I fear I am a wee bit late to the proverbial blog party with this post, but I couldn’t help sharing my ever growing collection of balsa wood flower images.
I’ve been totally intrigued with these little beauties since I first saw them on JL Designs blog last summer and have been desperately looking for more information on them ever since. Like, for example, where you can buy them! My hunt turned up exactly zero wholesalers or florists on the east coast though you can order them online from SaveOnCrafts.com (they’re even on sale now…but I’m about to buy all of them for no good reason other than I want them)
They are remarkably affordable considering they are handmade from tapioca wood peel, also called sola wood, a naturally derived paper product. And because they aren’t technically a live flower, they never die making them the perfect eco-friendly alternative to a floral bouquet. Love that!
But I think my favorite thing about these little beauties is their very chameleon-like ability to look equally at home in vastly different settings. Case in point – when set alongside birch and cotton in a very organic setting, their tactile, “please touch me” quality is highlighted (see the genius designs below from Lauryl Lane. Aside: Is that not the best name?). Yet they look equally gorgeous when that that same softness is juxtaposed against the hard lines of seashells and coral. They even start to look a bit shell-like themselves in that setting I think.
In short, I’m in love and hope to see them popping up everywhere.
What do you think? Great alternative to fresh flowers? Or you’re not digging funky paper flowers for your wedding?
{Photo credits: 1st, 2nd & 4th row: JL Designs, 3rd row: Krislyn Custom Florals}
{Photo credits: Jasmine Star with Lauryl Lane florals}
[...] Balsa Wood Flowers for bridal bouquets seems to be a pretty hot trend – and I can see why. The blossoms are dreamy and pretty and never wilt or die. The daisies above are actually made of Sola, or Tapioca Wood set around a natural thistle center. They can be strung together to create a garland, or arranged into centerpieces. I love their beachy, organic look. [...]
I love when people think that because they buy something made of wood it is then deemed as “eco-friendly”! Here is the short story behind my comment.
NOTE: i am a neutral party and my only goal is to provide education, i am not in favor of a plastic world, nor do i favor cutting down trees to make decorative pieces.
1) wood comes from somewhere; trees. you have to either harvest or cut down trees to make wood products. what part of this is eco-friendly?
2) pulp manfuacturing plants and the process of making pulp is one of the largest contamintors to our environment. Most are located in 3rd world countries where regulations and controls are below standards.
3) I am not sure this product is eco-friendly or in the best interest of our G.D.P. Would you rather support your local flower grower/ florist OR would you rather buy a $0.30 cent wooden flower imported from India or China that was made in a plant that polutes the environment, pays their laborers $0.05 cents an hour, and cuts down trees to exploit consumers (ie see the definition of consumerism)?
Eco-friendly OR Eco-evil?
Granted i do not know if these specific wooden flowers are made by some sweet grandmom in Minnesota or if they are imported (though I did read online that most are imported).
All i am asking is that next time you buy “eco-friendly” think about where that product comes from. Read the label , support your community and country, buy USA.
Does anyone know what kind of leaves those are? (The whitish green ones) I can’t find them anywhere!
Amber – they’re called Lamb’s ear and they are not artificial. Any florist can get them for you and they’re quite easy to grow if you’re planning to DIY. They have a great silvery, fuzzy texture. http://www.my-photo-gallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Lambs-Ear.jpg
Looks like Dusty Miller to me…. Sometimes it comes in nice and thick — and sometimes it comes in more lacey. At least in Texas, it is slightly more affordable than lamb’s ears…
I agree with Adele – it’s dusty miller, not lamb’s ear.
Dusty miller has the more lacy, fern-like leaves. The ones in the photos above are lamb’s ear. In some places both plants grow wild on the side of the road. VERY affordable! lol