Darling & Wild

Succulents, moss and shades of lilac

2012-01-29T22:57:00.000Z

Managed to make time in between meetings with my brides this week for a little creativity.

I ordered Memory Lane roses (lavender blue-pink colour) and thought this would team well with astrantia in a deeper shade of pink. This offsets the slight colour of the sweetest echiveria plants I was wanting to use. To lighten the posy I used spring hellebores - decadent I know, as not the longest lasting flower but a total jewel and for some depth of colour I bought almost black anemones, which are only now just opening on my table. I had wanted to include my favourite spanish moss with its curly grey trails, a pretty dianthus which mimics a sweet pea and to finish off some green jasmine trails. The result was gorgeous, and these photos (taken with iphone) dont really do it justice...

Here you can see the spanish moss, dianthus, echiverea well, unfortunately the deep anemone is almost hidden but it accents well with these colours

..you can see what I mean about TEXTURE, MOSS and recessive colours...

New Year New Inspirations

2012-01-12T06:30:00.001Z

December whizzed by, out in the studio I was surrounded by pine, moss, berried ivy, berried eucalyptus and it was all go. I'm immersing myself in research this month, seeing whats trending overseas and getting all excited and bursting to try some of the ideas I have. Despite all I have ever thought about them I now like carnations. I shall call them Dianthus, sounds a little better, but really there are some fab new varieties out there and when pulled open can look like a frilly sweet pea and such a wide range of colours too. I've signed up to an online notice board where I can load images from websites and see what other people like its fascinating and addictive!

For one of my regular clients whose theme is white
and silver. Here I used grevillea and coral fern sprayed silver with a green small eucalytpus berry

To conclude some of the last Christmassy pictures, next year I vow to do some full on floral wreaths. They are expensive and I am not sure of the market for them but I can only try as they are a joy to behold.

I love the richness of this combination - a lush garden rose with craspedia balls, eucalyptus red, scabious, dianthus and silver brunia - great texture here too!

Inspiration with Zita Elze

2011-12-11T11:18:00.000Z

Spent a fantastic day with inspirational florists from Zita Elze on Friday, from the wispy skirt made from Stipa grasses to the delicate table pieces using lovely mosses, fir and berries. Cant wait to order some of the new flowers I saw there.

A Penshurst Wedding

2011-10-28T07:11:00.000+01:00

A decoration off the lantern at Penshurst Church, scented with heavenly tuberose, oriental lilies, large roses and stocks. A perfect October day with morning mist clearing to bright sunshine.

The bride chose an informal mix in classic white. I used eucharis lilies, snowberry, tuberose, majolica roses with mimosa and rosemary.

Pomanders & Circlets

2011-10-28T07:01:00.000+01:00

Lovely little rose and lavender pomanders for some seriously cute flowergirls, here they are hanging ready to go, havent got the pictures from the day - yet.

Used my favourite spray rose - majolica

The circlets were inspired by Kate Moss's wedding, very informal and with ribbon twined around. I love this effect

Floral Topiary Delights

2011-10-28T07:00:00.000+01:00

my little topiary

I'd been longing for the opportunity to make one of these delightful topiary trees and this is just the right time of year for it, actually kicking myself I didnt do it a month ago when I would have added tiny cute green acorns - still, the hypericum, crab apples, spanish moss et al works a treat, I would have loved to keep this (and make more) for the hall table, kitchen dresser, you get the idea. This one went to Vanity Fair Beauty for their reception desk.

Frivolous and Flirty

2011-10-12T07:00:00.027+01:00

Ok, am a bit late with this one, the venue was the fabulous Preston Court in Canterbury. Enjoy the glorious photography by Emma Case and it was my pleasure to work with Tiffany of Grant Riley Weddings

Bridal bouquet of roses, peonies, scabious, astilbe with sweetpeas and sage.

Yes! a fairground ride at Preston Court

Fab shoes, petticoat and the pink cadillac. Wedding was organised by the lovely Tiffany Grant-Riley.

