CRAFT CREATIONS

The story behind a handcrafted item can often be as fascinating as the form itself. Deceptively simple objects can belie centuries of practice, passed from one generation to the next. The purchasing experience may hold a host of memories and stories waiting to be shared. Souvenirs rescued from the isolation of a cupboard shelf can be put to creative use in floral arrangements. Cattleyas sprinkled across a bamboo flute or a frangipani resting in a coconut ladle provide fresh interpretations of both objects. The simplicity of freshly picked floral tokens set against the rustic charm of a handmade item will undoubtedly generate renewed interest in the distant but original context and will also invite the curiosity of guests.

Cattleyas, reminiscent of details on a richly embroidered silk hanging, are inserted into acrylic sheeting.

TRADITIONAL TONES

The richly detailed patterns and intricate techniques of indigenous handicrafts offer a perfect foil to the exquisite and ephemeral nature of tropical blooms. Rather than restrict such items to the role for which they were intended, explore their use in modern floral applications. Monochromatic arrangements with one or two blooms that celebrate the flower's natural beauty and perhaps evoke a seasonal change can make a sensuous focal point in any room. A subdued split bamboo container will enhance the warm, rich tones emanating from a boldly colored flower. Woven fans, mirroring the original shape of the palm leaf, though in a softer palette, can form a quiet background for an understated bloom. Arrangements may also be placed on lacquer or wooden trays to contrast or complement the flowers' texture and tones.

Voluptuous cattleyas nestle in a varnished split bamboo flower basket.

An amazon lily resting atop a dried palm leaf fan makes a simple but practical floral offering.

Although secured in place, velvet-textured vanda orchids appear to balance precariously on bamboo floral spheres. The inherent spring in the bamboo lends a kinetic quality to this "installation" in Ou Baholyodhin's home.

INSPIRED ORBITS

The Asian game of takraw, in which two teams of youths keep a woven rattan ball in play across a high net using anything but their hands, provides unexpected inspiration for tropical floral displays. A cluster of the tightly woven balls in a wooden tray sprinkled with fuschia-colored orchids, creates a spirited conversation piece. The arrangement can be placed either on a floor or table. Larger, simplified versions of the ball, with a looser weave, can be grouped to form dynamic "installations". Spheres of rattan forming protective cages around flowers which peep coyly from within can bring a hint of magic to any interior. Hardy blooms are recommended for these water-free arrangements.

Diminutive blue vandas encased in bamboo spheres make ideal party favors, table decorations or welcoming gifts when placed on the pillows of house guests.

A feminine slant is given to the traditionally masculine game of takraw in this charming floor arrangement. The rich pink and yellow hues of ascocenda (left) and cattleya blossoms (right) sprinkled on both original and decorative versions of the takraw ball are set against the warm tones of the rattan and the darker wood of the roughly hewn tray. The varying sizes of the balls and the weaves add depth to this playful composition.

Bamboo painted black and dotted with white dendrobiums encircles a candle within a simple glass globe. As if attracted to the flame, a moth orchid floats beneath the candle. The water adds further reflections to the delicate play of light.

A path of floral lanterns leading down the stairs and to the front door signals the beginning of a magical evening. Cinderella's slippers await. Flickering shadows line the walls, adding to the ambience. Providing a fresh twist to an old concept, these bamboo lanterns can also be arranged down the length of a dining table, along a sideboard, around an outdoor pool or used to guide guests through a garden and into the home.

WOVEN BLOOMS

The elaborate festivals and ceremonies which play such a large part in the lives of Asian peoples are a rich source of inspiration for floral design. The som dok is an offering flower woven from bamboo and used in northern Thai culture (formerly known as Lanna), where festivals with decorative banners, flowers and candles dot the yearly calendar. The radiating tips of the som dok, a lasting and reusable item, are decorated with tiny jasmine flowers. Here the som dok is reinterpreted for a contemporary space. Its rustic palette complements modern interiors, especially if used in combination with supporting bases formed of natural materials, such as sections of water hyacinth stems and banana trunk.

Woven bamboo flower forks (som dok), their radiating points tipped with white crown flowers, stand to attention on a raft of sliced banana trunk. Viewed from above, the forks form a light and delicate mass.

Paper gardenia buds are attached to som dok to create this tiered arrangement. Closely stacked water hyacinth stems encased in rectangular perspex containers provide a base for the forks. The mirror behind magnifies the delicate profiles of the floral forks.

FLORAL LANTERNS

The versatility of bamboo provides endless possibilities for floral art. Two strips of split bamboo, looped into circles and joined by fine copper wire, can form simple floral cradles for both bold specimens and daintier blooms that are often seen only in clusters. The technique can be adapted to vessels of varying shapes and sizes and allows blooms to be positioned within as desired. Shorter stemmed flowers can rest on the waterline while longer stems can be suspended above in their own hanging baskets. Staggering blooms at different heights and spreading their color across an array of translucent glassware will add something special to any interior.

A lyrical scale of bamboo rings cradling yellow mokara orchids appears to float against a white background in the late afternoon sun. Tall, cylindrical vases are filled to differing levels. Bamboo cradles ensure that the relatively short stems of the flowers reach the water below.

In this floral arrangement, simplified bamboo balls are gently eased into rectangular glass containers. The long stems of the red miniature cattleyas reaching down to the water resemble small hanging lanterns. The color of the flowers accentuates the intricate detail of the ornate brocade obi spread out below.