Making Tussie Mussies Help

[megfitz]

I'm entering a competition that requires me to make a Tussie Mussie, I know they are a handtied , scented Nosegay/posy with herbs carried in the past to sniff and avoid the noxious smells before sewers were available.
We are supposed to use items from our own garden, I have available ::
Lavender,,,Bay..Creeping Thyme.. Rosemary . Clove scented Pinks Chive Flowers ..Lemon tree leaves and possibly a spray of Lemon flowers and Sweet peas (I hope)
Any advice on the composition and construction appreciated. I bought a posy holder from Hobbycraft but now I'm thinking should it be tied with Raffia or Ribbon. Why do I agree to do these things!!!

[rockyracoon]

I think they should go in a cone (if my memory from floristry serves me correctly). I'd just arrange the flowers nicely with a bit of ribbon, and maybe put in a cone or holder for authenticity if you like. If you google constructing tussie mussie, you'll find a couple of sites, erasofelegance stood out, I would put a link, but for some reason it won't let me copy. Good luck.

[woofgang]

An easy way. you need a reel of sewing thread and your flowers. pick the centre bloom and wind the end of the thread around the stem. pick out your next layer (all even sized if not the same flower and you want an odd number, 3 or 5) put one on and wind the thread around again add another, wind again and keep adding them evenly, winding at every one or two additions to hold it all together. Concentrate on achieving an even level or slightly domed top, you can trim the stems level at the end, The edge row should be something flat to make the frill, lamb's ears look nice (stachys lanata). Do a couple more winds of thread and then cut off a longish end and slip it up between the stems to catch. The whole thing should be about the size of a saucer when finished. You can bind it with raffia or ribbon with dangling ends or put it in a cone. My mum taught me to make these, I had one for my wedding bouquet, will try and find a pic.