Part 3 (1/2)
”Look on these flowers! as o'er an altar, shedding On Milton's page soft light from coloured urns-- They are the links man's heart to nature wedding, When to her breast the prodigal returns.
”They are from lone, wild places--forests, dingles, Fresh banks of many a low-voiced hidden stream; Where the sweet star of eve looks down and mingles Faint l.u.s.tre with the water-lily's gleam.”
MRS. HEMANS.
This una.s.suming pretty flower has a salver-shaped corolla; but in modelling it, I advise its being formed of five petals. Prepare the latter in double white wax, colour them upon both sides with my lemon powder (this is a most beautiful preparation), taking the precaution not to carry the same to the end, or it would prevent adhesion of the wax.
With a small sable brush, form a triangular spot of deep yellow at the lower end of the broad part of the petal. Attach to the end of a second-size wire a piece of lemon wax, extending the same half an inch down the stem; this is to form a foundation: the point is to be neatly moulded, and to be seen peeping, as it were, from the centre of the flower. The petals are curled in the following manner;--rest the petal in the palm of the left hand, placing the side that has the triangular spot downwards, press the third finger of the right hand in the centre, and then upon the opposite side strongly indent with the point of the pin. Place the five petals thus prepared round the stem previously formed, press the petals neatly together, flattening them down a little to give the appearance of being formed in one piece. The calyx is cut in very light green wax, it is in one piece, vand.y.k.ed at the top into five points; in each point press the pin, and attach it afterwards round the neck or tube of the flower. Wash the calyx with a weak solution of gum water, using for the purpose a sable brush. Sprinkle it over, while moist, with a little of my prepared down. The stem should look transparent, consequently the wire must be covered with very light green or lemon wax. For the leaf, see my general instructions upon foliage.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
VIOLET.
(VIOLA ODORATA.) _Modesty._
”As the dew that moistens the rose at dawn, Gives the VIOLET many a tear, So bright in the morning of life she shone, That her fragrance still lives while her spirit is gone, Embalming her memory here.”
M'COMB.
”Sweet flower! spring's earliest, loveliest gem; While other flowers are idly sleeping, Thou rear'st thy purple diadem, Meekly from thy seclusion peeping.
”Thou, from the little secret mound, Where diamond dew-drops s.h.i.+ne above thee, Scatterest thy modest fragrance round; And well may nature's poet love thee!
”Thine is a short, swift reign, I know, But love, thy spirit still pervading, New violet tufts again shall blow, Then fade away as thou art fading;
”And be renewed;--the hope how blest, (Oh, may that hope desert me never!) Like thee, to sleep on nature's breast, And wake again, to bloom for ever!”
BOWRING.
”A violet, by a mossy stone-- Half hidden from the eye; Fair as a star, when only one Is s.h.i.+ning in the sky.”
WORDSWORTH.
Prepare the petals in white wax: there are five in number. Pa.s.s the head of a large pin firmly down the centre, so as to cup each. Cover a fine green wire with a strip of light green wax; at the end of this affix a small piece of orange wax, and mould it to a point, not allowing it to be larger than a carraway seed. Dip the point of this foundation in water, and then into the second yellow powder, which gives it the appearance of farina. Place three petals under the foundation, and the remaining two on the top, turning them back; bend the stalk up, and under the three petals place a small piece of white wax, which is to be coloured purple after it is attached. The calyx consists of five points, and are placed round the neck of the flower.
PURPLE VIOLETS.
”Violets, sweet tenants of the shade, In purple's richest pride arrayed, Your errand here fulfil; Go, bid the artist's simple stain Your l.u.s.tre imitate in vain, And match your Maker's skill.”
Purple violets are constructed precisely the same as the former; the only difference that exists being that the petals require to be cut from blue wax, and painted upon both sides with purple (bright crimson and middle blue.)
”Like the sweet south That breathes upon a bank of violets, (So darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,) Smelling and giving odours.”
”Thou smiling promise of more sunny days, How do I love thine un.o.btrusive glance!”
ANEMONE.
(ANEMONE HORTENSIS.) _Sickness._
The petals are cut from thick or double white wax. Place a piece of fine white wire half way up each, and secure it to its position by placing a narrow strip of white wax upon the same, rolling it down each edge with the head of the smallest pin. Colour them from the centre to the point with bright purple (second blue and bright crimson), the large brush to be used, (see my directions, p. 13.) The small petals are cupped by laying each in the palm of the left hand, and pressing it firmly with the thumb of the right hand. The large or outside petals are curled in the same manner, but the points turned back. The centre or foundation is formed by pa.s.sing two strips of double pink wax round the end of a strong wire, (care must be taken at all times to double the wire down to prevent its slipping;) mould the same to a point, leaving it broad at the lower end; indent it strongly round with the curling pin; colour this half way down with dark or black-looking purple, (dark blue and crimson.)