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Bandit By Name, Brilliant By Nature

With the new year fast approaching, many are probably putting pen to paper jotting down the aspirations they have for the year ahead. I must admit I stopped writing New Year’s Resolutions a long time ago…

I believe in living life the way that you want to live it every day, and if you do that, you don’t really need to have New Year’s Resolutions”

– Tom Ford

I stumbled across a story of a guerilla floral designer in New York attempting to do just that; living and creating the life he wants each and every day….and spreading his joy in the process. Like many of us in the wedding and event industries- we spend countless hours bringing a vision to life, to create what appears to be the perfect day. Most of the time, sadly, many of the flowers are left or discarded. In some ways I guess they have already served their purpose, but this floral designer decided he could spread the joy much, much further.

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Image; Lewis Miller Design

Lewis Miller and his team, now takes armfuls of fresh cut flowers that are largely left over from events to decorate garbage cans around the city of New York. Yep, you read that right….garbage bins. Why? Miller, despite having a successful, thriving business, was feeling unfulfilled. The idea behind these street art installations was that Miller and his team could create something more authentic and organic in nature, to spread the feeling of joy, and make everlasting memories for everyday city dwellers.

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Image; Lewis Miller Designs

Lewis Miller, owner of Lewis Miller Designs says “Gifting flowers to New Yorkers is a simple idea that I have been thinking about for years.”

Miller, dubbed the ‘Flower Bandit’ by Vogue, began his “Flower Flashes” in October 2016, and initially intended it to be just a one off event to reinvigorate himself artistically and reconnect with his craft. It evolved into a beautiful shared experience for countless New Yorkers, creating a positive emotional response from the floral installations.

“Who doesn’t love to get flowers? They are such a luxury, and New York City is a very gritty, fast-paced town. If we can bring nature—something wild and sumptuous—to New Yorkers and make them smile, the way people smile when they witness a random act of kindness, then that is a great thing. That is my goal. It’s a really simple vision but powerful, I think, to try to create an emotional response through flowers.”

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Image; Lewis Miller Designs

In addition to the beautiful blooming bins filled with spectacular bouquets of flowers, Miller and his team have also  decorated statues, sculptures and other public works of art. By adding fresh flowers, these landmarks have been transformed into colourful and eye catching displays.

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Image; Lewis Miller Design

 

“My team and I work really fast and very early in the a.m. Our call time for these flashes is 5:45 a.m., and we try to finish them before sunrise. We always recycle flowers from events when possible.”

“I don’t see us stopping anytime soon. These flashes are so gratifying and rewarding on many levels.”

Florist with Flowers would like to wish you all a very happy New Year, go forth into 2018 with the courage and conviction to be the change in the world that you wish to see.

Fwf x

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Random Floral Acts of Kindness

Have you heard of people doing random acts of kindness or paying it forward? For many, a small, random act spurs them on in a way they had never considered before, and I’ve got to say, it certainly seems like a lovely change from the incredibly selfish and self centred lives we live in the world today. Some have been delighted when they go to pay a restaurant bill only to find another patron has already taken care of it. Perhaps the person in front of you in the coffee line has paid for your order before you have made it. You are really only limited by your imagination….and your wallet 😜

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Lonely Bouquet by Fleuropean

In 2015, Petal It Forward began; an initiative started by the Society of American Florists. The idea was to brighten someone’s day with a random act of kindness, receiving a bouquet of flowers. This year, 2 years on, the event took place on Wednesday 11th October, covering 50 states, and over 300 cities according to the website.

During the event, lucky recipients received two bouquets- one for themselves and one to give away or ‘petal forward’. And anyone could be lucky enough- the bouquets are given randomly to people walking along the street, doing their groceries or playing in the park.

“It lets people know how much flowers can make a difference in someone’s day,” Linda Hursa from Angel’s Trumpet Flowers and Gifts said.

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A lonely bouquet

And these guys aren’t alone; there are others creating positive karma all over the world. The Lonely Bouquet allows flower lovers, and do-gooders alike to create a bouquet that they ‘abandon’ somewhere. This lonely bouquet could be left anywhere; a park bench, a library, even at a bus stop…somewhere it will be found with a simple note explaining it’s intent.

