Hoppy Easter from ours to yours
Image: New evolution designs

Having a Hoppy Easter

January. Fresh starts, new beginnings. The start of a brand new year. The door has barely closed on the year before and Easter eggs start filling the shelves, along with dozens of delicious hot cross buns. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE hot cross buns and Chocolate for that matter, but I KNOW I am not alone when I say, are you kidding me?

Christmas decorations are barely away, and night shift store men are dragging out pallets of eggs, carrot shaped chocolates, appropriately printed drinking mugs, egg cups etc…And lets face it, everyone is in on it, everyone wants a piece of the pie don’t they? Kids clothing with catching little phrases like “Hoppy Easter” are printed, and we place the item in our trolley fully aware of the fact that the kid will wear it once, if we are lucky. Or maybe that’s just me. Sigh.

I can’t be the only one who gets carried away with it all: all the things I don’t need, but that I want, or want to give my kids…..and somewhere in the fuss do we forget that Easter is another time we can actually take time out and spend it with our loved ones. Religious or not, the public holidays give us all the opportunity to get together and celebrate, and for that reason, we thought we would look at a few D.I.Y craft and decorating ideas that you may find interesting this Easter. Whether you are simply making your house look for festive or want to do some craft with the kiddies, hopefully there is something here for you.

Jelly Blossoms

You could use apple blossom, cherry blossom, or naked magnolia branches in this arrangement, which is easily created by hot gluing jelly beans to the branches.

Hot glue jelly beans to tree branches for an adorable "Easter Tree". Love this colourful idea, even for when it's not Easter!
I love this idea for a s subtle Easter addition to your home. Check out full instructions on how to create this at : Crafty Sisters

 

Chocolate Bunny Centrepiece

OMG- could it get any better? A glorious centrepiece that you can devour at the meals end…if it survives. Select different sized bunnies and use a selection of white, milk and dark chocolate to add interest to this centrepiece. For a more authentic Australian arrangement you could choose to use a Bilby instead.

Chocolate Bunnies Centerpiece - 40 Beautiful DIY Easter Centerpieces to Dress Up Your Dinner Table
What a gorgeous way to create a eye catching (and edible) display for your guests to admire, and devour! Image: D.I.Y’n’Crafts

Floral centrepieces

Make your usual floral centrepiece uniquely Easter themed by first filling the vase with coloured eggs. By placing a smaller vase within a larger vase, you can keep the water seperate and therefore avoid contamination. No sense in sacrificing something perfectly delicious….. The image here shows plain dyed eggs, but you could just as easily use chocolate eggs or sugar coasted almonds which come in soft pastel tones.

Sweet 15 Decorations | 26 Creative Easter Egg Decorations and Ideas for Spring Table Decor
Creating your own table centrepiece is easy and effective with two vases. Image: Lus Home

 

Birdcage Design:

Incorporate eggs within a nest in a birdcage for a unique table setting with vintage flair.  It is a different spin on traditional Easter eggs and bunnies by tying in the birdcage and bird decor and using a pastel colour palette.

Birdcage Centerpiece - 40 Beautiful DIY Easter Centerpieces to Dress Up Your Dinner Table
Birdcages and Eggs make a gorgeous display with a Vintage flair Image: Better Homes and Gardens

 

Easter Egg tree

This is a simply yet eye catching display using paper covered eggs available at most dollar stores. I have picked up a pack similar to this for just $2.50 at The Reject Shop. This display uses straight pussy willow branches however don’t limit yourself: you could just as easily use quirky pieces of drift wood and create a mobile version of this or magnolia branches would work just aswell.

Easter Tree Centerpiece - 40 Beautiful DIY Easter Centerpieces to Dress Up Your Dinner Table
Image: Martha Stewart

If you are anything like me, time is quickly getting away from you. To me, it is unbelievable that we are fast approaching the fourth month of the year, so, hop to it, before you know it, the eggs will be half price, and the wreaths, angels, and puddings will be out again.

Happy Easter to you all, here’s hopping we all have a quiet, restful and enjoyable time with our family and friends

Fwf x

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“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”- Botanical name inspirations

I love that saying: “What is old, is new” and it certainly rings true for all things fashion, furnishings, decor and floral. Hold onto anything long enough, and it is sure to be in vogue again….if you have the patience, and storage for it!

Right now though it is names with a vintage flavour that are making a comeback in a BIG WAY. Our favourites of course, are old fashioned names with flower/plant/herb origins, that are seeing a HUGE rise in popularity. From movie characters, to celeb couples naming their first (second/third+) born, many factors are contributing to the shift, but I for one am glad to see some of these lovely names gaining popularity.

Katniss and Primrose Everdeen’s names are one of many plant references within The Hunger Games Trilogy.

