Creative with Flowers - # 9 - Guelder Rose and Sweet Peas

This series of blog posts - called 'Creative with Flowers' - are about using flowers in creative ways. It could be about how the flowers are combined - maybe in a little bit of an unusual way. It might be the choice of vase - maybe not a vase at all but a container that could be anything from jugs, bottles, jars, tins or teapots - vintage or new it doesn't matter. 

As usual my arrangements will be quick and easy - and there will always be lots and lots of colour!

Guelder rose is a very popular ornamental deciduous shrub with mop-shaped heads of delicate, tiny flowers on a woody stem. The botanical name is Viburnum opulus 'Roseum'. The colour of the flowers is a beautifully delicate creamy to lime green.

Sweet peas are simply irresistible and has become a favourite spring and summer flower. It comes in a wide range of colours - white, cream, pale blue, lilac, purple, pale pink, cerise pink, burgundy and multicoloured. 

Handle the flowers carefully - the petals mark easily, and are sensitive to ethylene gas - so don't place them next to a fruit bowl. 

I made two round flower arrangements for each flower and used two white but very different containers. An unglazed vintage little jug for the sweet peas giving a romantic feel. For the guelder I used a contemporary also unglazed vase by the Swedish artist Bertil Vallien.

I find the the two colours together very exciting - one dark and moody, yet pretty and romantic and the other cool, fluffy and light.  

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a fabulous and floral Wednesday!

Titti Malmberg from HWIT BLOGG and I will be be back on Friday with another 'FLOWERS by ingrid and titti' - and a new theme with lots of flowers.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

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The Monthly List - November 2015

FLOWER

Last month I started a new monthly series of blog posts called 'The Monthly List'. It's Johanna Bradford of Tant Johanna over in Sweden who started what she calls 'Månadens Lista'. Her and the others taking part create inspirational monthly lists and I'll be doing my version over here in London. Here is my list for November and just like last month the focus is on flowers .......!

Branches with or without berries are perfect to use in the autumn. Here are three: 
- rose hips, this one has lots and lots of small round hips - great on their own or mixed with flower and foliage.
- Cornus, has long, thin straight branches in a red colour you can't miss - use on it's own in a tall clear glass vase or mix with tulips for an interesting contrast.
- crab apples, has small round apples that comes in red or orange - fantastic for autumn and Christmas, makes a real statement and lasts for ages.

VASE

I have picked four contemporary vases to feature this month. A mini Savoy Alvar Aalto vase in white designed originally in 1936 by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and its still made by Iittala. My daughter bought it for me at an antique market.

The two white vases on the right are by the Swedish glassblower and artist Bertil Vallien made in the 1970's and 1980's. The big one is called 'Terra' from Rörstrand and the small one is a Kosta Boda. He still works for the very famous glassblowing company Kosta Boda in the south of Sweden. One was a present and the other I bought at Copenhagen airport.

The larger vase in the back is from the German company Rosenthal. It's from their 'Studio Line' called 'Vases of Phases'. I found this one in a charity shop here in London a few years back for just a few pounds.

I love them and use them all the time for all kinds of flower arrangements. They all have interesting shapes and textures but doesn't detract from the beauty and colour of the flowers. 

BOOK

This is Selina Lake's sixth book - it's called Winter Living and was published this autumn. It's full of inspiration and lovely photographs by Debi Treloar.

She says: "...you'll be furnished with a multitude of fresh ideas to transform your home into an inviting, warming and uplifting space during the colder months of the year." 

INSTAGRAMMER

I've been following and admired my fellow Swede Hans Blomquist from a distance - on his Instagram and reading his books. He does some inspiring styling for big and small companies all over the world such as Bloomingdales, Gant, IKEA and H&M - as well as having written two beautiful books - The Natural Home (2012) and In Detail (2014).

CUP

A vintage blue and white floral tea cup from the early part of 1900 - it's not a cup I use for my tea - instead I use it as a little vase for small flower arrangements. It has such a rich dark blue colour that works well with a lot of different coloured flowers.

QUOTE

This sweetly illustrated quote is created by Flora Waycott. She is an illustrator and surface pattern designer based in Wellington, New Zealand. A lovely combination of hand lettering, flowers and pretty pastels.

FOOD

Apples are available all year around but are at their peak in the autumn in the Northern hemisphere.

This is a classic English beauty called 'Royal Gala' - and it's described as "sweet and juicy with tones of vanilla and a thin skin" - what else do you need? The perfect food! 

