Here's a few pictures of how to carve a simple flower using a lathe to rough out the flower.
I glued up some cherry scrap I had in the shop and cut it round on the bandsaw. Then I attached a faceplate to a sacrifical block and then glued the block to the cherry work. I next turned the cherry block round. See the first picture.
I then used a bowl gouge and cut the outline of the flower - see the second picture.
Next, I used the bowl gouge and roughed out the shape of the flower. Note that I cut inward but left the button in the center. See the third picture.
I then prepare the top with a cut to allow it to sit within the bottom, and part it off. See fourth picture.