A Bunch for the Weekend - # 73 - Mixing Flowers

Last week and earlier this week I created two different arrangements and posted them on the blog.

Last weeks was one for FLOWERS called Flowers to Give Away and the one earlier this week was part of the series Creative with Flowers. 

Well, both arrangements were still going strong and I wanted to use the flowers again and make new and different arrangements.

I made two smaller flower arrangements using flowers from both of the old arrangements. In both cases I used vintage glass jars as vases as I wanted to keep the vase as neutral as possible - not to take anything away from the flowers. 

The first new arrangement consists of the multicoloured carnations and the white phlox. I did a hand-tied bunch and tied it with natural coloured raffia.

In the second arrangement I used the chrysanthemums and added the two different pink tulips to it. I tied some dark purple raffia, this time around the neck of the container. Just as a little added detail.  

It's quite fun to be able to make more than one arrangement using the same flowers. A little bit of experimenting and working out if the flowers work just as well the second time around.

I love trying out different colour combinations and using different vases and containers. To be able to see what works and what doesn't is always fun and interesting.

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

I'll see you on Sunday with another 'Florets - Floral Quote' by someone passionate about flowers - as well as some more floral delights from Of Spring and Summer.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

For more floral inspiration follow me on:

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FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - Bouquet to Give Away

On FLOWERS this week Titti and I are featuring floral bouquets to giveaway for a special occasion. I wanted to spend a bit more time and effort on it and make it look just that little bit extra special. 

My intentions were good - BUT it didn't work out as planned.

So what happened? Well, I went to buy flowers from my trusted local flower seller, a few streets from where I live, and he wasn't there! I thought, what do I do now? The florist is a nice choice but often too expensive, so my option was one of the many supermarkets. So off I went to Tesco and bought two bunches of mixed flowers - a mix of white roses, multiculoured carnations, some dark chrysanthemums, white phlox and white lilies. 
     

I made a hand-tied bunch, used raffia to tie around the stems and then cut all the stems the same length. 

I then used some of Jane Means' pretty ribbons to hide the raffia. I used two different grey ribbons - a light silver grey and a dark grey together, made a big bow, left the ends quite long and finished off by cutting the ends of the ribbons at an angle.

There are many different ways of wrapping your flowers - I quite like to use plain brown wrapping paper. Florists often use several layers of both cellophane and tissue paper.

I simply wrapped the flowers in one layer of brown paper and finished off with a piece of dark grey ribbon.

While assembling the bouquet I left the phlox sticking up above the other flowers like little bits of froth. I also positioned the two lilies at the back - with lots of unopened buds they are going to need lots of room when the flowers open up.

This is a bouquet that will last for a while - which will be nice for the person you give it to. The roses will last for a little while, the carnations and the chrysanthemums will last longer and the phlox and the lilies will last the longest and what is nice is that they still have lots of buds that will open up and keep the bouquet going for up to two weeks.

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a fabulous floral Saturday!

Titti over on HWIT BLOGG has also created her version of 'Bouquet to Give Away'. So head over to her blog and see her interpretation. 

I will be back tomorrow with another floral quote by a flower lover.

Ingrid

~ xoxo ~

[All ribbons are from Jane Means Ribbon Collection.]

For more floral inspiration follow me on:

Pinterest:   https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ofspringandsummer/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson

A Bunch for the Weekend - # 44 - Hot Pink Spray Carnations

This week on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' - I'm featuring some hot pink carnations. The Latin or botanical name is Dianthus.

I have made three small bouquets - all similar but a little bit different.

You'll need:

- 20-25 stems of spray Carnations in any colour you like

- three neutral vases or containers - here I have used different size vintage metal containers - but of the same colour 

- three rubber bands

- ribbons in a colour that matches the container. I'm using two different grosgrain stitched dark grey ribbons designed by Jane Means.

For conditioning the flowers - you'll also need:

- a pair of florists scissors

- a florist bucket filled with fresh water

Condition the flowers by removing any leaves that would end up below the water line in the vase. This is to reduce any growth of bacteria from deteriorating leaves. Also remove any broken or bruised leaves.

Cut the stems at an angle - this is to increase water absorption.  

Put in a clean container with fresh water and leave in a cool, dark place over night or at least for a few hours, to let the flowers absorb the maximum of water, before making the final arrangement.

You might have to re-cut the stems while making the final arrangement to suit the size of the vase or container and to get the right proportions.

While making the bouquet hold the flower stems in one hand and add with the other. Keep adding the flowers one by one and keep turning the bunch as you are adding and make an even dome shaped bouquet. 

When you finished and are happy with your creation wind a rubber band around the stems - this is to hold the flowers in place while you are tying the ribbon.

Next tie the ribbon leaving the ends long. Hold the bouquet next to the container and estimate where to make the final cut. Have the flowers and the bow sit just above the rim of the container.

Remove the rubber band by cutting it and put the flowers in the vase. Lastly cut the ends of the ribbon to whatever length you think looks good. 

