

It is quite okay to take longer or complete the task over a period of time.

This is a commonly asked question, and one that doesn’t exactly have a definitive answer. It really depends on how you view your panel; the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Everlasting flowers do gradually fade, but this can take many years, and with many beautiful stages along the way. My rule of thumb is a compromise and has no guarantees, but I would say that everlasting flowers look fresh for about a year, and after that they will become a gradually mellowing version of themselves, so 1-3 years is what I would give as a guide, but they can look great for a good deal longer than that, and can be topped up with fresher blooms along the way too.

Yes. It is a wonderful, creative, and fun thing to do with children. But I would suggest they need adult help and supervision. The process of making and decorating a flower panel is fairly straightforward, but the wire cutting, frame construction, and the handling of flowers includes sharp and potentially dangerous tools and materials, as well as some technically challenging elements that may benefit from some assistance depending on the child’s age and ability.

I have a limited edition flower panel kit to acompany the course available in my website shop. It contains a lovely selection of over 60 mixed flower stems, as well as all the materials you need to make a 30 x 40cm flower panel.

All the flowers I use are grown from my garden or foraged from the hedgerows. I air dry them naturally in bunches hanging from my ceiling in a warm dry place. I would encourage you to have a go at growing your own if you have the potential to do so, it’s so rewarding! I realise that for a lot of people, this is not possible or a preferred option, so for those that do buy ready dried flowers, see if you can find a grower near to you if you can, and keep it as local as possible. There are few big-ish suppliers you can get dried flowers from, or you can even buy fresh flowers and have a go at drying those yourself to try something out!

There is so much potential in the so called ‘weeds’ that many of us walk past every day. Common meadow grasses, or buttercups are a beautiful addition to any flower panel and grow in abundance in many places. I feel that the wild elements of the flower panel design really set the bright colours off brilliantly and add a bit of magic to it.

If you do forage wild flowers, be sure to take special care to respect the natural environment and habitat where you are picking from. Only pick small amounts in permitted places. I would recommend following local foraging guidelines for your area.

Yes, this course is available as a gift voucher in my website shop. It will come supplied with a voucher code that they can enter when they sign up for the course, admitting them for free. (Instructions for this will come with the voucher)

There is also a limited edition flower panel kit to accompany the course available in the website shop too.

Yes, please see my website shop for a beautiful, limited edition flower panel kit to accompany the online course. It provides all the tools, materials and flowers you need to create a stunning 30 x 40cm flower panel. *Please note, this kit DOES NOT come with written instructions.