Creative with Flowers - # 41 - A Flower in a Bottle

This week in this short and sweet 'Creative with Flowers' - I'm featuring just one single pink Ranunculus in a bottle with lots of "white" props around it.

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!"

Putting one single flower in its own vessel - you make it look special and almost precious.

I have combined a ravishingly beautiful Ranunculus with a very humble vintage glass bottle. The two, still closed, buds also adds charm and movement. 

The contrast of a simple bottle and a drop-dead gorgeous flower is almost irresistible. 

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 - new flowers - bright and early first thing in the morning.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Flowers: A pink Ranunculus - from my favourite local street flower stall in North West London.]

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

[Other props: A vintage white apothecary jar, a vintage small painted stepping stool, a vintage cushion cover made from reused French linen with a large embroidered E, folded linen fabrics, two apothecary bowls and an clear glass Iittala Kastehelmi votive candle holder - all from stylists 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/

A Bunch for the Weekend - # 109 - Mauve Sweet Peas

It's time to do a little bit of planning for the weekend and to buy some flowers is ALWAYS a good idea! 

Hello, that is why I do this blog series called 'A Bunch for the Weekend'.......

Here is a little "statement" that I add - to briefly explain my thinking behind these particular posts:

"It's always a pleasure and lots of fun to buy a bunch of flowers for the weekend and in this series of blog posts, called 'A Bunch for the Weekend', I will show you how you can make quick and easy flower arrangements for your home. 

Buy the flowers where it's convenient, easy and most affordable for you whether that is from a flower stall, farmers' market, the supermarket or a florist. 

Always try to buy seasonal flowers - they will last longer and they will be a lot cheaper.

Make sure you condition the flowers as soon as you get home. Remove any foliage that will end up below the waterline in the vase. Trim the ends of the stems at an angle and put in fresh water as soon as possible."

I always feel that there is something very special about sweet peas. 

The ruffled shape of the petals, the almost endless range of colours and their intense sweet scent - are some of the reasons for these flowers being so popular. 

I have simply put twenty stems of of sweet peas all the same colour in a vintage French Pernod glass bottle. I found the bottle at a car boot sale in Suffolk a couple of years ago. I love the texture and the shape of the bottle.

All I had to do before putting them in the glass container was to trim the stems - so very quick and easy!  

I borrowed three sea urchin shells from my daughter. They match the colour of the flower petals perfectly. The very thin muslin adds some interesting texture to the image.

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

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - I will be back on Sunday morning with another 'Florets - a new floral quote by someone passionate about flowers. 

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

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Flowers: Pale mauve sweet peas from my favourite local street flower stall in North West London.]

[Vase/Container: A vintage French cafe Pernod glass bottle - bought at a car boot sale in Suffolk.]

[Other props: A vintage basket, a cup made by the Swedish potter Lotta Zerrander, three sea urchin shells and some muslin fabric - 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 boards showing how to arrange flowers. 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/

Tiny Blooms - # 29 - White Double Daffodils

This series of blog posts - called 'Tiny Blooms' - are about small flower arrangements. Small - might be the size of the container or it could be the size of the flowers or the amount of stems. It can also be that the arrangement is minimal both in presentation and that it's simple, quick and easy to do. Apart from that there are no other strict rules - I'm allowing myself a lot of creative freedom!

I know I'm showing daffodils again! 

I just wanted to show you another double daffodils - this time it's a gorgeous white double daffodil or Narcissus 'Erlicheer' as it's also called. 

It's creamy white in colour and is excellent as a cut flower. It doesn't look like a traditional daffodil, with it's usual yellow trumpet, but is fully double so the flower looks ruffled. Some people say it resembles a carnation. As an added bonus it's also strongly scented.

The container I have used is a vintage blue jar. It's from France and was used by French polishers and contained their furniture-polish.

I have just put a few stems in the jar and didn't feel anything else was needed. Of course I have added a few vintage props - a blue painted basket and a blue-green giant glass bottle. As a rule I don't trust old ceramics or pottery - so I put a small dish under the jar just to be on the safe side and avoid any damage to wooden surfaces. The little tealight holder is contemporary.  

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

I'll be be back on Wednesday with more floral delight from Of Spring and Summer.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

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A Bunch for the Weekend - # 14 - Triteleia

This week on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' - I'm featuring Triteleia.

Triteleia is an early summer flowering corm and it's a native of North America and Central America - but most common in California. The flowers are very similar to Agapanthus and the two are easily mixed up. They are also called 'triplet lilies' and the old name is Brodiaea laxa. 

Triteleia has deep, rich bluebell blue flowers - all growing from the top of tall stems.

You can find them at florists, flower markets and farmer's markets or if you live in warmer climates you can grow them yourself - if not you might have to grow them in pots.

They are good value for money as they can last for a good two weeks.

You'll need: 
- three stems of Triteleia
- a tall blue glass bottle to match the colour of the flowers

Condition the flowers by cutting the stems at an angle and put straight away in fresh water in a clean container over night or at least for a few hours in a cool, dark place.

The leaves die down before the flowers appear - so no need to remove any foliage.

I wanted to make a tall arrangement - so I have used a fairly tall bottle. The flowers and the container needs to be in proportion with each other - so to get the right height - what you can do is to put the vase at the edge of the counter where you are working and hold the flower stems in your hand next to the vase to estimate where to cut the stems   
  
These flowers are stunning on their own and you don't really need to mix them with anything else - the beauty of the blue graceful flowers and the light reflecting through the blue glass is enough - simple and easy.

Again - I got the flowers from my friendly flower seller at the farmer's market - Cel Roberton and her Forever Green Flower Company.

I'm in summer mode - so I'm not posting as often as usual - but I'll see you again next Wednesday for another FLOWERS from Titti and I - and I promise you it will be something a bit different!

Have a Happy Floral Day!

  xoxo Ingrid