No part of nature is more lovely than flowers, but since they fade and die, it is only natural that we should want to fix them in some enduring form. (From the Preface)

{HISTORY}

What started as an interest in dress decorations in the 1930s, bloomed (no pun intended!) into a passionate life-long career for floral artist Miyuki Iida (1903-2007). Developing a way to arrange flowers made by hand from cloth, Miyuki evolved her personal dress accessories into realistic looking indoor floor bouquets to highlight the beauty and tranquility of nature.

Noted for the ease in which these bouquets came together and the stunning effect they had when incorporated into interior spaces, Miyuki began teaching this technique to small classes in a studio in Tokyo in the 1940's. As happens with good ideas and popular creative learning, one thing led to another and before she knew it, Miyuki was in charge of 30 flower making studios throughout the city. In 1971, Miyuki teamed up with her daughter, Tomoko, to produce this DIY book, The Art of Handmade Flowers,  illustrating step by step how to make over 30 different types of unique flowers. 

"These flowers require no special skills, only a sense of color, an eye for nature, and an interest in making things from next to nothing. Through a simple process, and using simple tools, natural flowers that are hard to cultivate, that you have seen only growing wild or that wilt as soon as they are picked, will brighten your home for as long you wish,," writes Miyuki at the beginning of the book. 

Laid out step by step, this book takes readers through all the stages of making a beautiful bouquet. From the gathering of tools and materials to adding finishing touches, this book also includes templates, layout designs and other ideas on how to display and to utilize your flowers once they are created.  Fun for gift wrap packaging, indoor flower bouquets, retail decorations and craft time fun during the cozy, cold-weather months, this book will help you cultivate an indoor garden long after the spring and summer gardening season has come to a close.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- 1971 First Edition

- Includes original dust jacket 

- 124 pages 

- Includes step by step instructions for 32 different types of flowers

- Includes both color photography, black and white line drawings and templates

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. There is some minor wear and tear t the dust jacket (two small rips and a wrinkle). Embossed coverboards bear a little bit of light foxing. The interior pages are very clean and bright. 

{SIZE}

Measures 10.5" inches (width) x 9.75" inches (length) x .75" inches (thickness)