Part 2 (1/2)
The dark velvet-purple-looking spot seen in geraniums is obtained from mixing the cake smalt with a little bright crimson powder.
A similar tint may be obtained by mixing crimson lake, in cake, with the middle blue.
Various shades of green are procured by combining the first or second yellow with the darkest blue.
In noticing the
USE OF CURLING PINS AND SCISSORS,
I beg to remind my readers that these are the only instruments I deem requisite for modelling wax flowers. Both these require to be moistened before they are applied to the wax. Warmth as well as moisture is essential for these. A gla.s.s of lukewarm water will answer the purpose; but great care must be taken to shake off the surplus water; for if the globules were to fall upon the petal, it would occasion the colour to run.
THE METHOD OF APPLYING BRUSHES
requires to be stated; for they must not be held as a pen or pencil, but perfectly perpendicular. Commence a short distance from the lower end of the petals--for where the paint is applied the wax will not adhere. When the petal is all one colour, pa.s.s the brush from you quickly and lightly off the same on to the paper. If it is a variegated petal, bring the brush towards you. This will enable you to soften off the edges of the spots which are to be left free from colour. When moisture is required in the brush, the latter must not be plunged into water, but a small drop taken up by the handle on to the paper.
TO CLEANSE THE SCISSORS, PINS, AND MARBLES.
Dip either into boiling water, and wipe them immediately. The marbles require to be used warm.
EXPLANATION OF BOTANICAL WORDS.
Although I do not pretend to put this forth as a ”Botanical work,” I deem it necessary that I should make use of certain words in application to forming the different parts of a flower; I shall give an explanation of such botanical words as I must occasionally make use of in the course of my instructions.
COROLLA signifies a flower deprived of its centre. For example: the corolla of a rhododendron falls from its position, leaving the interior of the flower pendent to the stem. The convolvulus has a funnel-shaped corolla.
PETAL. This is part of the corolla, and what is termed, by the uninformed--leaf; for instance, we hear of drying rose leaves, when in fact it is the petals that are alluded to. The term leaf should only be applied to the foliage.
PISTIL, or PISTILLUM, is that part of a flower which projects directly from the centre, and is longer than the rest; we observe it in the white lily, fuchsia, honeysuckle, etc. The enlargement at the end of the pistil is termed stigma.
STAMENS, or STAMINA, signify the filaments that surround the pistil; and the enlarged part at the end of each filament is called anther.
FARINA is the fine dust which is contained in the anther, and which shows itself also outside.
CALYX is applied to the green attached to the flower. For example: the part that is covered with moss about the rose is the calyx. Sometimes the calyx is covered with down, as in geranium, primrose, etc.
STIGMA. The enlargement at the end of the pistillum.
HOW TO COPY FROM NATURE.
To take the pattern of a natural flower, you must remove the petals carefully, sorting out how many there are of an equal size. Take the shape of one out of each set, in the following manner: Place the petal upon a sheet of writing paper, holding it firmly to the paper with the point of the fore finger of the left hand. Take a large brush containing a very little colour and pa.s.s it round the edge. The exact form will be left upon the paper without tearing the edges of the petal, even though it were unusually fragile. When the requisite flower cannot be procured, a proper pattern can be obtained at Soho Bazaar, or at my residence, 35, Rathbone Place, where I am happy to receive visitors, daily, from ten in the morning till six o'clock in the evening. Place the pattern upon the dull side of the wax, and as the grain runs the length of the same, cut each petal accordingly, for the wax takes the paint much better in that direction.
VARIOUS FLOWERS TO BE DESCRIBED.
FLORAL LIFE.