 10 Plant based names featuring in film/movie/tv:

1. Violet Beauregarde (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory)

2. Cateleya (Columbiana)

3. Katniss Everdeen- (Jennifer Law’s Character in The Hunger Games Trilogy. The Katniss plant is also known as the duck potato and swan potato)

4. Primrose Everdeen (Katniss’ younger sister)

5. Rose  (Kate Winslet’s iconic character in Titanic.)

6. Olive (Abigail Breslin’s character in Little Miss Sunshine)

7. Josh(ua) Baskin (Tom Hanks character in BIG)

8. Hyacinth (Keeping up Appearances)

9. Veronica (Kristen Bell’s Leading character in the series by the same name, Veronica Mars)

10. Jasmine (Aladdin’s love interest in the Disney animation)

You could be forgiven for thinking that Jamie Oliver along with his gorgeous wife Jules, are doing their bit to single handedly push this trend. The lovely couple has an assortment of flower names for their 3 girls: Poppy Honey Rosie, Daisy Boo Pamela,  and Petal Blossom Rainbow. I can’t help but feel lil Buddy Bear Maurice missed out somewhat!

From Left to Right: Petal Blossom, Jules, Poppy Honey, Daisy Boo, Buddy Bear and Jamie Oliver.

 10 Flower Names used by the rich and famous:

1. Lily-Rose (Vanessa Paradis/Johnny Depp)

2. Violet (Jennifer Gardner/Ben Affleck)

3. Suri :persian for Rose-(Katie Holmes/Tom Cruise)

4. Olive (Drew Barrymore)

5.  Sage (Toni Collette) This can be used as a unisex name

6. Bluebell (Geri Halliwell)

7. Poppy (Stephen Moyer/Anna Paquin- True Blood)

8. Rose (Byrne)

9. Daisy (Lowe-English Model)

10. Willow (Smith)

joshua-tree_2121_600x450
The gorgeous Joshua tree is the perfect inspiration for your baby boy.

 10 Plant name inspirations suitable for boys:

1. Joshua (tree)

2. (Sweet) William

3. Watson(ia)

4. Reed

5. Heath

6. Cane

7. Olive(r)

8. Linden

9. Rowan

10. Jasper

Our Top 10 picks to keep your eyes and ears open for: 

1. Clover

2. Fleur (French word simply for ‘flower’)

3. Marguerite (a variety of Daisy)

4. Florence – meaning blossoming, or flourishing

5. Leilani (hawaiian word for ‘Heavenly Flower’)

6. Magnolia (Maggie)

7. Poppy

8. Olive

9. Stella (de Oro- Day Lily)

10. Daisy

 

In the Florist with Flowers team, we have a couple of botanically inspired names, owners Julie and Emmra named their handsome heir Joshua, and when we welcomed a gorgeous little girl, nothing seemed more natural that to name her after a dainty little flower; afterall, flowers had been the entire reason we had all met our partners, fallen in love and in the end become parents.

So much goes into choosing a name, but for us, that just made perfect sense…..maybe it will for you flower lovers too 😉

Fwf x

 

 

 

 

 

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Image: asc-to.com
Floral Crown how to. Do it right, do it now, All hail the one with the Flroal Crown

All Hail the Queen: Floral Crowns.

It happens every few years, a trend emerges and gains so much popularity, that it literally takes over. The latest trend to take over is of course the Floral Crown.

Floral crown
Image: thebridescafe.com

These unique, bespoke pieces are all sorts of divine: gorgeousness so beautiful that they can stand alone as your sole accessory. Individually created, each piece can be made to complement or contrast your ensemble. Whether you choose you use silk or fresh flowers is up to you, but for me, nothing can compare to the look, and texture of fresh flowers, carefully constructed into a one of a kind piece that you will truly never see again. And that’s the beauty in nature isn’t it? It doesn’t matter if you use the exact combination of flowers again, the weather will influence the colour and texture of blooms, and your two wild hands will put the arrangement together, expertly, and carefully, but never exactly the same.

Floral Crowns are certainly bohemian  and, until recent years they probably were used exclusively for more relaxed ceremonies, hippie-luxe weddings and events. With such broad scope to create almost anything imaginable though, more and more, the floral crowns are emerging throughout all style of weddings and special events, racing, and fashion.

What I love most is that I can embrace my inner flower child, or earth mother vibe. More than that though, I can create free form, whimsical pieces that focus more on individuality, gorgeous and different blooms, line, texture and design, rather than repetition, perfection and symmetry which is so often the case with most other floral arrangements.

Interestingly, hair circlets lost popularity a few years ago, but were often more rigid and stilted in appearance. The emergence of the floral crown also saw us embracing an altogether nostalgic trend favouring botanical drawings, retro and vintage vaseware and a preference for simplified, more natural arrangements.