Interior shot of the barn showing one of the two stunning organs at the end.

The bridesmaids, no holding back here, I took the pale colours out of the bridal bouquet and we added zingy orange roses and zinnias in hot pink and orange. Hurray for zinnias, a much underrated summer flower.

The organ provided the backdrop for the ceremony. Simply stunning and even this was plan B as unfortunately it was a showery day. Had it been sunny Sarah and Ben would have been married on a tiny island under a gazebo with their guests looking on from the edge.

You gotta admit - a pretty darn gorgeous day

So excited to get photos

2011-09-15T00:48:00.000+01:00

Emma's wedding at the lovely Hever Castle.
A soft palette of pinks with white and cream throughout

All rose bouquet for Emma

The bridal party arriving at the church in Westerham.

Lucky me, just received lots of photos from my lovely summer brides so just going to add them here. They make me want to dive back out to my studio and get creating all over again!

Love this shot, must find out who the photographer was

I know Ive already posted pictures of Madeline and Pauls wedding before but these are the professional ones, courtesy of Wild Weddings (no connection here but I bet google had something to do with it!)

Tiny galvanised buckets with spray roses, gypsophelia and a large rose, tied onto the backs of the chairs

The table centres in mirrored bowls, I just love the colour here, pale pink hydrangea base with peach and apricot roses, poppy heads, scabious pods, delightful spray roses and champagne lisianthus

Doesnt she look stunning?

Spray rose 'jana' with astrantia and sweet avalanche rose

A fab shot of Madelines bouquet. Absolutely loved this whole job!

Very Vintage

2011-09-02T22:17:00.000+01:00

After a brief break for a bit of sun it was back to work down in the beautiful Kent countryside at Stelling Minnis near Canterbury.
The venue, a lovely marquee and a selection of vases from The Crockery Cupboard. Lovely colours here of muted blue, lavender and pinks.

Lovely spray rose Milka Sensation with mint and rosemary, hydrangea, astrantia, Pacific Blue and Faith roses, snowberry and one of my favourites: anenomes

Retro wedding at PowderMills Hotel Battle

2011-08-10T00:25:00.000+01:00

Wow, another favourite and a pleasure to work on this wedding between Madeline & Paul. It all began with seeing the fabulous retro almost carnival style invitation which set the scene. Madeline was making fabulous table runners with lace, peach, taupe, sage and cream ribbon in stripes and needed flowers to suit. I was sent several images of bouquets she liked and the common element was the clash of colour - although fairly muted - and the interesting textures. Very daring and I think it worked beautifully. These are my pictures, taken on phone, so I am sure the 'real' ones will look even better.

Madelines bouquet was made using Osiana peach roses, scented of course, with Jana spray roses, scabious seed pods and the more rusty coloured Hypnose rose, Vendela provided the cream element with another spray rose and texture from the scabious and silver brunia

A better look at part of the table centres, using hydrangea base, an apricot lisi (looks very pink in this picture! and hypnose rose

The table centres waiting to go, very retro

I supplied fresh confetti, made with hydrangea, rose and lisianthus petals

Madeline supplied some material and lace from her dress to wrap the bouquet which was edged with senecio

Old teapots and cups near the confetti create a lovely image

I used small galvanised buckets as chair ends which was tied with the ribbon that matched the table runners. These were delicate and ethereal using spray roses and gyspophelia - just too cute!

This shows the fabulous retro table and place names perfectly and the lovely runners that Madeline made. The room at Powdermills is very light and white hence I decided to use some strong colour in the tables. Peachy perfect.

Up a ladder again

2011-08-09T20:55:00.000+01:00

Yes, up that ladder again to decorate the top of the door at Frant Church. This was tricky as I wasnt allowed to put any nails in, but there was a small ledge about twelve foot up in the air!
The bride had chosen a palette of purples, lavender, cool pinks with some blue. I added some white lilies to warm it up abit and used Pacific Blue and Sweet Avalanche roses, with purple stocks, blue scabious, green amaranthus and dill. The foliage was Beech and Ruscus although it was mainly flower.