The original concept could be lost amidst a treasure hunt of sorts if you openly advertise where you place them, so the best idea (I think) is to simply abandon the bunch somewhere where it will be found and enjoyed. Add a small note to the bunch with whatever sentiment you like- but basically the idea is that your good deed will be enjoyed so much that it will inspire the recipient to go ahead and do the same.

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Lonely Bouquet Note

Florists have been doing a version of this for years- taking the leftover blooms from events and turning them into lovely box arrangements or posies and delivering them to retirement villages and nursing homes to bring a bit of joy.

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Via Upworthy -Repeat Roses was born when owner Grove decided that there had to be a better use for the arrangements that were simply being thrown away after a wedding. Now, they are rearranged into beautiful displays for the elderly to enjoy.

There have been several recent studies by Rutgers and Harvard that show that flowers have a profoundly positive effect on a person’s sense of well being. Flowers have been shown to improve your mood- ask any florist! 76% of people agree that having flowers around you in your home or office positively affects the mood. The SAF also conducted their own study that showed that 88% of people who were given flowers felt happier, and 80% of people receiving flowers felt happier. So based on figures like that, this whole concept really sounds like a recipe for success doesn’t it!!??

Flowers are often given at sad times, in the face of tragedy, and for this reason alone, the concept of being given flowers for no reason at all is beautiful. 92% of women think that getting flowers ‘just because’ is the best reason EVER, and 75% of men agree! We have gorgeous fresh flower arrangements and bouquets for all occasions, including “just because”. Or if you fancy doing your own random act of kindness we have beautiful bunches of market fresh flowers available everyday. Why not spread a little love today…

Fwf x

Feature image: fleuropean

 

 

 

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Vegetation Levitation

Everyone these days is on the look for something new, something fresh, something different. We want everyone to want what we want- almost as if their reassurance will tell us we are on the right track. Everything about today is geared towards standing out, and gaining approval- that is the way social media appears to be working right?

So in a world that is forever trying to come up with the next big idea, design concepts like this one, are sure to impress.

A simple vase of fresh cut flowers certainly is beautiful and an attractive pot with a lush green plant will definitely help bring the outdoors inside but we have all seen that before.

Have you seen this innovative design that I stumbled upon? We all know how magnets work; opposites are attracted to one another, and therefore pull most strongly together. And poles of the same origin will repel. Magnets and magnetic force is almost like some special type of magic- stuck together like glue, or repelled. Well, this concept has been utilised to create a unique plant concept, whereby the planter hovers over the decorative base via magnetic levitation. The plant is gently rotated to expose the plant to sunlight, which is essential for the plants survival.

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Image; Spoon Tamago
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Image; Kickstarter
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Image; Spoon Tamago
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Image; Kickstarter

There are a few companies offering variations of the concept which begun crowd funding a few years ago via kickstarter. Bases are available in modern chrome finishes as well as lovely rich oak, or bases covered in pieces of wood that have a more rustic finish. Air plants such as the Tillandsia do particularly well as they are able to absorb the nutrients from the atmosphere. The rotating action allows the plant to be evenly exposed to sunlight.

Bonsai plants are another option on offer, as are some palm varieties. Initially, D.I.Y kits were also available so essentially you could plant whatever you like. The ‘little star’ plant base as it is called, is made of a unique super absorbent sponge like material which holds water so the plant does not dry out. With time the plants roots will fully anchor themselves to this base, making it stable and secure. The decorative base that sits on your table/counter etc does require power.

It’s a pretty futuristic concept, and certainly something that would look out of place in my home- but how cool is it!? It’s a gorgeous idea for minimalist homes, a fantastic house warming gift, or a gift for someone who has just about everything.

But if it’s not for you, you can still stick to a gorgeous fresh flower arrangement presented in any vessel you choose, and guess what, it won’t require power either.

