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Locked frames and fabric backgrounds

Many of the tniniatures in this book are assembled in locked frames which are manufactured for prcssed-tlower work and rangę from one incli to six inches in suce. The frames can be purchased complete witha per-$pexcovering, a card basu, a layerof thin foam padding to place behind the base. a locking piąte and a backing card, along with instructions for assembling them correctiy. Coloured card can be used in place of rhe plain card provided, or you may prefcr to use anattrac-tivc scrap of fabric as an aiternative background. From a larg? scrap bag collected for the pnrpose, 1 have expc>rimcnted with silks, crepe-de-chine, sarins and veJvet5 in a wide assortment o: colours to show certain flowers to the best advantage. Other fabrics can be used, but it is best to avo:d pronounccd tex(ures and tones which mieh* distract from the nafural shades of the dried materiał. Always iron the fabric first and it steam has to be uSC-d to remove stubbom creases, leave the fabric to air ovemight in a wann place. Velvet shnuld also be dry-ironed on the back to make the pile morę manageable.

Remove the pen>pcx, foam, piąte and backing card to one side and cut a square of fabric largo enough to cover the base card with a generous allowance all round. Fil the frame into place over the fabric and card, adjusting the fabric untii it lies sniOOth and fiat in the rrtanner used for fastening materiał into a needlework ring. With the tranie still in position, assemble the flower arrangement and remove the frame when the work is compleled. The arrangement should then be covered by the perspex. but remember, this is a tricky stage as loose petals and particles can casily lift up through static and catch on to the cover. 1 have found that by wiping the perspex dean with a na tu rai, not synthetic, piece of rag and then rubbingit lightly aciOSS my cheek, the materiał is morę indined to remain in position.

When the perspex is in place, replace the frame and insert the piece of foam behind the base card beneath the folds of the fabric. Trim away the surplus fabric and then press the locking piąte into position. If thickvelvet has bcen used, this might be difficult and it will be neoessary to remove the frame to trim the fabric away exactly around the edge of the base card. If possible, hołd the perspex in position while trimming and blow away thecut thre2d.s while you work berause these can easily slip into the ftower arrangement and can be very tedious to remove with a needle point. A smali piece of selt-adhesive tape or film rolled into a cirde will be useful fo: picking up loose specks from a backgroimd but do not touch any part of the arrangement because it will also lift this away as well. Once the locking piąte is in position, the back card wili fit easily into place.

Assembling a velvet mount

Apart from frames, there are other items manufactured with mounts for miniaturę decoration and these indude pendants for jewellery włiich can be threaded on chains or fixed to brooch fittings, pili boxes, tiny rrinket pots, lidded bowls, compact and key fobs. For an impressive presentation, a miniaturę can be enclosed in a velvet mount. The arrangementopposite was assembled on a pot lid and fitled into a frame, botll purchased from the same source.

A different form of ntounted miniaturę dispkys a Candytuft flowerhead fianked with gnat Geranium Itttm, yuryk Hydranty; 'flowers and Acjuilegia (eaves wiih two i:uy Trefoils a! the top. Cme Parsley and pink Alyssum clusters break up the slrong, dnrk colours wktek coułd easily owrpowtr Ihe sof! pink colouring in the contrę.

Tnis arrangement is scaled inside u frame and imseried into a padtled veivet mount. Instructions for tnaking the mount angineti overleaf.