The Best Dish Flowers by Make It A Garden

A showcase of inspiration and design

MIAG Artist Series

Do they spin? That’s the No.1 question I’m asked at craft fairs where my best dish flowers are on display. Some people have never seen garden art like this before and are naturally curious.

My sense of humor gets the best of me as I recall the verse about the lilies of the field, “They toil not nor do they spin” (Matthew 6:28 KJV) Considering the weight of glass and ceramic dishes–even with specialty hardware that would allow it to rotate–there’s no sail or paddle to catch the wind. Dish flowers are stationary sculpture, not whirly gigs.

Traditional favorites

The heart & soul behind the best dish flowers

You may have heard that some artists form emotional attachments to their work. For me, that would be true. Not every piece, but there have been a few I was quite fond of that were very hard to part with.

An artist pours so much of themselves into their creations. There’s considerable energy that goes into every little nuance. I’m always thinking, ‘what would make this piece special?’ Or ‘what would make this one stand out?’

It can be frustrating. For example, I can start out painting on a glass dish intending for it to go in a certain direction, and end up not liking it. So, I wash it off and start over again. Sometimes, I’m not exactly sure what I’m after when nothing seems to be working.

A peak into the design process

In trying to make the best dish flowers that I possibly can, there are obstacles to work around. For instance, glass and ceramic dishware is notorious for its imperfections. A wonky plate or bowl is one that is not level on the bottom, or has a little wave or curve in it. Then, it won’t fit well surface to surface with another dish. Sometimes I can make it work. Other times, ‘making it work’ compromises another element of the design.

Another issue is that some glass dishes have a rim on the bottom while others are flat. You wouldn’t think that would make a difference, but it does. In order to make that plate stand out from the one behind it, I have to use another, smaller dish as a spacer between them. That gives it kind of a 3-D effect. Those things aside, it could be a few hours to a few days of experimenting with different combinations of color, shape and texture that will give distinct personality to the finished product.

Every single art work is an original which makes what I do a little harder. That’s simply the way it is when you have to scrounge up your materials. Just because I get them at a thrift store, doesn’t mean that I breeze in and 20 minutes later breeze back out with everything I need. Most of the materials for my best dish flowers come from different places on different days a few weeks or even months apart. As time consuming as that may be, it offers the greatest opportunities to stretch the imagination. Which in turn has challenges of its own.

Embracing risk

I simply love to play around with things, and push myself creatively. A few years ago, I began to experiment by picking up plates that presented more difficult or unique patterns. Artists take a bit of a risk whenever they attempt something new. Ever so gradually, I began to introduce more unconventional designs.

Avant Garde designs make best dish flowers

Best dish flowers inspired by nature

Some of my favorite dish flower designs are based on a real, actual flower.

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Best ceramic dish flowers from funky plates

Assembly method for my best dish flowers

People always want to know how I attach my plates. There are many ways to attach a dish flower to its post. It boils down to the personal preference of the artist. I decided on the drilling method. The rear plate is attached to a metal post with a machine screw and fastening nut. The flower head can be removed from the post for storage over the winter season.

How is it possible to drill a plate without breaking it? When I first started making dish flowers, I had the same question. The word “drill” doesn’t exactly conjure up the right image. A more accurate word is “grinding”. I use a diamond tip drill bit that slowly grinds a hole through the plate. Depending on how the plate is made (glass or stoneware or porcelain) it takes anywhere from 5-20 minutes to drill a hole through a glass or ceramic dish.

The drill tip gets hot as it makes contact with the plate. Therefore,to keep the drill tip cool, the plate must be drilled under a little bit of water. That way, the plate doesn’t shatter. I do this in my kitchen sink. When the plate is turned upside down, it’s like a dome. There’s space underneath it. That way, when the drill bit goes thru the plate, I won’t damage the sink.

Because the back side is always facing up, I become quite familiar with the manufacturer. I’m always staring at a name like “Gibson” or “Anchor Hocking” while I’m drilling. It gets me interested in the story behind the plate.

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Conclusion

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