The bride carried a bouquet using a base of palest pink hydrangea with pacific blue roses and lisianthus in lavender and deeper purple to compliment her bridesmaids aubergine dresses.

And after a day of pretty heavy rain the day before all was well and the sun shone.

Daisy, daisy give me your answer do....

2011-08-03T10:15:00.000+01:00

Pitch the most glamourous marquee in a stunning spot over
looking the Ashdown Forest with spectacular views, add fabulous attention to detail from the handmade lamps in the centre of the tables to the lace table cloths and personalised place settings and you have Rebecca and Matts glorious wedding. I was asked to add flowers with a 'just gathered' look and Rebecca has a penchant for daisies. The colours were just so fresh from the delicate fountain grass to the blue of the scabious, creamy majolica roses, astrantia and yellow craspedia.

I hope they wont mind me sharing these pictures with you, I cant wait to see the professional shots. I was so looking forward to this event. My meetings with Rebecca always included a glass of wine and it was a pleasure working with a bride who was clearly on the same wavelength as me. She said afterwards ' thank you for making it exactly as I wanted without me even having to actually tell you!'

The marquee was supplied by the Arabian Tent Company and I have to say it had to be seen to be believed. Just stunning with two chillout zones filled with day beds, ottomans and coffee tables and rugs all with the gorgeous screen printing on.

None of the table centres matched, Rebecca supplied assorted vases that she sourced at car boot sales, three per table. This one has fresh green hydrangea limelight, with daisies, craspedia - fab and very underused I feel - with fountain grass and ever so pretty Majolica roses. Aren't the lace overlays on the table cloths fab? and so nice to have sage tablecloths instead of white

One of the chillout areas in the marquee...

Twinkle twinkle

2011-07-18T21:22:00.001+01:00

Candles galore at The George in Rye on Saturday. Used the lovely Rose Avalanche Sorbet and a delicious spray Rose called splash sensation. So perfectly gorgeous. Exhausted from carrying all the buckets up those stairs though. Now time to think about Zoes wedding this week at Preston Court:all peachy and pale blue to match those stunning organs

Bold and bright

2011-07-06T10:06:00.000+01:00

A change from the usual last week was an Indian wedding, a bright and bold affair in a gorgeous marquee with accents of gold. The exterior was decorated with wonderfully bright garlands of carnations...and finally the sun shone, a gorgeous day down in Kent

Very Gypsophelia

2011-06-19T13:16:00.000+01:00

Two more lovely events...shame about the weather. Preston Court the venue on Friday for Sarah and Bens wedding working with Grant Riley weddings. Lovely random and bright look to the flowers. Saturday at The Great Barn in Rolvenden, a beautiful barn, quite natural and un restored. Decorated with jugs of flowers, lots of panicum grass, peonies and lovely gypsophelia. There was a lovely four foot wreath of gyp to sit on the back wall of the barn - had to be large and two smaller ones, although still 2 feet across for each door, garlands were added on bannisters with milk churns to the side.

Parma Violet

2011-06-13T13:10:00.003+01:00

Two beautiful weekend weddings over, am exhausted again. Monday-itis definately exists for me. Both were totally different, one a minimalist oriental theme and the other very Kent Wedding. The venue for this was the lovely Preston Court and (even though I say so myself) the bouquet was one of my all time favourites. Used a lovely new spray rose to compliment the Pacific Blue roses, fresh lavender and sage, lavender lisianthus, truly scrumptious. Will get a picture up asap. Now heading off to school sports day - but it's drizzling and I am dragging my feet....will have two little faces eagerly waiting to see if I can see them so must go!

