Bob Shuman - Simply Elegant Flowers With Michael George

simply elegant flowers

WITH MICHAEL GEORGE

WRITTEN WITH BOB SHUMAN
FOREWORD BY MARTHA STEWART

Simply Elegant Flowers with Michael George Copyright 2008 by Michael George. Manufactured in China. All rights reserved. It is permissible for the purchaser to make the projects contained herein and sell them at fairs, bazaars and craft shows. No other part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote a brief passage in review. Published by North Light Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. (800) 289-0963. First edition.

12 11 10 09 08 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

George, Michael, 1947-

Simply elegant flowers with Michael George / Michael George written with Bob Shuman.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-55870-806-8

1. Flower arrangement. I. Shuman, Bob. II. Title.

SB449.G46 2007

745.92--dc22

2007031569

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editor: Jessica Strawser
cover photographer: Brie Williams
project coordinator/stylist: Lisa George
cover designer: Amanda Dalton
interior designer: Karla Baker
interior layout & production: Kelly ODell
production coordinator: Greg Nock

www.fwpublications.com

PHOTO BY BRIE WILLIAMS

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Clematis by Gino Santa; Daffodil by Ayesa Wilson. Peony by Carole Gomez; Sweet Pea by Tamara Kulikova. Cherry Branch by Marek Cech; Pear Branch by Narcisa Buzxlea; Forsythia Branch by Mary Morgan. Carnation by Gina Luck; Sunflower by Bruce Bean. Heliconia by Timur Kulgarin; Bird of Paradise by David Schrader. Agapanthus by Karin Lau; Allium by Carole Gomez. Cat tail Foliage by Heiko Grossman; Cornflower by Anna Khomulo; Chamomile by Jasmin Awad. Eremurus by Stuart Brill; Dahlia by Olga Ekaterincheva; Daisy by Simon McConico; Delphenium by Tamara Kulikova. Euphorbia by Suzanne Carter-Jackson. Hosta by Sally Scott; Lisianthus by Oksana Struk; Monkshood by Christina Richards. Phlox by Elena Blokhina. Sunflowers by Bruce Bean. Coral Sunset Peony by Gina Luck. Amaranthus by Chartchai Messangnin; Bittersweet vines by Klaus Janssen; Celosia by Mark Hayes Photography. Kale by Gina Luck; Maple by Tony Squeo; Pear foliage by Heather Faye Bath. Sedum by Anneclaire Le Royer; Seedpods by Melissa Carroll; Sunflower by Jennifer Daley; Vibernum by Vladimir Konjushenko. Spider Mum by Candice Cusack; Statesman Mums by Anna Bryukhanova; Snowdrift Mums by Cathleen Abers-Kimball. Poinsettia by Andrzej Tokarski; Rose by Andrea Manciu; Shamrocks by Denise Bentley; Babys Breath by Susan Fox. Gardenia by Igor Zhorov; Jasmine by Kjell Brynildsen. Orchids by Steve Dibblee. Quince by Klaus Janssen; Lambs Ear by Andrew Dean; Eucalyptus by Patricia Nason.

acknowledgments

I would like to thank Avant Garden, Karla Baker, Cynthia Black, Edgar Bout, Ming Chung, June Clark, Gardencio and Gabriel Contreras, Amanda Dalton, Christine Doyle, Tom Fagan, F+W Publications, Lisa George, Pam Green, Carl Grimes and all at Dutch Flowerline, Rob Houtenbos, Eileen Johnson, Calvin Klein, Peter Lozer, Stuart Marshall, Eve Marx, Kate McGinty, Bill Miller, Mother Nature, Nancy Nelson and Randy Lanchner, Gary Page, Oscar de la Renta, Michele Rosenbloom, Kathleen Ross, Peter Rubie, Karen Schimmel, Ian Schrager, Bob and Marit Shuman, the Shuman and Nolan families, Rita Battat Silverman and Steve Silverman, Jessica Strawser, Louis Theofaris, Saki Tornasakis, Cas Trap, Robert Treadway, Mikey and Bella Vasillopulos, Patricia Waddell, Vera Wang, Diego and Cynthia Weingartener, and Brie Williams. Thanks also, in memory, to Bill Blass, Pat Buckley and Glen Birnbaum. And a special thanks to my friend Martha Stewart.

dedication

For my father.

PHOTO BY BRIE WILLIAMS

PHOTO BY BRIE WILLIAMS

PHOTO BY BRIE WILLIAMS

contents

PHOTO BY BRIE WILLIAMS

BY MARTHA STEWART

A signature Michael George arrangement of white tulips in a ceramic bowl

PHOTO BY BRIE WILLIAMS

foreword

BY MARTHA STEWART

I wish you could have seen my home last evening. It was pure Michael George, or at least as close as I could come to his style and beauty without having Michael there himself. I was having a dinner partyan autumnal supper of root vegetable soup, choucroute garni and lemon curd tartand I wanted my flowers to reflect the season, the colorful fall foliage, and the simple but restrained elegance of the rustic menu. So I arranged dozens of orange tulips exactly as I had been taught by Michael himself, with neatly stripped stems, perfectly aligned, carefully secured with a transparent rubber band (really a ponytail rubber band), the bunches gently twisted so stems and blossoms alike were vibrantly positioned in clear class containers. I put four identical vases on the dining table, one on the living room desk surrounded by amber glass turkeys, a giant bowl in the entry hall and others on side tables. When finished with the task, which I admit took a little longer than a blink of an eye, I did think of my mentor Michael and thought, He would certainly approve.

I first noticed Michaels work in the Calvin Klein store in New York City. I was so entranced with the voluptuous, full, elegant, modern arrangements of white roses, calla lilies and ranunculus that I asked for the name of the designer. I started using Michael personally as well as professionally and invited him numerous times to teach his craft on my television show. He also made my daughters beautiful wedding flowers, and has contributed many times to our publications.