Florets - Floral Quote - # 113 - by Lewis Miller

"I tend to like combinations that either follow each other on the color wheel, like red, red-orange, and orange, or that falls on opposite sides of the wheel, like orange and blue. Successful color pairings are ones that have an unexpected twist, like coral with pink and rust, which is an alluring mix of hues. The rust is crucial in that trinity; without it the resulting floral arrangement is too sweet, it's as though your teeth will fall out just from looking at it! Salmon and olive; ruby, cerise, and coral; dusty lavender,aubergine, and champagne: these surprising combinations keep your eyes engaged and delighted."

~ Lewis Miller ~

[Lewis Miller: American, New York-based floral designer, founder of Lewis Miller Design, making flower arrangements for private and corporate clients and author of Styling Nature.]

[Quote from: Styling Nature by Lewis Miller, 2016.]

[Flowers: Ranunculus.]
[Container: Vintage glass bottles.]

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

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

I'll be back on Monday with more floral delights from Of Spring and Summer.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

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Flowers and Ribbons - # 4 - Jars with Ribbons - Part 1

Over time you have probably noticed that I often feature beautiful ribbons. I'm part of a team of international bloggers who use ribbons from Jane Means' ribbon collection. Jane provides us with ribbons and we use them in some of our blog posts. 

I'm now doing a regular series of blog posts called 'Flowers and Ribbons' where I use Jane's ribbons in combination with flowers and foliage.

This month we are taking a look at a simple way of creating stunning little flower arrangements using pretty flowers, ribbons and re-cycled jam jars as vases. Quick and easy and for very little money!

Old jam jars are perfect for making low and compact flower arrangements. Cut the stems quite short, let the flowers rest on the edge of the jars and fill the jars with as many flowers that will fit.

I have kept to a tight colour scheme using pink double tulips and pink and white ranunculus in one jar.

In the other one I have used the same pink tulips again with some pure white single tulips and and a green and white parrot tulip.

The ribbons are from Jane Means' ribbon collection - one has pink stripes and the other has pink stitching, in two different pink colours, along the edges.

The two arrangements work very well together on a coffee or side table as well as perfect side by side on a mantle piece. Or use them separately with some colour coordinated props picking up the colour in the flowers.

Have a lovely floral day!

I'll be back next month with another 'Flowers and Ribbons. Before that I'll see you later in the week.

[Styling and Photography: © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]
[All ribbons shown are from Jane Means' Collection of Ribbons.]

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A Bunch for the Weekend - # 72 - Pink Hyacinths and Ranunculus

 This week on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' I'm featuring some lovely pink hyacinths and a couple of different pink ranunculus. 

It's not always easy to find flowers that mix well with hyacinths - but ranunculus is one of a few that are perfect as a companion to the quite dominant hyacinth.

I cut off the bulb-bit at the end of the hyacinth stems - as I was using a clear glass container where you can see all the stems. 

I'm using a vintage pickling jar as a vase - these have quickly become one of my favourite kind of container to use as vases. They come in all kinds of sizes and flowers looks great in them.

I also cut the stems at different heights to give the arrangement some visual variation and not to look too neat and tidy. 

This time around I did buy a few different pink ranunculus from my favourite local flower stall. My plan was to use the lighter pink mixed in with the pink hyacinths. I then wanted to make a separate small arrangement with the darker pink.

For the small arrangement I used a small green hand made tumbler - I cut the stems very short and filled the container full with a mix of both open flowers and some still in bud. Love the green and dark pink colours together.  

This is a lovely bowl with hand-painted roses on the sides as well as inside - to go with the floral gardening theme. 

I have used two ribbons from Jane Means' collection. One dotty grosgrain around the container and the same ribbon around the cutlery. Then I used a narrow stitched ribbon for the mini watering can.

The painting in the background is one I found at a car-boot sale a few years back. The red and pink flowers in the painting looks like they could be roses, peonies, poppies, anemones or ranunculus or just a lovely mix of all of them!  

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a fabulous floral weekend!

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

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Creative Ways with Flowers - # 2 - Colourful Tulips, Ranunculus and Anemones

I love colour - well, almost all colours - I particularly like all the pinks and purples and the blues and lilacs. I often keep a very tight colour palette - that I find easier to work with and I still find it a challenge to combine strong colours from different ends of the spectrum.    

Here I have worked on combining some deep purple and bright orange double tulips - with bright orange ranunculus as well as some extremely dark anemones - they are so dark they look almost black.

All the flowers have interesting textures and colour variation in the petals. I like the fluffy foliage on the anemones and the little green pointy tips of the tulip leaves. It all helps to give a lot of interest to the arrangement.

