Preserved Rose Heart
This three-dimensional heart of preserved roses is luxury in full bloom. Anthony Buhagiar, of NYC flower shop A Rose by Harvest, shares his technique.
Preserved flowers maintain the appearance and texture of fresh ones, but can be stored at room temperature indefinitely. Harvest Wholesale imports only the highest-quality roses, which can be purchased in boxes of six. To purchase a fully assembled wreath, contact A Rose by Harvest.
A contoured appearance adds depth and refinement; "otherwise, it can look like a cake," Anthony says. We found freehand experimentation to be the easiest technique, but you could also trim wired flowers to staggered lengths before pushing them into the foam. Either way, be sure to handle with care.
- About 90 preserved roses (for a 15-inch heart)
- 22-gauge craft wire, trimmed to 9 inches (one for each rose)
- Floral tape
- Heart template
- Floral foam
- Long-bladed floral or craft knife
Insert a 9-inch length of 22-gauge craft wire as close to the rose's base as possible.
Insert a second length of wire perpendicular to the first.
Fold wires in toward the center. Working from the base of the rose, wrap the "stem" tightly with floral tape and trim to 2 inches. Repeat with all roses.
Print heart template in desired size. Cut out and trace onto floral foam. Using a long-bladed craft knife, cut floral foam into heart shape.
Begin inserting roses around the outer edges of the foam, angled at 90 degrees.
Working once around the circumference and then from the top down, begin filling in the surface of the heart.
To create a contoured appearance, push the center roses further down into the foam. You can also do this by trimming the wires to staggered lengths in advance. Repeat until surface is fully covered and desired contour achieved.