Creative with Flowers - # 42 - Pale Purple Sweet Peas

This week on 'Creative with Flowers' - I'm featuring Sweet Peas surrounded with props in similar colours.

This is a little "statement" that I add to the post - briefly explaining my thinking behind the posts:

"This series of blog posts - called 'Creative with Flowers' - are about using flowers in new and 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 always my arrangements will be quick and easy - and there will always be lots and lots of colour!"

Sweet Peas or Lathyrus odoratus as they are also called - is a favourite summer flower. They do not have a long vase life - BUT their beauty and scent makes up for that.

The botanical name comes from the Greek lathyros for pea or pulse and odoratus for fragrant. Simply - 'fragrant pea' so a perfect name for the little flower.

I painted the small vintage shelf the other day - it used to be dark brown - really too dark to work as a prop - this lighter colour is much better. 

I love the little cup made by the Swedish potter Lotta Zerrander. I always visit her studio, workshop and gallery, out in the countryside, whenever I'm in Sweden.

The lovely cake tin is also from Sweden - bought in an antique shop in the part of south-east corner of  Sweden called Österlen. 

Sweet Peas are lovely just on their own but can also be mixed with Alchemilla mollis, Nigella or Scabiosa. Or try them with other delicate summer flowers.

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

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - I will be back on Friday with another 'A Bunch for the Weekend'. 

I'm looking forward to seeing you here then - a new post bright and early first thing in the morning. As usual a new colourful flower arrangement made with fresh flowers.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Flowers: Pale mauve Sweet Peas - from my favourite local street flower stall in North West London.]

[Vase/Container: A vintage glass jar - from one of the many London antique markets. 

[Other props: A vintage painted wooden shelf, a white and light purple patterned fabric, a cup by the potter Lotta Zerrander based in Sweden, a vintage cake form and three vintage cream ware jars - all from stylist's own prop collection.]

[Styling, photography and text © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

*****

P. S. Did you know that you can subscribe to receive a notification via email whenever I have a new blog post. Just fill in your email address at the top of my blog on the right.

P. S. If you are looking for more floral inspiration you can go over and have a look at my Pinterest boards. I now have just over 12 000 followers and around 200 boards all relating to flowers, flower styling and flower arranging. There are boards on individual flowers and shows how to arrange them. Other boards show different ways of using vases and containers. Simply click on the link below and it will take you straight there.

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

Florets - Floral Quote - # 147 - by Ingrid Carlozzi

'Florets - Floral Quote' is a series of blog posts where I feature quotes by authors - mostly well known - but you will also find some obscure ones.

All of them have written one or several books about flowers, gardening, interior styling or interior design. Many are experts in their field but what is the most important is that they are all passionate about flowers.

I love books and in my ever growing library I look for quotes that I hope will be both helpful and useful while arranging and styling flowers.  

"Almost anything with an opening can be used as a vase: a tin can, an eggcup, a beer bottle, a wooden crate - anything! I love objects with history and patina. Rust and verdigris add such an amazing contrast to freshly cut flowers.

As long as a vase is functional, I can make it pretty, and if an urn is leaking from the bottom, I place a plastic container inside. I try whenever I can to avoid buying the typical florist vases we often see at events. I find them uninspiring to work with and an unnecessary expense. For me, the container is almost as important as the flowers that go in it. Vintage vases have a history. They have lived and traveled, and I love to think of those journeys as I fill them with flowers."

~ Ingrid Carozzi ~ 

[Ingrid Carozzi: Canadian/Swedish, Brooklyn based florist, founder of Tin Can Studios in Brooklyn; and author of Handpicked - Simple, Sustainable, and Seasonal Flower Arrangements.]

[Quote from: Handpicked by Ingrid Carozzi, 2017.]

[Flowers: White double daffodils from my favourite local farmer's market flower stall in North West London.]

[Vase/Container: Blue French polisher's polish jar from stylist's own prop collection.]

[Other props: Vintage large glass bottle, vintage blue basket and cup by Lotta Zerrander - all from stylist's own prop collection.]

[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

*******

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

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - I will be back tomorrow - Monday morning - with another 'Tiny Blooms'. Tiny but beautiful......!

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

P. S. Did you know that you can subscribe to receive a notification via email whenever I have a new blog post. Just fill in your email address at the top of my blog on the right.

*****

P. S. If you are looking for more floral inspiration you can go over and have a look at my Pinterest boards. I now have just over 12 000 followers and around 200 boards - all relating to flowers, floral styling and flower arranging. There are boards on individual flowers and shows how to arrange them. Other boards show different ways of using vases and containers. Simply click on the link below and it will take you straight there.

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

DIY Flower Tips and Inspiration - # 6 - Sweet Pees

This time 'Do-It-Yourself  Flower Tips and Inspiration' is all about scented Sweet Peas.

• A lot of people grow their own sweet peas in their garden or allotments but nowadays you can also buy this pretty flower at farmers' markets or floral street sellers.
• When you buy them look for flower stems where the top flower show colour.
• The flowers at the base die first so look out for any limp or dying flowers.
• Stand in shallow water as hairs on the stem cause water to creep upwards and could encourage botrytis (grey mould).
• Sweet Peas are very sensitive to ethylene gas - so don't put them next to a bowl of fruit!
• Change water every other day, re-cut stems and place in clean, fresh shallow water.
• Sweet Peas are a favourite summer flower they come in many, many different colours - white, cream, pale blue, lilac, purple, pale pink, cerise pink, burgundy as well as multi-coloured.
• Sweet peas are glorious when mixed together en masse in all kinds of different colours.
• Weather you grow them yourself or you buy a bunch - for the next few months is the time to enjoy this irresistible beauty!    

The pretty blue cup by Swedish potter Lotta Zerrander - who lives and works in Österlen in the south of Sweden.

The adorable little acrylic teaspoons are from the French company Sabre Paris.

Have a Great Floral Day!

I'll see you later in the week with more Do-It-Yourself flowers from 'Of Spring and Summer'.

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer]
[Cup by Lotta Zerrander.]
[Spoons from Sabre Paris.]


You can also find me on:

Instagram - https://instagram.com/ofspringandsummer/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson

A Bunch for the Weekend - # 41 - Hot Pink Tulips in a Cup

Today on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' - I'm featuring some hot pink tulips in an antique blue and white floral cup.

Early tulips are fabulous at the moment and will be for a few more months. 

You'll need:

- 15 stems of tulips in a bright colour

- a cup in a contrasting colour - in this case I have used an antique blue and white floral china cup

- a few little trinkets in the same colour as the cup - in this case I have used three vintage blue glass mini bottles 

For conditioning the flowers - you'll also need:

- a pair of florists scissors

- a florist bucket

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.

Cut the tulip stems quite short - short enough to sit right above the edge of the cup. Try to leave the top leaf on - to give just that little bit of green and to break up the mass of strong pink.

Fill the cup quite tightly - to give more impact both with colour and volume.

Tulips continue to grow in the vase - so you have two choices.

1. When you change water in the vase re-cut the stems to the height you want them.

2. Change the water as usual - but let the tulips do whatever they want to do and enjoy their natural beauty.

The three little cobalt blue glass bottles are vintage and they nicely pick up the blue colour on the cup.  

One used to contain 'bitter' - the other two with metal caps - I have no idea what they were used for. Bitter was used as an additive in cocktails and to promote appetite and digestion.   

This little arrangement is simple, quick and easy - BUT with a lot of strong colour and some attitude!

Are you ready to add some colour to your life? Well - colour is sometimes so welcome at this time of year - don't you think?

Have a Happy Floral Friday and Enjoy Your Weekend!

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

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