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.]

*****

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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/

The Monthly List - December 2015

FLOWER

A couple of months ago I started a new monthly series of blog posts called 'The Monthly List'. It's Johanna Bradford of Tant Johanna over in Sweden who started what she calls 'Månadens Lista'. Her and the others taking part create inspirational monthly lists and I'll be doing my version over here in London. Here is my list for December and just like last months the focus is on flowers .......!

Amaryllis is my choice of flower for December - especially the white ones - it's a perfect colour for both Christmas and New Year. The proper botanical name is Hippeastrum and the traditional way is to grow it from bulbs yourself or buy pots with the bulbs already planted and grown on. 

Now you can also buy them as cut flowers and they make stunning and dramatic arrangements with their huge trumpet-shaped blooms.

VASE

Small jars in all kinds of of off-white colours are great to use as vases. The vintage jars are often called cream ware - but I also have some new ones that had mustard or honey in them. Some of them have writing on the side - making them just that little bit more interesting and fun.

Watch out for any cracks where water can seep out and destroy your table top! 

This months book is The Wreath Recipe Book - very much on trend and timely for the holiday season.

The book covers not only wreaths but also swags, garlands, place settings, napkin rings and other seasonal decorations to make all year around.

The book is written by Alethea Harampolis and JIll Rizzo founders of Studio Choo - a San Francisco based floral design studio. 

INSTAGRAMMER

Gudy Herder's blog is called Eclectic Trends and she describe herself as a trend expert, speaker, consultant and mood-board curator. Based in Barcelona she also teaches workshops and online courses. Link to her Instagram here.

CUP

The cup for this month is a Swedish coffee cup called Blå Blom. It's a real old-fashioned kind of cup that reminds me of my grandmother. The cup was produced in Sweden for 130 years. Some of these old granny cups are now popular again, being used and collected.

QUOTE

To stay curious throughout life means you'll find out about new things, you learn new skills and you don't ever have to be bored.

This lovely floral art print is created by Cat Coquillette, who is a designer and illustrator living in Kansas City, USA.

FOOD

Sweet juicy oranges, tart red cranberries and roasted sweet chestnuts - a few foods with the taste of Christmas. Little sprigs of dark green holly is just a finishing touch!

Have a Lovely Floral Day!

I'll be back on Friday with another FLOWERS from Titti Malmberg and me - some more floral delights from 

Of Spring and Summer.

[Styling and Photography: © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]
[Image no 4: © Gudy Herder.]
[Image no 6: © Cat Coquillette.] 

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