January is a good time to take a break from fresh flowers and focus a bit on getting workshop and tools organized for the spring. When I started working with flowers in my home, I needed only the basic tools but kept adding to the collection.
A streamlined group of tools goes into a clear cosmetic bag for travel. The transparent bag shows them clearly if the suitcase is opened by TSA.
Some tools I don’t leave home without are my floral shears, knife, Felco pruners and ratchet pruners, heavy and small wire cutters, and titanium scissors. The titanium allows cutting uGlu without it sticking to the metal. There is a Bostich P3 stapler with narrow staples and a small saw, ARS 1K10 which will cut bamboo with a 4” blade. Alcohol swabs are used for cleaning clippers between uses.
Tools for travel:
- Clear cosmetic bag
- Floral shears, Joyce Chen or other
- Floral knife, Swiss Army
- Pruners, Felco or others
- Ratchet pruners
- Titanium scissors
- Wire cutters
- Small saw, ARS 1K10
- Stapler, Bostich P3
- Alcohol swabs for cleaning
As your flower arranging progresses, you may want to add the following supplies:
- Waterproof tape, clear and green
- Florist tape
- Bind wire
- Floral glue, cold
- Glue gun, hot glue
- Bamboo skewers
- Florist wire
- Pins and greening pins (Upins)
- A kenzan or frog
For a traveling by car there is a complete tool kit that has most everything needed for a flower show or on-site event work.
Suggestions for Floral Design Tool Box
Tools that Cut
* Floral knife/Clipper/Pruner/Scissors
* Ribbon scissors
* Wire cutter
* Folding saw
Tools that Bind
* Waterproof tape
* Floral tape
* Florist wire, spool and straight
* Bind wire
* Rubber bands
Tools that Pierce or Poke
* Straight pins
* Fern or greening pins
* Anchor pins
* Wooden picks/Hyacinth stakes
Things that Adhere
* Floral glue
* Floral clay
* UGlue dashes
* Glue gun and glue sticks/Glue pan
Construction Tools
* Needle-nose pliers
* Stapler and staples
* Measuring tape
* Hammer
* Screwdriver, standard and Phillips
* Work gloves
Misc.
* Towels, band aids, sewing kit
* Rubber gloves
* Cotton towel
* Alcohol swabs and BandAids
* Markers/Pens/Eyeshadow
* Tubes
* Decorative wires, 24g and boullion
I have spent many years collecting, organizing, and reorganizing my tools and supplies and the process continues to evolve. I wish you some extra time in the winter to organize your floral design tools and supplies. Thank you, Kate Fahey, for the workshop pictures.
