Make a Tussie Mussie Bouquet

Tussie mussies are small arrangements of flowers, greenery and herbs could convey complex symbolic meaning according to the botanical elements used. Though tussie mussies have been around "since humans first picked flowers," says writer Geri Laufer, they were prominent enough to appear in 1440 in the first English-Latin dictionary. They were carried in the Victorian era by unmarried ladies in lieu of jewelry. These small, symbolic nosegays are filled with significance determined by the flowers you choose for the bouquet.

Geri Laufer, quite literally, wrote the book on the tussie mussie, the charming floral bouquets once carried by proper Victorian ladies.

To make a tussie mussie you will need: good quality, double-sided satin or fabric ribbon / a cotton glove / garden shears / scissors / elastic thread / extra large tapestry needles / 3-inch wide eyelet or lace trim / floral tape / a champagne flute or other vessel / a selection of flowers and greenery: sweetheart roses, miniature carnations, garden herbs, maidenhair fern, statice, English ivy and lavender all work nicely.

Select the flowers you want to appear in the center of your tussie mussie arrangement. We used compact, romantic sweetheart roses for the center of this tussie mussie.