 Have a Lovely Floral Day!

I'll be back later in the week with more floral delights from 

Of Spring and Summer.

[Styling and Photography: © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]
[Image no 4: ©Debi Treloar/Hans Blomquist.]
[Image no 6: © Flora Waycott.] 

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Florets - Floral Quote # 48 by Jane Packer

"For me, the entrance hall is one area of my home that cries out for fresh flowers. It's the place where I welcome my guests, and I enjoy transforming it with the use of flowers. After all, first impressions count, and you never know who is going to pop round for a visit! I love using scented blooms in the hallway to greet you with their evocative perfume when you step through the front door after a long hard day. My favourites would have to be lavender, sweet peas, peonies, Paperwhite narcissus and hyacinths."

~ Jane Packer ~ 

[Jane Packer: (1959-2011) British florist and founder of Jane Packer Flowers and Jane Packer Flower School; author of thirteen books.]

[Quote: from At Home With Flowers by Jane Packer.]

[Flowers: White Hyacinths.]

[Vase: Blue glass bowl by Swedish glass artist Bertil Vallien.] 

[Styling and photography © Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer.]

Have a Wonderful Floral Sunday!

Back soon!

xoxo Ingrid

Floral Media # 14 My Feature in Gatherings Magazine - black + white florals

This is my feature in the latest issue of Gatherings Magazine. The winter and Christmas issue is always called The White Issue and the theme this year is Celebrate Scandinavia.

I'm the floral stylist on the magazine and a contributing editor.

I'm also very happy to tell you that the above image was the cover of the magazine.

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black + white florals

Eucalyptus berries have a wonderful texture and colour and works brilliantly in a white setting. I have continued with more texture and used an interesting ceramic vase designed by the Swedish artist Bertil Vallien in the 1960's. 

The votive candle holder is from the Finnish company Iittala. It'is called Kastehelmi, the Finnish for 'dewdrops' and refers to the bubbles in the glass. 

The cushion in the background is made from vintage French linen and has a beautifully monogrammed 'E' on the front panel. A seasonal little parcel and bauble complete the picture.

  

The Viburnum tinus has small round almost black berries and the Symporcarpus or Snowberries has bigger plump round white berries or fruits. With the stems cut very short i have used little white vases with black drawings called Caramba, designed by the Swedish glass artist Ulrica Hydman Vallien for the glass factory Kosta Boda in the 1980's.

Snowberries are very versatile and can be used with their stems cut short and used in small vases or left long and used in large arrangements. I have also seen them used stripped of all their leaves giving them a dramatic look with pure white berries on dark stems. Combine them as here with a votive candle and a little wrapped present.
Ribbon is from Jane Means collection.

"Five Gold Rings" just like the words in the Christmas song 12 Days of Christmas - the five gold rings in this case are two kinds of Swedish brass curtain rings; I have added some extra seasonal sparkle with gold glitter twine and a vintage Christmas bauble.

Candles and candle holders are very much part of Swedish interiors adding a sense of warmth during the long, dark, cold winters. Here are four black wrought iron candle holders with tall, slim white candles. For the holiday season I have mixed them with vases of seasonal berries, vintage Christmas tree baubles and a little Christmas present wrapped with white tissue paper and bakers's twine.

Scandinavians often combine the modern with antiques in unusual and clever ways and they take pride in their heritage and traditions. Here are some antique cups with gold decorations and some vintage Christmas tree baubles on a pile of antique psalm books. Both the cups and the psalm books are heirlooms passed down through several generations.

  
A white on white theme - white Gypsophila or Baby's Breath in a white vase with ridges, five silver coloured baubles on a white fabric and a white painted wooden background - simple and effective.

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Gatherings Magazine is available in both printed and digital versions from here.

[Styling and photography: © Ingrid Henningsson for Gatherings Magazine.]

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Have a Lovely Floral Day!

Back soon!

xoxo Ingrid

Floral Favourites - # 1 - Gypsophila - Baby's Breath

Latin or Botanical Name of Flower: 

Gypsophila paniculata

Common Name: 

Baby's Breath

Origin and Meaning of Name: 

Gypsos means gypsum; philos means loving - so it's a plant that likes growing in lime or alkaline soil. 

The common name refers to that some people thinks it smells like a baby's breath.

Description: 

Gypsophila has an airy mass of small white flowers that makes pretty arrangements. 