Fwf x

Feature image via Wallhaven

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Creating Kitchen Garden Markers

Many people find gardening relaxing, something that is good for their soul. Countless hours may be spent, digging and planting, turning the soil and weeding. But it seems to be a special talent to get things to grow, and much more to have them thrive. Recently, the trend seemed to be bigger houses with less lawn and less garden, and certainly for many that is still true. But for many others, there is a change happening- turning our backs on mass production, and fresh fruit and vegetables being bought at big retailers. Instead we see the popularity of farmers markets increase, and the concept of ‘farm fresh’ and ‘paddock to plate’ becoming more important to a large percentage of the community.

There is a lot to be said for understanding where food comes from. As old fashioned as it sounds, I believe it is of vital importance to bring your children up in the garden and in the kitchen too. That is where they will begin to learn how to have a healthy relationship with food and understand that the food they choose sustains them and helps them thrive also.

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Image; Via Instagram

As a family, we longed for a patch of land where we could begin growing our own food,  as well as give the kids an everyday experience where they are encouraged to touch, feel and get dirty without concern. Oh, and what fun we have had since moving! 😄 So far our kitchen garden has provided literally kilos and kilos of zucchini, cucumbers, green beans, snow peas, corn cobs, cherry tomatoes, celery, chilies, rocket, and different lettuce varieties. We are also waiting on our crop of broccoli and silverbeet.

My husband certainly takes the reigns in the garden (as our resident horticulturist, I wouldn’t expect any less), but the vegie patch and the herb garden have somehow remained mine. Our herb garden has been thriving and we have had more than our fair share of mint, basil and parsley. We also have dill, lemongrass, rosemary, oregano, chives, purple basil.

Some may say it is because I am a control freak that I feel the need to label everything. My response is usually something to do with attempting to make things easier for others, you know so things can be put back in the correct spot or so that you know what is what. So after I had happily planted my seedlings I set about looking for some garden markers. Who knew anything nice was so expensive!!?? I really could not resolve the idea of just leaving the labels on or using those plastic white labels you can get from the hardware store so here are some of the ideas I found;

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Image; 5 Dollar Dinners
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Image; Pin and Paper
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Image; Best Friends for Frosting
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Image; Shrimps Salad Circus
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Image; Simple Details
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Image; Hardly Housewives
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Image; My Garden Your Garden

I found some raw wood spoons in a dollar store and took to them with my sharpies based on the above idea. I started just by roughly positioning the letters on the spoon in lead pencil. Then when I was happy, I penned them in and then added a greenery based design to each, unless it particularly called for colour.

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Whether you are happy to buy some of what you need, or you want to make do with what you have around the house, any of these options make great additions to your garden. And it goes without saying that the kids love getting in and getting their hands dirty.

Fwf x

 

 

 

 

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Mad About Macramé

Macramé refers to a style of textile work, where knots are used to create the piece rather than traditional weaving or knitting. It is believed to have originated in the 13th century from the Arabian Weavers where they used the technique to finish excess thread and yarn along the edges of hand-loomed fabrics to create decorative fringes on bath towels, shawls, and veils.

The word Macramé comes from the Arabic weavers’ word migramah meaning “fringe”, which refers to the edging which helped keep the flies off camels or horses in the hot desert, among other things. In fact Macramé came to be used for decorating anything from utensil handles, belts, to modern children’s friendship bracelets, jewelry pieces or wall pieces. Really, as with anything creative, you are limited only by your imagination.

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Image: The Macrame School
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Image via Etsy

After making its way to Spain, Italy and then through Europe, it was finally introduced into England in the late 17th century when Mary II taught the art of Macramé to her ladies-in-waiting. However it was not a craft exclusively for women’s pleasure. Sailor’s used to refer to macrame as ‘McNamara’s Lace’, and would often macrame objects such as belts or hammocks in their down-time to sell when they got back to land.

Macramé was most popular in the Victorian era when most homes were adorned with items in this craft; tablecloths, bedspreads and curtains. It’s popularity then faded until it saw it’s first revival in the 1970s as a method to create wall hangings, articles of clothing, bedspreads, tablecloths, drapery, plant hangers and other furnishings. Macramé necklaces, bracelets and anklets also become popular in the 1970s, featuring beading, bones and shell. But then, just as quickly, by the early 1980s, once again, Macramé had begun to fall out of fashion.

