Pink flowers for the Queen Of France…
Happy Pink Saturday everyone! Because craft materials and embellishments are so precious and so important in my work I felt like going back in history today to re-visit and remember how millinery flowers were ever made…And by the way, this is a photo of one of my Marie crowns…more information ahead…
Why we love millinery flowers and leaves so much? Why do we incorporate them into our art projects? They are everywhere, journals, frames, paper doll dresses, gift toppers…I have to say that I use them a lot on my crowns and paper dolls. They add a sophisticated and yet delicate touch to a design.
What do we know about them? Do we really know their origins? Is it known that artificial flowers have been around for about 3000 years! Back in the 18th century, in Italy, artificial flowers were made from cocoons of silkworms, can you believe it?
The French were also developing the art of artificial flower making. And in the 19th century they became part of fashion embellishing clothing, hat trimmings and artful hairstyles.
This industry spread through out the world but France was the official country of fashion.
The most important flower factories and artists were found in France such as Monsieur Seguin and Monsieur Beaulard T. J. Wenzel. This last designer was Queen Marie Antoinette’s flower maker. The legend states that she was presented with a silk rose {and of course it was PINK} so perfect that caused her to faint!
I really had a great time designing Marie Crowns with movable Paper Dolls and lots of millinery flowers back in November last year. Remember this post here? I ended up posting more photos right after on this other post here!
Now we know where flowers were designed, but what materials were used in the process?
Among those materials were paper, wood shavings and lightweight linen. Pretty amazing! Don’t you think?
But the Victorians were who really developed a floral art using artificial and fresh flowers on their designs. Floral arrangement was born and flowers became a key part of house decor.
In the mid to late 1800’s new materials were added to the making of artificial flowers such as: crepe, calico, satin, gauze, muslin, velvet…even wood, porcelain and metal!
And jumping into the 1970’s, artificial flowers were also made in Asia including China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Thailand. Actually, the pink forget-me-not you see on the photo above is from South Korea. They are quite economical if compared with vintage millinery flowers prices.
I collect lots of flowers and these are some of my millinery flowers/artificial flowers. Don’t you love them? Marie Antoinette is my most favorite Queen and love designing her hairstyles “pouf” and embellishing her dresses with them!
Do you use them on your crafts? What’s your favorite?
Now let’s head over to Beverly’s blog “How Sweet the Sound” for more PINK delights!
Have a fantastic weekend! Thank you so much for visiting me today.
Until next Pink Saturday!
yes a wonderful post!
Wow!! Very interesting….gotta love all things flowery!!
Happy (belated) Pink Saturday!
Stephanie
P.S. Thanks for stopping by!
Hello Gabriela!!! Ooooh, I spy the Queen of France!!!! So nice to see your beautiful Marie crown back on the blog. GORGEOUS! And I loved the information and history your provided in your post. Just a few of the reasons why your blog is one of my favorites! Have a beautiful week. ~ xo Joy
They are all gorgeous…just love vintage looking flowers. Remind me of my mom and all her hats when I was a child.
Happy New Year to you and your family
i treasure the fact you visited me
how wonderful to find you there this day!
Happy Pink Sunday
AND Happy New Year Gabriela!
May 2009 be your best year yet!
Your crown turned out great!
xox
Constance
oh my, this is so pretty!!!
love your blog!
as an artist i say…SWEET!
What a yummy crown!
I just adore vintage millinery flowers, they are so delicate and beautiful.
Lisa
Hi Gabriela
Thanks for leaving a comment. The flowers you pictured remind me of when I was a very young girl and we visited a friend of my mom’s who owned a millinery shop in Bobcaygeon. It was filled with drawers of wonderful fribbons and flowers, some just like the ones you pictured.
Rhondi
Gorgeous pink flowers!!
Beautiful flowers Gabriela!
Happy Pink Saturday to you!
You are such a great teacher—as well as a wonderful artist! Happy Pink Sat.
Thanks for the comment on my 100th post—you are officially entered in my giveaway!!!! So ya want John Wayne shipped to Canada, hun?
Dana
Thanks for the info – very interesting and you have some beautiful creative ideas!
wonderful post, Gabriela. Now you’ve piqued my curiosity about French hat-making! Your new blog design is very nice!
Have a great 2009 with plenty of Pink Saturdays to come.
Very nice info…my sister has taught me to say permanent botanical for artificial. Life would be so less colorful or pretty if we didn’t have them.
Ellen
The Castle is Cinderella’s Castle in Walt Disney World located in Orlando, FL. Fun place to go.
Interesting post and such pretty pieces!
Jillian
What a pretty post – and informative too! I remember some of those beautiful forget-me-nots: my mother used to braid my hair when I was little and she’d weave some of those flowers into it as she worked.
I spent some time about 10 years ago learning to make flowers from assorted vintage ribbons. It was fun… and addictive. I still have some around.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Kate
I loved your post..I found it so interesting. Your crowns are just beautiful.. Happy Pink Saturday..have a lovely day.
I love the little vintage flowers.
Happy 2009!!
Lovely post Gabriela! Happy Pink Saturday!
Happy pìnk saturday!!!
What a wonderful post!
Besos
What an interesting post. I love the forget me not flowers. I still have the floral arrangement (made from icing) which sat on top of my wedding cake – I keep it in a glass cheese dish and it will be 28 yrs old this year. If the colours are all mainly different shades of pink. Judith
Wow !!! What a wonderful post…I learned so much….I love all your fabulous creations….
Yes, it was a petal cake…I have had it for years…I have a few in different colors….I think they are so cute….
Happy New Year….
Mo
Beautiful!!!
Pretty flowers:)
Happy new Year and 1st ….2009 Pink Saturday!!!
KayEllen
Thanks for the informative post. I learned something. Thanks for sharing. Happy Pink Day.
Hi Gabriela,
When I read this post, I thought about what fun it would be to meet at Tinsel Trading Company some day, and we could browse the many boxes of Millinery accents together. Your Marie crown is lovely. Happy Pink Saturday.
Karen
P.S. It’s cold outside brrrrrrrrrrrrrr, it almost feels like I am in Canada. Last week the houses were covered in icicles. I remember gigantic icicles one year when we lived in Toronto.
Happy Pink Saturday, Gabriela. You are our official creating queen of all things beautiful.
I do use flowers to embellish things I make. I love the wonderful look and feel they add.