The container I have used have quite open or wide necks - but my intention was not to fill them all with flowers. I did fill the smallest one but with the other two I just let the arrangement lean to one side of the vase showing off the ribbon and the stems - a little bit more of a contemporary way of styling flowers.

I have only used one type of flower but in slightly different pinks - some pretty containers and an added ribbon  - voilà you have some attractive, quick and easy bouquets for the weekend.

Have a Happy Floral Saturday and Enjoy Your Weekend!

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer]

[Ribbon designed by Jane Means.]

FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - Floating Flower Wreaths

The theme for FLOWERS this week is 'Floating Flower Wreaths'.

I have used a mixture of blue Hyacinth flowers and small spray Carnations in three different pink colours.

All the wreaths are floating in just a little bit of water and as containers I have used a mixture of vintage cake stands, sugar bowls and cake tins.

In the image below I have put three pink roses in the middle of the floating flower wreath. 

  

Cut off the Carnation flowers just under the green calyx. Then using a needle and some clear nylon thread. I threaded through the side of the calyx so the flowers sit side by side.

With the Hyacinths I cut off each individual little flower from the main stem and they are then threaded through the centre of the flower and one flower fits neatly into the next - all facing the same direction. 

The little grey ribbon around the Carnations in the mini watering can is by Jane Means. 

The size and amount of flowers depends on the size of container you are going to use - measure and estimate as you go along. When you have the right size - tie off the nylon thread by making a few knots on top of each other.

In the image above I have stacked a few of the flower wreaths on top of each other in progressively larger sizes and the wreaths out of water will only last for the day.   

Let the flowers float in just enough water so that they either rest on the edges of the container or float just above the rim. Whatever suits the flowers and the container and makes the arrangement look its best.

This type of arrangement will only last for a few days - as the flowers are floating in water they will deteriorate quicker than a normal flower arrangement.

In the image above I have also put one or more Carnation flowers in the middle of the wreath. I have removed the calyx by gently but firmly grabbing the petals and the calyx and then at the same time twisting and tugging the two ends apart. 

Its worth having a go trying it - it doesn't always work but if it does the result is stunning. The flowers just open up into a whole new amazing flower! 

This kind of floating flower arrangement is perfect as a table decoration for a dinner party or for a birthday party. Easy,quick and fun to make!

Titti Malmberg - my Swedish based collaborator - who I work alongside on FLOWERS - has also created a blog post over on her blog HWIT BLOGG - so please follow the link and go over and see what she has done. 

You can see all our FLOWERS posts Here. 

We also have a special board over on Pinterest with images from FLOWERS.

Have a Very Happy Floral Day!

See you later in the week.

~ xoxo ~ 

Ingrid

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

[Ribbons designed by Jane Means.]

FLOWERS by ingrid & titti - Frilly Carnations

Carnations - are often thought of as a cheep, ordinary and out of favour flower. For years you were able to buy them at petrol stations and supermarkets - it's also often used as a funeral flower.

So that doesn't sound like a good beginning - does it? 

Well, the carnation has a rather distinguish past - Shakespeare mentions it in The Winter's Tale and painters like Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Durer often featured carnations in their paintings. Later on Dutch flower painters used them alongside highly prized flowers like tulips and roses. 

Carnations are, according to some top florists going through a revival at the moment.

On the plus side - lets mention that they are cheep, comes in all kinds of colours, are tough and easy to handle and can last for up to three weeks - not bad for such a common flower.
   
Weeks ago Titti and I had decided that we wanted to feature carnations in our next FLOWERS post.

What happened next was that I actually had some difficulty finding carnations - you wouldn't have thought so as I live in the middle of London and have access to dozens of florists and flower stalls just in my area!

The local florists and stall holders told me that they don't stock carnations for the simple reason - nobody buys them.

I'm not one to be beaten that easy - so I decided to get up at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning and head down to Covent Garden Flower Market.

Surely they will have every flower you can think of there.....  

Yes and no - there are hundreds of different flowers - but I really had to hunt around for carnations. In the end I had to ask and only three wholesale flower sellers had any - out of about thirty and then in a very limited amount of colours.

I found some pink multi-coloured carnation flowers that I packed tightly into two pastel blue vintage jugs. I think it's quite fun how the pattern on the fabric echoes the fluffy shape of the flowers.  

I also found some in a darker, richer pink that I put in some old weathered garden pots. I wanted a rough surface  to contrast with the frilly edged carnations.

As these are outdoor pots with drainage holes in the bottom of the pot - I arranged the flowers in a smaller glass container and put it inside the larger one.  

Again packed tightly in the container and again just by themselves - not mixed with any other flowers or foliage. I wanted it to be a solid block of colour to contrast with the container.

How can we have a carnation revival if they are so hard to get hold of? 

What do you think of carnations - love them or leave them?
Are they available to buy where you live? I would love to know.

The other half of FLOWERS - the multi-talented Titti Malmberg over on HWIT BLOGG is also featuring carnations on her blog today. So why not go over there and have a look at what she has created with her carnations.

Here is a link to all of Titti's and my previous FLOWERS posts. 

Have a Wonderful Floral Day! 

See you back here very soon!

xoxo Ingrid