Put away those tinny tiaras and jewelled circlets because it is truly the golden age of the Flower Crown. Frida Kahlo and Kate Moss, Liz Taylor and Lorde, Ophelia and Marie-Antoinette, the ancient Greeks, Hawaiians and 1960s flower children … the floral headdress obsession is vigorous and vast, and in 2016 there is no hotter fashion statement.
And right now in Queensland, it’s the fervent festival goers prepping for this year’s Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers who are set to unleash a fresh wave of covetable flower power styles.
In anticipation of the now legendary 10-day regional event that is the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers – where stunning parks and gardens, a three day music festival and a celebration regional food and wine take place – the Carnival’s flower crown makers have created a foolproof eight-step look to rock your inner harvest queen, or king, in time for Spring.
Directions for a floraltastic Flower Crown (aka Eights Steps to Boho Mojo):
Step 1: Purchase green covered floral wire from your local florist. Take your wire and wrap it around your head to establish the size for your crown, leaving about half an inch of wiggle room because you’re going to pack it with a bunch of greenery. Secure with floral tape. Big sigh and major smile.
Step 2: Cut a number of small two inch pieces of florist wire, and set aside to use when attaching large floral pieces to your crown base. It’s all about the planning, petals.
Step 3: Once you’ve measured your head and secured your wire base, use some greenery (vines are recommended) to wrap around the entire base of the wire ensuring to cover up all wire – weave around and secure by twisting wire together and secure with floral tape. Remember, strong foundations makes for a lasting Flower Crown!
Step 4: Pick your florals. Choose a mix of large and small flowers, and make sure to pick some un-flowered greenery too (if you have flowers with individual leaves on the stems near the bloom, you’ll need to trim those leaves off to access the stem and secure to the crown base). Go on, get creative – colour block, mash it up, go for curated or crazy.
Step 5: Attach your small floral pieces to your flower crown base using floral tape – baby’s breath is perfect for this, and is easy to source. Map out the look and feel of your crown, allowing space for your floral pieces. Trust us, it’s worth the work.
Step 6: Now for those statement floral pieces (spray roses and chrysanthemums are perfect mid-sized flower fillers) – ensure when you’re cutting your floral that you do not cut the entire stem off, as you need as much stem as possible to build off when it comes to the statement floral pieces. Weave a small piece of wire (cut earlier) around the base and down the stem of the flower and attach to the crown (secure as needed with floral tape – this also ensures there are no stray wires that may prod your head!). Repeat until all of your floral pieces are attached, ensuring that the flowers face outwards. Tip: Overlap the flowers and greenery just enough to hide the wire crown base, and any thick piece of floral tape. Almost there.
Step 7: Take a step back, admire your creation and take a snap – don’t forget to share on Instagram and tag @toowoombaCarnivalFlowers and #TCOF. Go you!!
Step 8: You’re ready to rock your flower crown skills at Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, so crown your clever head and get blooming at www.tcof.com.au
Flower crown top tip – how to make your flower crown last as long as possible?
Trim about an inch off the bottom of each flower then put them in a vase of water for at least an hour, adding flower food (if they came with it). That way, the blooms are well hydrated before you begin building your crown.
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers: 16 to 25 September, 2016
A breathtaking 10 days of flowers, flavours and sounds, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers will take over the Southern Queensland city in the most beautiful of ways from September 16 to 25 with a program of more than 50 unique events and experiences including internationally acclaimed musical acts, award winning parks, some of the best food and wine to be found in Southern Queensland and a multitude of cultural adventures.
In a major floral design coup, Carnival will this year host three of Australia’s leading names in Charlie Albone, Annita Bokobli and Bart Hassam. Other highlights include:
· Celebrity chef Miguel Maestre
· The Whitlams and the Toowoomba Concert Orchestra
· Tim Finn. Katie Noonan.
· Birds of Tokyo. Montaigne. Emma Louise. The Chantoozies. Eurogliders. Models.
· Mashd N Kutcher. The Royal Family of Strange People!
· 20 cellar doors and Talking Pubs, the best Southern Queensland country produce
· The Carnival Greeters
· And thousands upon thousands of flowers!