More Blush Roses - Quicksand

Vintage lovers prepare to swoon. How gorgeous are these roses? This variety called Quicksand are the most amazing fleshy blush pink shade. Check out the subtle variations within this one wrap of roses. 

At one glance they appear to be putty pink, look again and they're coffee cream. Beige would be an insult ( I mean who wants to be beige after all? ) but think natural, neutral, nude and you're definitely on the right track.

This batch came in with quite a small slightly cone shaped head. Quite a similar shape to Amnesia. I haven't yet put them together but I'd be interested to see how they work because they're both very much dusky antique shades. 

Look at those amazing tints of raspberry pink on the outer petals. They are just begging to be paired with fruity deep pinks and incredibly subtle silver foliage.

Mmmm. How would you have yours?

Walpole appartments

Back in September I got to have a sneaky look around some smart new apartments in Mayfair. Based within a grand georgian building, tucked just around the corner from The Ritz, property developers Oliver Burns have created 5 opulent State apartments in what was once the home of Britain's first and longest serving Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole.  

I was on hand to help set up the rooms for publicity shots, and to get them styled and ready for the Press launch.  Fabulous props were brought in to complete the luxury lifestyle look and beautiful flowers dressed every room.  My favourites the dusky antique pink hued Amnesia Rose, and below the seasonal burnt orange of the Physalis (Chinese lanterns) added to the warmth of the rich gold tones.

Vintage Blooms & Buttonholes

Back in September I was asked to take my skills on the road, and invited to host a floristry workshop at a Birthday party in Islington. I'm always happy to share my love of all things floral, and set about gathering some beautiful dusky pink Roses, interesting foliage and hydrangea in muted antique tones to complement the vintage theme of the workshop.

 I started off with a demonstration of some of the basic techniques to make a buttonhole or corsage, and the girls got cracking with wiring and taping flowers and foliage to create their own unique buttonhole.

Then we moved on to making small grouped handties or posies, the type of thing they would be able to make from a few salvaged blooms, or cuttings from the garden. I'd asked the group to bring along a small container like a jam jar, a quirky vintage find like a teapot or china cup to display their posy in.

Delving into buckets of waxflower, hydrangea, thistle, snowberries, lisianthus, and cool water roses, the girls rustled up an array of pretty little posies. The workshop was a great success and got the Birthday girl's afternoon of treats off to a great start. Here she is below in an action shot making her own posy.    

If you'd like to arrange a workshop, or to discuss the different options please drop me a line to blueskiesandbunting@gmail.com. 

Which Dusky Roses for your Vintage Wedding?

So many lovely roses in the shop this week, I'm spoilt for choice.  If you're looking for dusky shades to complement a vintage wedding theme.. read on.  You may have heard of Blue Curiosa, or Cool Water both of which are blue toned mauvey lilacs, that have been the go to roses for brides looking for dusky shades. I'll come back to these another time, but if you're looking for something similar how about these sweetie pies..

The roses above are Ocean Song, a soft, subtle lilac-pink rose and a really gorgeous shade. Neat and compact they're perfect for your bridal bouquet or for your bridesmaids and would work really well as a buttonhole for the groom and ushers - especially lovely with dove greys or browns.  The colour seems to be more intense in the centre, with soft paler tones on the outer petals.

 If you're looking for a slightly stronger violet toned rose, these beauties above are Pacific Blue. They're a little more lavender/lilac than mauve, so more blue and less pink. Think Parma violets.  They really are sweet and feminine but so sophisticated with it.  They have lovely pink guard petals (the outer petals), which personally I love to keep on, but they could be removed if pinks didn't work with your colours. Simply beautiful on their own, mixed with other antique shades, in a classic hand tie of soft muted tones, or wild and rustic - I just love a bit of rustic. How would you have yours?

Vintage Blooms

Want to create a vintage feel for your big day, or for a little corner at home?  I shall be hosting a workshop with We Make London called Vintage Blooms and Buttonholes at The Oak Studio in Hampstead on Wednesday 6th July, 2.30 - 4.30pm.

I'll be demonstrating how to create a vintage style arrangement using some of the new vintage roses in teacups and teapots, which as well as looking fab on your kitchen or dressing table, would make great budget wedding table centres.

I will also be covering how to make a buttonhole fit for the occasion of your choice or just for lolling around in elegant splendour.  You can book online here.  Please do come along and join in the fun.

I don't know about you but I love vintage - be it fashion, furniture or flowers.  And I'm not alone, the trend for vintage has definitely gained momentum over the last few years.

In the shop we have seen more enquiries for vintage themed weddings. Brides seem to be moving away from formal handties of head to head roses and favouring a more wild, english country garden feel for their flowers, and incorporating vintage tea sets and cake stands, accessories like birdcages and books, and elegant vintage or vintage inspired dresses.

Beautiful blousey David Austen roses and dusky antique tones epitomise the vintage look, but with roses available in so many shades and shapes, combined with different blooms and foliage, there are endless ways to create a vintage feel.  

Vintage - A rose by any other name

Another contender for my favourite flower, or my favourite rose at least, is this beautiful rose called Amnesia. Its dusky antique pink is such a perfect colour for vintage style weddings. It works really well with the antique laces, and bridesmaid dresses in mocha and chocolate that have been popular with some of our brides at Ashley Blooms.

Sweet Avalanche, above, is also a personal favourite. Its a beautiful large headed rose, with a lovely shape and delicate blush pink hue. This shot doesn't really capture just how lovely they are so will try to get a better snap on here sometime soon.

And lastly Blue Curiosa. This large headed rose has blue tones that would work really well with purples. It opens quite quickly, with centres reminiscent of garden roses and not dissimilar to the David Austin roses that have been so popular over the last few years.

Before becoming a florist I wasn't really struck on roses, but nowadays I love them more and more, with waxflower, eucalyptus, hydrangea or just on their own.