Other varieties available are 'Bristol Fairy' that has long-lasting double flowers and another one has pink flowers.

Availability: 

Gypsophila is available from flower markets or florists all year around. If grown in a garden - it flowers in mid- and late summer.

Gypsophila is reasonably priced and lasts well as a cut flower.

When you buy them make sure at least half the flowers are open as buds might not open once the flowers are cut.

Conditioning and Care: 

Remove all leaves that would end up below the water level in the vase and cut the stems at an angle.

Keep away from any fruit and vegetables - ethylene gas from ripening fruit shortens the life of flowers. 

How to use: 
Gypsophila has lately become a very popular flower to use in flower arranging after having been viewed as old-fashioned for quite a long time. It's a soft and natural looking and mixes well with other flowers but it also looks fabulous on it's own.
It's a perfect flower to almost every occasion and for every room in the house - the possibilities are endless.

It's romantic, sweet and very feminine and can be used in many different ways. Use it en masse in domed-shaped arrangements in large vases or cut the stems short and loosely arranged in a group of jars or bottles - either looks charming.

Gypsophila looks good in a romantic or vintage setting using old cut glass perfume bottles or colourful blue floral patterned china vase. 

I have also made arrangements in hundred year old beer bottles - they all have a date stamped on the bottom of the bottle - the dark colour and outlines of the bottles makes an interesting contrast with the frothy flowers. 

They also look great in a more contemporary setting used in large clear glass tumblers for a more minimalist look or like here in a small hand-blown white glass vase created in the 1980's by the Swedish artist Bertil Vallien.

I hope you liked my new series that I have called Floral Favourites -  where I will be featuring some of my favourite flowers.

Why not have some fun and try some simple arrangements in different containers.

See you soon!

xoxo Ingrid

[Styling and photography by Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer.]

Floral Fusion - White, Pink and Grey

My inspiration for this weeks Floral Fusion comes from the June issue of Elle Decoration.

There are some lovely features all with a light and summery feel to them. There are among others two homes from Copenhagen in Denmark and two chic Parisian apartments. 

A favourite feature is one about the Italian interior designer Enrica Stabile and her shop in Milan. I came across Enrica back in 2001 when she published her books Comfortable Country and Open Air Living -  books that still sits happily on my shelf and I still find inspiring. I was very happy to see images of her collection of antiques and her shop based in converted saucepan factory hidden away in the backstreet of Milan. 

The collection of vases that I have used are all in the white and grey tones. The taller vase in the back is a Hornsea slip-ware vase made sometime between 1962 and 1973 - the stamp on the base identifies it from that time - I found it in a charity store not so long ago.

In last weeks Floral Fusion I showed some red dice and joked about that I must come from a long line of gamblers - well here are some more white vintage dice. Maybe they weren't gamblers - people just played more board games back in those days. 

The round rings balancing on the empty cotton reel - are curtain rings and in the front are little piles of vintage game markers.  

Two vintage necklaces - the bottom one is an Art Deco necklace and the top one is from around 1900.

The fabric is a vintage French linen sheet - thick and very heavy - with a hand stitched seam in the middle and all the edges are also hand stitched. The seam in the middle tells you that it was woven on a narrow loom and then stitched together to make a wider sheet. 

Three flower arrangements - all pink flowers but one type of flower in each vase - and then grouped together for more impact.

The pink Ranunculus makes a wonderful contrast with the grey 1960's vase. I love the dark band across the middle and the squiggly white lines.   

The pinks are massed together in a little textured handmade vase - the scent is fabulous! 

The tulip season has been longer then usual this year - spring came late and it's been so cold and I have loved having access to an almost never ending supply. 

These pretty pink tulips I put in a Swedish white ceramic vase with an interesting textured pattern made by the Swedish glass artist Bertil Vallien.

I'll be back on Sunday with a Florets - my Floral Quote by a florist or other flower lover.

Ingrid xx

Florets - Floral Quote by Holly Becker

"Experiment with your flowers. Gather a collection of favourite vases, make a list of flowers you are drawn to and the colours that work in each room of your house, then enjoy the process of mixing and matching blooms according to the season."

~ Holly Becker ~

[Holly Becker - American, based in Germany, interior stylist, blogger and author of Decorate and Decorate Workshop.]

[Quote from Decorate by Holly Becker.]

[Purply pink tulips in blue vintage Kosta Boda glass bowl by Swedish glass artist Bertil Vallien and Swedish vintage ragrug.]

[Styling and photography by Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer.]