I have cut the stems very short. All the flowers sit just above the edge of the vase - giving it a low and compact shape - perfect for a dining table, coffee table or side table.

I have used my old favourite vase - the Savoy vase designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. This one is a mini one just 10 cm tall - but perfect for small, short and sweet little flower arrangements. 

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a lovely floral Wednesday!

Me and Titti from HWIT BLOGG will be back on Friday with another FLOWERS - all about early white spring flowers for your table.

Ingrid

~ xoxo ~

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

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FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm celebrating Valentine's Day with three floral arrangements - a big mixed bouquet with two different tulips, ranunculus and cherry blossoms. A small arrangement with some rather special and very unusual pink tulips and a tall arrangement with just cherry blossoms on their own.

All three arrangements are just right for Valentine's Day - soft, feminine, pretty and romantic! 

The background in the photographs is a painting that I took off the wall, propped it up behind the flower arrangements and in the process I turned it sideways. I liked the contrast but also how some colours were matching - but I'm not sure the artist would be pleased with me turning her painting around!

The small arrangement with the very pretty pink and white tulips is quick and easy. The stems are cut very short and put in a small container in a contrasting colour. Cut the stems at slightly different lengths so they splay out a bit and don't end up standing straight up. 

Double tulips also called peony tulips are so stunningly beautiful - they almost take your breath away. 


One of my favorites is a pink one called Angelique others with great names are Lilac Perfection, May Wonder, Carnaval de Nice and there is a white one called Mount Tacoma.  

This spring try to find some branches with flowering blossoms. Bring them indoors - help them along by making two cuts at the bottom of the stems - one sharp diagonal and one vertical up the stem. This is to allow as much water as possible to be absorbed and help the buds to open.

If the buds are tightly closed you can help them along to open up by putting them in warm water and in a bright but not too hot place.
Cherry blossoms can be a bit tricky - the flowers are fragile and will quite easily fall apart if knocked by mistake - but once you have arranged them and they have happily started to open their flowers are just stunning. 

Oh, the delights of spring and the wonders of nature. 

Enjoy your flower arranging! 
   

My Swedish collaborator Titti Malmberg over on HWIT BLOGG is also celebrating Valentine's Day - so go over and have a look at her interpretation.

Have a fabulously Happy Valentine's Day! - and I will see you next week with more floral delights from Of Spring and Summer.

Ingrid

~ xoxo ~ 

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

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Tulip Week - Day 6 - Styling and Decorating with Tulips

Today on Tulip Week - Day 6 - I'm doing a little bit of styling with tulips. In fifteen images I'm combining tulips with some unusual containers, fabrics and other ornaments as well as a few mixed arrangements.

In the first image I have used fourteen little clear vintage glass bottles and put one or two flowers in each. But instead of spreading them out around the house I've grouped them together - that way they will have much more impact.

In the image above I've used a bright pink watering can as a vase and filled it with tulips in a few different pink colours. A different and fun way of presenting the flowers.

A handful of tulips in each of the two vintage milk bottles. I've decorated the bottles very simply with some contrasting twine.

In this one I've used a collection of vintage and new red vases and added some of the more unusual tulips such as parrot, fringed, double and multicolored. I have also put some of them on a black metal plate to pick up the black center in the darker tulips but also to anchor the whole arrangement.  

For these tall and very elegant tulips I'm again using a vintage milk bottle. An uneven number of flowers are arranged very simply with just a few leaves left on as a little ruffle around the long stems.

Red parrot tulips are so dramatic that they need nothing else to take the attention away from the flowers. Here they are arranged in a tall but plain and neutral grey metal vase.

I have used a antique blue and white floral patterned cup as a vase for some deep pink single tulips. They are cut very short just long enough to sit above the edge of the cup. The arrangement is finished off with the addition of three little mini dark blue glass bottles.

In the next few arrangements I've combined the tulips with different fabrics. Around the house we often have fabrics such as curtains, cushions, rugs, blankets and table cloths.

Yellow is not an easy colour to combine with other colours. Here I've arranged curvy edged bright yellow tulips in a vintage milk can on a light yellow fabric.   

Some fresh and bright white tulips in a green vintage bulb vase. In the background is an abstract patterned fabric that looks like buildings with rows of windows.

Pink and purple tulips in a vintage jug that has a wide band of pink around the middle. In the background is a striped fabric in pink and white picking up the pink colour in both the flowers and the jug.

In the next few images I've made some very simple mixed arrangements often using just one other flower. 