Floral Arch at Speldhurst

2011-05-23T21:56:00.000+01:00

An early start to create an arch on the beautiful lychgate at Speldhurst. We had many people stop to admire it coming together and the bride and groom were thrilled - me too

A lovely wedding at Tonbridge Chapel and Hever Castle

2011-05-23T21:49:00.000+01:00

A thoroughly enjoyable job and much appreciated by the lovely bride and groom who even texted me the following day to say how wonderful it all looked. Sigh! makes it all worthwhile.

Enjoyed using some fab english foliages- silverleaf is my favourite - for the pedestals at the Chapel and cant wait to get some photos of the bridal party. Will share as soon as I can.

A peachy day

2010-09-27T12:27:00.000+01:00

The buttonholes

Not so often I get asked for peaches and apricots these days, but what a pleasant change....and didnt it look lovely. Thank you Claire!

Amnesia and sweet avalanche roses

2010-09-27T11:59:00.001+01:00

Amnesia roses with majolica roses, sweet avalanche and freesia

Oh so Sweet Avalanche

These posies were much admired at Eastwell Manor this weekend. Their muted tones perfectly complimenting the girls mocha dresses. Pleased to say there were some left over to grace my coffee table too!

English Flowers

2010-06-24T23:08:00.004+01:00

Wow! the wedding season is in full swing so I havent managed to sit down for 3 weeks. I have just been working on the most wonderful wedding. We hired in an assortment of vintage cut glass vases and jugs which were filled with english country flowers. I used the most beautiful scented garden roses (fragile and nerve racking) teamed with nigella, hydrangea, the brides favourite peonies, astrantia and scabious amongst others. The flowers mostly came from Cornwall and the scent was sublime.

I must also welcome the latest member of the team, Sugar. She is a maltese x poodle and just totally adorable. So far she is very calm and seems to have a good nose for flowers loving rubbing herself along the lavender hedge in the garden!

Celebrating tulips

2010-05-15T21:15:00.004+01:00

Up early to ribbon off the bouquets. Loved this wedding, used Blue Curiosa and Ocean Song roses with lisianthus. There was a moment of confusion

trying to find my bride in her hotel (unbeknown to me she had checked in under her married name!)....flowers safely delivered then off to the marquee for the finishing touches.

Spent the afternoon wandering through Pashley Manor Gardens in Ticehurst. Absolutely stunning and thoroughly worth a vist. It is famed for its tulips which, despite their season coming to an end, were glorious and ever so tempting. My favourite was a stunning orange with a lovely pointy petal called Dordogne to mix with the deepest black varieties.

Looking forward to pottering in the garden tomorrow, might even give the shed a lick of paint.

2010-05-11T16:22:00.000+01:00

These chilly days mean I begin to plan a summer getaway. I just love France and have found this gorgeous b & b http://www.abreathoffrenchair.co.uk/

Have taken delivery of two stunning metre high birdcages for a wedding this weekend, cant wait to fill them with blousy peonies and roses....

2010-05-05T12:34:00.003+01:00

Thought I should do a bit of gardening whilst the sun shines. Planting out some alchemilla mollis which I love for its acid green flowers and the way the raindrops sit on the delicate leaves, put some stakes around the peonies as they are getting bigger every day. My hop vine seems to have grown another two inches overnight, I will soon have to begin tying it in to cover the pergola, where it happily mingles with the clematis and the grape vine.

2010-05-04T14:59:00.002+01:00

I just love the simplicity of these table flowers. The blue of the hydrangea teamed with cornflowers and scabious and nigella - one of my favourite summer flowers - it has such beautiful seed heads too.

2010-05-04T14:35:00.000+01:00

Well, how did I get onto this?

Just enjoying a coffee with my friend Jacquie and we decided blogging would be a good idea....

Am in the process of updating my website which means sorting through photos of recent events to post onto the gallery. I am looking forward to a shabby chic party that I am to decorate next month and need to get a supply of vintage glass vases to fill with peonies, dill and cornish stocks and sweet william. The venue in the Kentish countryside is idyllic so I doubt it will feel much like a chore.