Happy new year

Wishing everyone a new year that's bubbling over with happiness.

Photo credit: techmeister

Wedding invitations

Although I haven't yet mentioned it here, as well as learning floristry I'm also planning my wedding at the moment, so occasionally one or two wedding ideas may find their way onto this blog alongside images from my floristry portfolio.

As there are now less than 100 days to go until our wedding it occurred to us over Christmas that we really ought to get a move on and think about sending out some invitations, so I've been gathering inspiration today.




Both of the designs above are free to download at Wedding Invitation Ideas.

I also love these by La Lissa Designs at etsy



but my favourites are these by Storeyshop.



They are so simple but so pretty and, like a box of delicious Belgian chocolates, designed to be opened with anticipation and pleasure.

Christmas work experience

I've been doing some work experience this week in the run up to Christmas. Having never worked in a florist's before I would have been quite happy to just clean buckets, sweep up and make coffee all day long. I wasn't really expecting to be thrown in at the deep end and let loose to make up hand ties with such lovely flowers, so I owe a big 'thank you' to Antonia and Daniel for their patience and encouragement and for providing me with such a great learning opportunity.

On Friday when the delivery arrived I was really excited because I got to go on the big Dutch flower lorry. It pulled up on the kerb outside the shop and beckoned me in with its multicoloured patchwork of row upon row of floral gorgeousness, including the most amazing lilies I have ever seen..... I swear they must have been four feet tall!

Here are a few of the bits and pieces I got to make.

Christmas wreath

Here's my finished Christmas wreath, made using the mossed ring I posted a picture of last week. This one is now hanging on my front door.

Alternative wreaths

I've been researching ideas for alternative materials to use for my Christmas wreath project today. These beautiful paper creations are by Haru and are available from etsy

Woodland style moss ring

With Christmas just around the corner it was time to start making decorations at college this week, and I loved getting my hands dirty making this moss ring which will be the base for a Christmas wreath. In next week's class I'll be adding spruce and eucalyptus to this (and maybe a shiny bauble or two), but for now I thought it would be fun to play around with some ivy and winter jasmine from my garden. The result has a woodland feel to it...... I kind of like it.

Why I love hydrangeas

I love hydrangeas.... in fact I love quite a lot of flowers and plants that begin with the letter H - hellebores, hostas and hyacinths are all favourites of mine.

image by mamoko7070

I love hydrangeas for their retro charm. It's those big blowsy nonchalent pom poms.... they just do it for me. Who could resist a flower that must surely have inspired this classic 1950s bathing fashion?


image via travel trunk

Open wreath

This week's college project. I love this colour scheme.

Based wreath

....still on the funeral module. Here's a series of photographs from the based wreath I made this week. I really enjoyed doing this piece.

Card and wedding favour box

For the design and craft element of our first assessed project we had to demonstrate a variety of techniques for folding, pleating and tearing paper or card.

My first assessment

We were given our first formally assessed project at college earlier this week. The brief was to create a hand-tied bouquet for a specific occasion. Mine was designed as a 'thank you' bouquet suitable for a mother of the bride. I chose fresh, zingy green spider Chrysanthemums, Lilies and Avalanche Roses. The Hypericum berries add a red accent which gives the simple green and white colour scheme a bit of a lift. I also included Bear Grass and Ruscus and finished with a collar of Leatherleaf and Aspidistra leaves.

Grand Designs Live Birmingham

I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to do some flowers for the 'My Grrreen Shed' feature at Grand Designs Live Birmingham last week. This heart pillow was made for the 'Love Shack' shed.

If only....

If only my living room table was always as minimal as this....