Multicolored orange tulips mixed with bright orange Ranunculus - becomes a dramatic and vivid arrangement. It needed a stark and crisp black and white chevron fabric to offset all the orange! 

Here is a mixture of pale pink tulips, pink hyacinths and Eucalytus foliage. An interesting mix of quite pale colours so not to overwhelm the flowers I have chosen to use very pale cream ware containers. The one with the flowers is actually an old mustard jar and the tall bottle in the background is an old Japanese sake bottle. 

Strong colours can be teamed with other strong colours like here where deep pink tulips are mixed with matching ornamental cabbage, also called brassica - the Mexican fringed shawl also matches in colour.

Some unusual green parrot tulips is happily mixed with blue hyacinths. Cut very short and arranged in a clear glass cube. The dark blue vintage bottles in the background makes the flowers stand out.

In the final arrangement I have mixed mix pretty pink tulips with gorgeous pink hyacinths. On the side is a casual metal wire basket with twine and a ball of torn rags for weaving rag rugs.

Have a fabulous floral Saturday!

Tomorrow is Sunday and it's Day 7 and the end of Tulip Week. I'll finish the week with my usual Sunday post of Florets - a floral quote by someone passionate about flowers. Guess what flower they will mention?

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

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

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FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - Flowers and Candles

The theme for FLOWERS this week is 'Flowers and Candles' - very appropriate for this time of year and it being so close to Christmas.

Christmas can come in many different colours - here are some inspirational images using quite colourful flowers and fabrics - mixing new with vintage and some subtle hints of Christmas! 

This first pink arrangement has a mix of tulips, hyacinths and Ranunculus in a metal container.

For each image I have included - some flowers or foliage in vase or container, a contemporary patterned fabric and a candle holder that is either a candle stick or a tealight holder. This very simple arrangement consists of grey-green Eucalyptus foliage in a white Bertil Vallien Kosta Boda vase.

I have of course also included some small Christmas decorations - such as a couple of different wreaths in the background, some vintage golden Christmas tree baubles, as well as some new silver mini baubles.

Even this black and white fabric has snowflakes on it! 

The flowers are some dark pink Anemones in a matching pink glass vase. I have used this arrangement in a previous post - but here added the pink tea-light and vintage baubles.

This last arrangement has some Hyacinths on their own in a vintage zinc coffee pot.

I hope you have enjoyed my little bit of a different or alternative way of decorating for Christmas. There really is no wrong way of doing it - it's whatever takes your fancy and whatever makes you happy that is the most important!

Please, go over to Titti's blog and take a look at how she has interpreted the theme this week. Here is the link to her blog HWIT BLOGG.

I will be back on Sunday with another Florets - floral quotes by flower lovers.

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a great floral day!

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

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

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Flowers of the Month - November 2015

1 November - Florets - Floral Quote by Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo

It's the last day of November and I'm back with 'Flowers of the Month' - where I'm featuring all the different flowers and floral arrangements I have posted during the month of November. It's been quite a few blog posts this month with lots of amazing and colourful autumn flowers available. I've been able to create, style and photograph a great deal so there are quite a few blog posts to cover.

The title of the post under the image - is also a link to the post - if you would like to see it again or you missed it.

November 2 - Floral Media - Flower Agenda - Orchid

4 November - The Monthly List - November 2015

6 November - A Bunch for the Weekend - Hydrangea, Tulips and Eucalyptus 

8 November - Florets - Floral Quote by Paula Pryke

9 November - Tiny Blooms - Parrot Tulips

11 November - DIY Flower Tips and Inspiration - Red Winter Branches

13 November - FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - Faded Charm

15 November - Florets - Floral Quote by Hans Blomquist

16 November - Flowers and Ribbons - Napkins

18 November - Tiny Blooms - Pink Chrysanthemums

20 November - A Bunch for the Weekend - Ornamental Cabbage and Tulips

22 November - Florets - Floral Quote by Holly Becker and Leslie Shewring

23 November - Floral Media - Flower Agenda - Amaryllis

25 November - DIY Flower Tips and Inspiration - Orange Tulips and Ranunculus

27 November - FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - Moody Hues

29 November - Florets - Floral Quote by Jane Packer

I hope you have enjoyed all the flower arrangements from the last month - as much as I have enjoyed created them. 

Have a Great Floral Day!

I will be back again at the end of December with another 'Flowers of the Month'. Before that I'm back later in the week with more floral delights from Of Spring and Summer. 

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and photography © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]
[Photos nr 2 and nr 14  provided by The Flower Council of Holland.]

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