Today, the market is again saturated with Macramé. Have you noticed home wares stores once again stocking decorative plant hangers and wall hangings? So mainstream now, it is even stocked within Kmart stores throughout the country. Macramé is once again a popular method to use for hanging plants as well as sitting plant containers, but we are also seeing the craft being featured in beautiful bespoke pieces for dreamy wedding days.

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Image: Pretty Little Lane
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Image: Willow Flower Company
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Image: Style Le Aisle

Plant hangers are being made in a variety of materials, from rope to sisal, to colourful nylon. In addition, you will notice than other materials are featured in modern pieces such as copper and brass piping, wooden beads and leather.

The great thing about Macramé holders is you can personalise the look by choosing your own pots, vases or containers. This means that you can create a cohesive look by choosing coordinating pieces that tie in with your decor. EASY!

Cotton macrame looks fantastic with coastal decor, sisal suits rustic settings and nylon is great in modern housing.

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Image: Glitter Inc
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Image via Pinterest
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Image: Design Rulz
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Image: Etsy

Til next week,

Fwf x

 

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Welcome to 2017’s Colour of the Year

As the year draws to a close, those from the design world eagerly await the announcement from Pantone on the colour deemed to be ‘Colour of the Year’.

PANTONE’s Color of the Year is defined as;
‘a symbolic color selection; a color snapshot of what we see taking place in our global culture that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude.’

Last year was the first year that had seen them announcing dual colours to share the title, a soft pale pink quartz tone, and a soft powdery blue tone. This year though, they have once again reverted to naming just a single colour, and for me, they have certainly picked a winner!

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Image; Due Home

Greenery, Pantone colour 15-0343, is what they describe as a ‘refreshing and revitalizing shade’ and a colour they say is symbolic of new beginnings. So as we put the final touches on 2016 and start preparing for a bright New Year ahead, what could be more perfect?

As a florist, I think greenery is generally undervalued by the public. So often consumers resent paying ‘extra’ to add leaves, reeds and foliage to their arrangements, not understanding how nature’s neutral both lifts and invigorates colour schemes.
Greenery represents the lushness of gorgeous foliage, that burst into life with new growth in Spring. Pantone tells us that Greenery will allow consumers “to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate”.

Greenery is a fabulously versatile colour that will be easily enjoyed throughout all the seasons. For us enjoying Summer in Australia, Greenery will feature throughout outdoor-ware; from beach umbrellas and towel to bbqs and deck chairs. Just as easily Greenery will lift a dreary winter wardrobe in the Northern Hemisphere by introducing pops of vibrant colour. It will work well with anything from navy, to chocolate, crimson through to burnt oranges, and will look stunning with simple black.

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Image; Fine Art America

 

lime & pink may fav <3:
Image; 4 Inspired Design
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Image; Front Gate
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Image; Lime Tree Alfresco

Pantone attributes a shift in the way we are living and planning to live in the immediate future to their choice this year. They have noted our changes in preferences in architecture and building design featuring green walls and green spaces on a global scale. They believe that the deeper we become entrenched in the modern world, the stronger our desire to surround ourselves with elements of the natural world will be. And that certainly rings true for me. The landscape of our world becomes less and less appealing with every new building that goes up in the place of one solitary house.Our natural environment dwindles and we find we are surrounded by less lush green, and more flat grey.

For a florist like me, I truly hope that this year we see a surge in people appreciating the textures and different colours available in many leaves and foliage. A vase filled with leaves can fill a space with a neutral colour palette. What’s more is  greenery is long lasting most of the time! Green is also an awesome colour to incorporate into your wedding or party themes. Used alone for a simple, neutral look, or in combination with your favourite colours. Who would have thought an entirely green bouquet could be so beautiful or interesting? Check out some of the beautiful ideas we have found below;

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Left; Middle; Right;
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Image; Aisle Perfect
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Image; Plan Your Perfect Wedding
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Image via Ruffled Blog. Picture by Feather and Stone

That’s the final blog for 2016, a HUGE thank you to all our loyal customers for another fantastic year here at Florist with Flowers- you guys help make our dreams come true each and everyday! See you next year!