Celebs and fashion houses are LOVING floral crowns too:

Lana Del Rey rocking a floral corwn
Sasha Pivovarova, chanel, model, russian, haute couture, runway, Via: Flowers of Youth
Fashion house Chanel has also been know to use floral crowns in their runway shows like this amazing monochromatic piece.
Dutch model Daphne Groeneveld Floral Runway
Thank you, @Claire Paul for this amazing find. If your prom dress is more Vivaldi than his "Spring" (from The Four Seasons) and more Prima Ballerina from Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring," than a formal gown for a high school dance, you might regret it. You would, however, make a nice wreath for my front door--so, please, be in touch.
Dita Von Teese modelling a unique floral tutu and matching floral crown.

Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo’s unique individuality and artisitic flair still inspires the generations years on

Now not everyone is going to be passionate about these pieces, and their will be as many hits as there are misses when passion and training are lacking. Be sure to choose a supplier who you feel understands your vision and is clear with their ability to communicate their ideas and suggestions.

As the pictures below show, even some celebs have got it horribly wrong:

Kaley Cuoco gets it oh so wrong with this silk headpiece.

Kaley’s piece is more floral drown than floral crown. Her piece has a uncanny resemblance to a swimming or shower cap and the situation is not helped by her having short hair which is entirely covered by the piece. It is certainly a bizarre choice.

Delta’s piece is too big and perhaps the wrong colour to complement her outift.

Gorgeous Delta looks heavily burdened by her crown. And whilst the piece uses beautiful materials, the width of the garland is just far too large and again, covers too much of the crown of her head.

Want to your own floral crown? We can certainly help! But if you want learn how to make your own flower crown, check out some of the tutorials on line. I would recommend starting with silk flowers until you are fairly confident in the construction.

Good luck!

Peace ✌☮

Fwf x

 

 

 

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Hello Autumn

Autumn Inspirations

With March beginning this week, we welcome back an old friend who we have not seen for year. Autumn is seen as a transitional time, characterised with mild temperatures and low humidity, which also makes it one of the most pleasant times of the year.

In parts of Australia, trees will turn rusty, amber and golden tones, and there will be winds that are absent throughout summer.

With milder temperature, you will notice that your fresh cut flowers will last longer in your homes, and beautiful varieties of field flowers become available as the climate outside becomes less wretched. Over the last few months many customers have asked me how long certain flowers will last. They often seem disappointed when I say 3-5 days (in 30-35 degree temperatures). I ask you this- how do you feel if someone gives you one drink of water each day or two? How do you feel at the end of a hot and humid day, even if you have done very little physical activity? I don’t know about you, but I feel truly exhausted. Wiped out. Weary. Right? So whilst we need to start getting more than our toes wet in the ocean quickly before we miss out, lets not mourn the intensity of Summer in Australia, but rather welcome back Autumn, our mild mannered friend, with a whole lot to offer.

I got married through Autumn a few years ago, mostly because it worked well for my husband and I work wise, but also based on the fact we wanted a wedding in the warmer months. I didn’t want to be rugged up, having to wear a bolero or a coat all day, or look half frozen in my pictures. That’s just us, we love it warm. But to get a 38 degree March day was quite unexpected. I sweltered under the layers of fabric and was so thankful not to have worn my spanx as well!

Truthfully though, we also based the entire wedding on our ability to get my favourite rose, Julia amongst some other favourite flowers. Ain’t she a beauty? She, like many other garden/tea roses are available throughout Autumn and are at their best.

There are many flowers like your standard order lily, imported orchids or glasshouse grown rose that are available all year round. There is certainly noting wrong with enjoying your favourites everyday of the year if they are available and if you so fancy. However, if you like to treat yourself to something that is only available for short windows and able to give you small pockets of happiness, then look no further. Other flowers available especially throughout Autumn include:

 

Armaryllis -(Belladonna lilies)

Bouvardia

Camellia blooms

Catteyla orchid

Cornflower

Cosmos

 

Cymbidium

Dahlias

Daphne

David Austin Roses

Echinacea:

Geraldton Wax

Hippeastrum

King Proteas

Lisianthus

Molluca Balm

Nerine

Tea Tree

Well if that ain’t enough gorgeousness for your day, wonder on over to the store to check out what other beauties we have available for you. Go on and get yourself outside and enjoy the perfection that is the start of Autumn, get your skin in the sun and absorb that all important Vitamin D while you can, because, if the last two months are anything to go by, the year is flying by, and before you know it, I’ll be penning the next in our Season series, Winter.

Til next time, I’ll be basking in the autumnal glow,

Fwf x

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