To make a flower vase, always select a hard papaya which is neither too raw nor too ripe,
and has a good shape. Flatten the bottom part of the papaya to make it stand
upright.
Cut off the top portion. Shape the inside portion which is hollow, a
bit at least where it is visible. Now we can shape the mouth of the flower
vase.
Leave 2inches width on top and make a line around the papaya
with a sharp knife, not too deeply. Remember that papaya is hollow inside
and if cut deeply it may break off.
Remove pieces of papaya along the line
to form a crevasse, not too deep nor wide, around the papaya.
Remove the
skin and shape the top part as well. Now we will carve the portion below. First remove the skin on top a bit.
First we will start from the bottom with a design, and then gradually do the
pattern work from the top to the bottom part. Make a design on the greenish
portion at the bottom, just like a flower. Draw/line round shaped petals
around the papaya carefully with the tip of the carving knife. Now scoop off
a portion in between two petals to give a feel as if the petal is projecting
out.
Now, removing the skin from the top slowly come down till you reach the
petals and remove pieces to project out the petals all around the papaya.
Now we will get a feel that the flower vase is sitting inside a green flower
in full bloom. This part as well as the design can be done according to your
preference.
Now we'll start the pattern work from the top of the vase. Draw
patterns in banyan leaf shape round the neck part of the flower vase with
the tip of the carving knife.
Cut off pieces from below the line of the
pattern to give it a finish. Start the next round from the middle of two
leaf patterns and continue making drawings all around. Cut off pieces from
below the line just as you did before.
Continue the procedure making more
layers till you reach the green flower design. Make sure that the patterns
are of same size and shape to get the layered perfectly carved look.
Arrange the vase with flowers made with different vegetables and dark
green parsley leaves. Sticks covered by spring onion leaves can be used as
stem for Vegetable flowers.
|