Stay safe

Fwf x

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To Paris, With Love (and Admiration)

A short time after I posted last week’s blog on vertical gardens, a friend of mine shared a news article with me out of Paris which I thought related, and was honestly quite inspiring. I hoped it might also be of interest to you all.

As a city, Paris is know for it’s fashion, food and culture, as well as romance and art, and now, the forward thinking hub will also be known for being one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world.

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Image via Inhabitat

Did you know that the first Sunday of every month in Paris is Car free day?

Did you know that Paris recently banned plastic plates and cutlery? They are the first country to do so.

PLUS any new commercial buildings constructed are required to be partially covered with plants or solar panels. Wow.

Paris has recently passed a new law allowing anyone to plant an urban garden within the city, whether it be on the exterior of their home or office, in fact upon receiving their permit they are free to grow their garden on walls or in boxes, on rooftops, under trees, or on fences. The new law, effective from July 1st was passed quietly, and has only just started making international headlines- crazy, as I think we should be singing this news from the mountain tops!

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Image via Hip Paris

Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, has encouraged Parisians to create living walls and green roofs, with a goal of 100 hectares by 2020! And out of that, she would like to see 1/3 dedicated to agriculture. Parisians are encouraged to be creative with their gardens, and are able to apply for renewable 3 year permits, and even supplied with a gardening starter kit which includes top soil and seeds. Whilst they are encouraged to be creative and use their imagination to green the city in many ways, they are required to plant only local species, and maintain the city’s visually appealing aesthetics. It has also been suggested that they plant honey plants to assist with the worldwide diminishing bee population, which is believed to bring catastrophic affects for our futures. The new law also sees Parisians using sustainable methods to grow their plants and avoiding all pesticides.

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Image via Ecowatch

The new garden program has many goals in mind, and as such has been designed to meet the city’s need for green spaces, improve air quality, improve building insulation and acoustics, mitigate the effects of climate change whilst also encouraging biodiversity. They also hope that the program will boost the beauty of the city, improve the quality of life for the city dwellers whilst improving relationships between neighbours by creating more social links.

I think Hidalgo has a beautiful big picture view, and this program is only one piece of her ‘green’ plan. In addition, there will be the creation of 30 hectares of public gardens, 20,000 new trees planted, 200 re-vegetation projects as well as the creation and development of educational farms, orchards and gardens within schools.

Imagine living in a city where you could choose to grow Espaliered fruit trees on your rooftops, or trellised tomatoes and beans up the front of your apartment building? Imagine living in a city where the aim was to add green to the landscape, not cut it down?

I think it is a refreshing vision for the world, and one that I for one would love to see adopted here. Lets add green back to our lives. Green is good.

Fwf x

Feature image from Inhabitat

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The Ultimate Compilation

Floristry is not something that comes naturally to everyone, as is often the case with many creative professions.  And sure, I guess there are elements of floristry that you do see everyday people giving a go, much like we might try and put a home colour through our hair. I’m sure that they are under no illusion that it looks ok, but certainly not professional, but sometimes this is all that is required, and we are all guilty of cutting corners (and costs) at times.

But there are some areas of floristry that should be left to the professionals. They are tedious and technically challenging and unforgiving, showing every fault when they are not created correctly.

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Image: Svenska Blomster Bloggar

The compilation bouquet is certainly one of these.

What is a compilation bouquet? The compilation bouquet, is also known as a composite bouquet, a Duchesse Rose (if made with roses), Malmaison or even a Glamellia.

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Image: Best Destination Wedding

Essentially it is a bouquet where individual blooms (of the one variety) are disassembled, and then the petals are wired and placed together again piece by piece until a giant single super bloom is created. These days many people bypass the wiring somewhat and glue the composition together. Regardless of what technique you favour, it is fiddly, detail orientated work and you should certainly ensure that you set up your work station with everything ready to go. If you are using the glue, it can get messy, and the individual rose petals can wither quickly.

