Creative with Flowers - # 34 - Pink Ranunculus

The Ranunculus is one of the loveliest and is also an extremely popular spring flowers. It has layers and layers of delicate petals and comes in many different colours and varieties.

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!"

Ranunculus are available from about October to April or May. When you buy them avoid buying flowers in tight bud - they usually never open up. Instead select flowers where the buds show colour.

Make sure to give them enough time to fully open up. They take a few days - so plan ahead if you are going to use them for a special occasion. 

The container I have used as a vase is a French vintage enamelled milk churn. It's decorated with hand painted lines and dots in two different blue colours.

I picked out three little vintage bottles in the same matching blue colour as on the milk churn. These bottles has such a lovely colour when the light shines through them. Worth keeping an eye out for similar at car boot sales or flea markets.

For this arrangement I have removed all the foliage - it tends to not be very nice anyway. The hollow and delicate stems tend to be prone to rot - so handle with care and put in shallow water.

The black ikat fabric is from Mexico - an interesting contrast to the vintage props and the deep pink 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' all about how to make a lovely bunch of flowers to enjoy over the weekend. 

I'm looking forward to seeing you back here then.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Styling, photography and text © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]
[Flowers: From my local flower stall in North London.]
[Vase/Container: French vintage enamelled milk churn.]

*****

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A Bunch for the Weekend - # 52 - Pink Spray Carnations

This week on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' - I'm featuring some bright pink spray carnations in two different pink colours.

I bought them at the big supermarket chain Tesco. I wanted to show what you can do with the type of flowers that you find at the supermarket.

You'll need:

- 20 stems of spray carnations in two different bright pink

- a medium sized jug in a contrasting colour - here I have used a light blue jug as a colour contrast to the pink

- a blue ribbon to tie around the handle of the jug

- a vintage basket full of ribbons, a blue vintage glass bottle, three blue bud vases, a blue vintage tobacco tin, a small stepping stool, a pink and white piece of fabric and a pink honeycomb pompom.  

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.

The bunches of flowers you see at the supermarket or petrol station often don't look very inspiring. But for very little money and not a lot of time you can make even the most mundane bunch look a whole lot better.

I bought two bunches of mixed spray carnation - in two different pink colours. As usual I conditioned them, cut them down in size and put them in a blue jug. By surrounding the jug with some pretty objects in both matching and contrasting colours you can make the flowers look that extra special.   

A basket full of beautiful ribbons and I have chosen ribbons in different blue colours from Jane Means collection of ribbons. It has always been such a pleasure to work with Jane and to be able to use her fabulous ribbons.

I have also tied a bow on the jug using one of Jane's blue ribbons. By tying a simple bow on the handle as a decoration -  you can make the arrangement look that little bit more special. 

A vintage blue glass apothecary bottle and a pink honeycomb pompom - combining old and new - both with interesting textures.

Supermarket flowers are not always a bad thing. Sometimes they are Fairtrade or even grown in your country, they are also almost always very cheep and has a 'best before date' - so you know they are fairly fresh.

Choose wisely, condition them well and with a little bit of imagination you'll end up with a beautiful flower arrangement.

Have a Great Floral Saturday and a Happy Weekend!

I will see you next week with more DIY flowers from 

'Of Spring and Summer'.

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer]
[Ribbons designed by Jane Means.]


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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]