Simple vases - Single stems

This weeks simple vases could not be any simpler so there's really no need to worry if your flower arranging skills aren't up to much! 

If you ever get a bouquet and don't know what to do with it, or are thinking about how to display flowers for a dinner party or a more formal event, rather than trying to arrange them all in one vase, you could try using stems individually with a group of vases.

I feel a bit like Delia Smith teaching everyone how to boil eggs, but here are some tips and tricks for a pretty group of single stems in simple vases.

• An unusual selection of vases will make an interesting display.
• Bottles come in all shapes and sizes. Look out for interesting necks, curves, and waists. 
• Oil and vinegar bottles, mustard and pickle jars are all great makeshift vases. 
• Raid the drinks cabinet for coloured glass and curvy bottles. 
• Wine goblets, whisky tumblers and sherry glasses are perfect for flowers. 
• Keep old cosmetic and perfume bottles - but wash with diluted bleach and rinse thoroughly before use.

If you want to give your display a little personal twist you could:

• add a little food colouring to the water
• try your hand at tinting glass 
• follow this diy to learn how to paint the inside of bottles with enamel paint.

Using single stems shows off both the bottle and the individual flower, but there is still a bit of an art to it. Try out some of the following and see what difference it makes to the overall look of your grouping.

•  Use large, heavy blooms cut short so that the head sits at the mouth of the container.
• Think about proportions and leave some stems longer - suits tall slender vases
• Give your collection of vases a little space, so that you can appreciate each one.
• Vary heights/colours so that the whole grouping is balanced.

Most of all have fun with it, its not rocket science, its only playing with flowers.

Images via- Desire to Inspire, 100 Layer Cake, Debi Treloar, Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart Elizabeth Anne Designs

Classic Wedding Flowers - Calla Lillies

  

The second in a new feature On Classic wedding flowers, this week I'm talking all things Calla lilies. Arum and Calla Lilies have become a modern classic. I've seen them grow in popularity since the 90's with their tubular flower heads and clean linear stems providing a perfect match for simpler gowns.

Theirs is a very understated beauty, that won't overshadow the finer details of your dress. What makes them so stunningly elegant is their simplicity, so stick to simple designs and try not to overcomplicate your bouquets and arrangements. 

If you're opting for Hand tied flowers, I would choose either a few of the larger fuller heads of Arum Lilies, or more of the tubular Calla Lily for a good bridal bouquet.

They also lend themselves to shower or cascade bouquets, where you could combine them with roses, and phaleanopsis orchids for a really wowee bouquet.

A great way to avoid blowing the budget is to give your bridemaids over the arm bouquets. A few Calla lilies, some choice foliage and grasses is perfect for simply elegant floral touches and because you only need 3-5 stems, they won't break the bank. 

As for gents, unless your chap is a statuesque rugby or basketball player, I'd recommend using the smaller Crystal Blush Calla for buttonholes as larger varieties can swamp all but the biggest lapels.

Callas can work right through the theme - they're elegant in tall vases, or stunningly simple tied or spiralled in low vases or fishbowls. I'm really liking the clean minimal style of having flowers within vases too.

And don't you just love the styling of this stairway. Groups of long stemmed bunches have been used in vases on plinths and arranged so that they criss cross. You'd want to use fairly sturdy glass vases or possibly even pinholders to have avoid topples as those leaning lilies could be top heavy.

A stunningly simple idea that could be adapted to decorate all manner of venue and table displays.  Next time, I'll be looking at Lilies and asking if they still have a place in modern weddings.

Images top to bottom from here, source unknown, here, here, here, here, here, via here, and here.

Simple wrapped vases

Want to give new life to an old vase, or create unusual table centres? Try wrapping. There are so many ways to decorate or cover a plain vase. Here are just a few for starters:

Have a rifle through the cupboards and experiment with fruit, and vegetables. For best results use a straight sided vase (jam jars would be perfect) and either tie with raffia or ribbon or glue your materials to a piece of fabric or twine, and secure discreetly. 

Asparagus tips tied with raffia look fab. Savoy cabbage leaves would look great too, but don't prepare too early otherwise they could smell, well,... a bit cabbagey! 

Dried food stuffs would obviously work well - think herbs like rosemary, and sage leaves. Combined with hessian or linen these would look really sweet and rustic - I do love a bit of a rustic!

Other than fabric and food, another simple and effective way to wrap a vase is using yarn, wool, or garden twine. Secure with a small knot to start with and leave a long thread to tie off later. Then just wind away until you've covered a little or a lot.

Oh, did I mention how partial I am to a bit of rustic? Well these birch covered vases are totally up my street, what do you think? Although not widely available in the shops as such, Birch bark does come in flat pliable sheets. Just wrap around your vases to give your table a beautiful woodland feel. Simple.

photos from Pintrest - here, here, and here 

Flickr Fave

changeable table herbarium, a photo by pilli pilli on Flickr.

Sunny spring flowers and they just happen to be Ranunculus. And don't you know I just happen to have a major crush on Ranunculus. So sweet!