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Image: Save On Crafts

The original term, “Glamellia” started back in the 1940-50’s, when during the war, Camellia blooms were considered particularly expensive. The solution? Take the petals of the more common, and less costly Gladioli, and create a single bloom that looks like the more expensive flower, the Camellia.  Glamellia= Gladioli + Camellia.

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Image: Wedding Bee

The term “composite” simply refers to any handmade flower which is accomplished by placing pieces of several flowers together to make it appear to be one large bloom.

Initially, this bouquet was designed with Gladioli, but most commonly it is created with roses. These days, the sky is the limit, and I have found some beautiful examples using Cymbidium Orchids, Ranunculas, Roselilies, Lilies and I’m sure there is much, much more out there.

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Image: Wedding Wire
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Image: Svetlana Lunin
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Image: Brad Austin
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Image: Wedd Book
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Image: Hot House Design Studio

The composite bouquet is an ‘Old School’ Floristry technique, and many florists would shy away from creating this style of bouquet simply because they are not ordered often, so you tend to feel out of practice. Undoubtedly this style of bouquet is a show stopper, primarily because it is not the kind of thing you see everyday.

One of the benefits of this style of bouquet is that it is lightweight and fairly easy to handle. As all the stems have been removed it tends to be far less bulky than any hand-tied or wired bouquet. It makes a fantastic choice for wedding bouquets, especially if you want to stand apart from what is out there generally.

What do you think, are you a fan of the “Glamellia”?

Til next time,

Fwf x

Featured Image: Inside Weddings

 

 

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Frida Kahlo and Flowers

 “Fruits are like flowers: they speak to us in provocative language and teach us things that are hidden.”

Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo, (July 6, 1907 – July 13, 1954), born Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón, was a self taught Mexican artist, best known for her iconic, revealing and often dramatic self portraits (55 out of her 143 paintings ever made were self portraits). She remains one of the most influential artists of her generation, a unique style icon, today, still used as a muse for others, such as Beyonce.

In late June, an exhibition opened at The Art Gallery of New South Wales if you are interested in seeing more and learning more about this intriguing lady, along with her husband Diego Rivera, two of Mexico’s most influential artists of the 20th century. Some sessions are already sold out, but they do offer timed entry tickets to avoid disappointment. See here for more info.

‘I am my own muse. I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to better.’

Frida Kahlo

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Image: Lenin Imports
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Image via Pinterest
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Image: Arty Factory

Frida certainly had a unique dress sense, and sense of individual style, influenced heavily by her Mexican culture. She favoured bright colours, embroidered dresses, with flowers and ribbons woven throughout her hair, and kept her naturally thick eyebrows untended. She was considered to be fairly unfashionable at the time, with her hair parted down the centre, and braided into a tight bun and often exaggerated her features in her portraits to make herself even more so. At the time, Frida was considered to be somewhat unconventional, with her peers favouring a more modern dress sense rather than the more traditional attire, so she stood out.

Her unique signature style could easily be identified, and often featured throughout her work, paired with imagery of foliage and flowers from her own garden, jewellry made from shells, stone and bones, as well as some of her pets. This was her way of demonstrating the close relationship between humans, animals and nature. Kahlo frequently incorporated plants/flowers/foliage like “elephant-ear” leaves  or Viejo (old-man cactus), other cacti and flowers.

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Image: Arty Factory
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Image: Fractal Enlightenment

“I paint flowers so they will not die”

Frida Kahlo

Kahlo contracted polio as a child, so much of her art focused on her physical and emotional pain. In fact, part of her signature dress style was a direct result of her condition, covering up her smaller/thinner leg with long layered clothing. Kahlo was also involved in an accident in her teenage years, when on September 17, 1925, she was was riding in a bus that collided with a trolley car. Kahlo suffered serious injuries such as a broken spinal column, a broken collarbone, broken ribs, fractures to her right leg, a crushed, dislocated foot and a dislocated shoulder. On top of that Kahlo was pierced through her abdomen by a piece of iron handrail which compromised her future fertility. Whilst Kahlo did become pregnant three times, each time, sadly she lost each baby.

As a direct result of her experience with infertility, Kahlo references reproductive failure in several paintings; in Henry Ford Hospital right after her miscarriage in 1932, shows a woman, Kahlo herself, on a bed bleeding.  She also often uses flowers as a symbol of fertility throughout her paintings.

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Image: Frida Kahlo Fans
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Image: Yahoo
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Image: Wiki Art
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Image: Art Eye Witness

If you are a fan, the exhibition is open until October 9th, so don’t delay!

Til next time,

Fwf x

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A Whole New World- Life Inside a Terrarium

ter·rar·i·um [tuh-rair-ee-uhm] noun:

a glass container, chiefly or wholly enclosed, for growing and displaying plants.

Terrariums have in the last few years become one of the most popular gift choices. The miniature worlds contained inside the glass vessels provide a unique growing environment and specific climate that allows plants to flourish. Besides just being aesthetically appealing, they can also be created to provide the ideal habitat for some animals should you be interested in introducing reptile pets (among other things) into your life.

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Image: Happy Place Terrariums

Many websites will instruct those keen to D.I.Y on the dos and don’ts and provide basic instruction in construction, we aren’t going to do that here, and the truth is, to do it properly, you require specific ingredients and a level of care and expertise that many of us just do not possess. Add to that the fact that terrariums require a special soil mix (usually a combination of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite) as well as charcoal to ensure both good growing conditions and to reduce the risks of microbial damage. Plus the soil mix MUST be sterile, to avoid introducing harmful microbes, so sometimes the quickest, easiest and most cost effective way to get your hands on one of these little wonders, is to trust the professionals.

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Image: Trouva

Terrariums are generally made in sealable glass container that can be opened for general maintenance and to access the inside when required. A sealed container creates a unique environment for the plant, with the transparent walls allowing heat and light inside, and in turn creating a small scale water cycle. This is due to the moisture from the soil evaporating in the elevated temperatures within the terrarium. This water vapour then collects on the walls of the container, where it then slides down back onto the plants and soil below. Beside allowing light and heat into the terrarium, the transparent walls are equally important for the process of photosynthesis, which is integral to plant growth.

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Image: My Pet Warehouse

Ideal plants for a closed terrarium include orchids, mosses, ferns and air plants, because they will flourish in the humidity and sheltered atmosphere which is created within the vessel, that is similar to their natural tropical environment.

Closed terrariums should be opened once a week to remove excessive moisture and in turn reduce the risk of mould growth which would result in damaged plants, or a discoloured container.

Whilst keeping the vessel closed encourages the water cycle, at times, the terrarium may also require additional water- if you notice the absence of condensation on the walls of the vessel or any of your plants wilting, this is a sign you may need to water your terrarium.

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Image: Terrarium Town via facebook

Terrariums can indeed be made in containers that are open and have access to the outside atmosphere. Open terrariums are more suited to plants that have adapted to dry climates such as succulents, which will not flourish in the inherently moist environment of the closed terrariums. Open terrariums also work well for plants that require more direct sunlight, as closed terrariums can trap too much heat potentially killing any plants inside.

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Image: Terrarium Town

The quirkiness of your terrarium is limited only by the creativity of your supplier and your expectations. Ornaments, special features and colour can change the overall appearance, and take a fairly conservative piece into the realm of kitsch. Animals from your African safari, smurfs and shells are common additions, as are fairies and mushrooms. Tell your supplier what elements you would or would not like to see in your bespoke piece.

Have you got a terrarium at your place, or have you given one as a gift? What a wonderful choice for a house warming or a long lasting gift after the birth of a child. Terrariums are a great gift that will give many months (or more) of pleasure to the recipient. If you think they may be a little beyond your plant caring expertise for the moment, check out our plant range here– we have a range of easy to care for planted succulents, orchids and other house plants to get your skills up!

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