The Pretty Little Parlour

01/09/2024

White rabbits!

It’s the first day of a brand new month and the cutting patch dahlias are in full swing. The bees love the yellow one, the pink and white surprised me every time with its colour! Sometimes it’s deepest fuchsia pink with just one white petal. The white one is huge, enormous! It’s about 8” across! A single bloom is all that’s needed.

As we start our holiday journey there is a soft early autumn mist across our beautiful land. We are heading to warmer climes so I’ll be searching for beautiful blooms to share with you all.

Enjoy your Sunday my friends and happy September 🍁

29/08/2024

It's that time of year when the season starts to change to the crisp oranges and deep reds we love so much - which is the signal to close the studio and take time out.

Subscription bouquets will be delivered on 21st September this month, which is great news for anyone who hasn't signed up yet. The perfect pick-me-up for your home as we enter autumn, sign up for a subscription and receive fresh bouquets to brighten your home every month.

See you soon.
Jan

27/08/2024

Happy … so it’s good morning from Humphrey Granddog! We love this little chap. He’s a snuggly cuddle bug and the happiest little soul 🥰 x

21/08/2024

This beautiful display is a mix of favourite blooms including hydrangea, cherry blossom, roses and delphinium - and it contains one little secret. . .

They are all silk flowers - which makes this one-of-a-kind bouquet everlasting.

I love creating eye-catching interior displays, which will be a striking and uplifting feature in this home for a long time. I always use the best quality silk flowers and provide instructions on how to clean, care and maintain the display, to keep it in top condition for as long as you choose.

Do you want to talk about long-lasting flower happiness for your home? Get in touch, and we can create something bespoke with your favourite flowers and colours.

16/08/2024

It’s been full on cosy workshops this week with my final one tomorrow.

These two ladies were were just so lovely, they soaked up all the tips and information I gave them. It was a birthday treat and they loved it so much they are joining me again for a Christmas workshop!

Oops, sorry.. did I mention the C word 😘 ?? I’ve already got some gift shopping in my secret stash cupboard!

After tomorrow’s workshop the butler and I are taking a well earned break to continue celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary with lots of fabulous places to see and things to do!

We’ll be back in circulation for the subscription flowers weekend. It’s a little later in September, it’s Saturday 21st but I’ll still be keeping in touch.
Jan and the Butler 🥂🍾 xx

14/08/2024

Congratulations to Nicki and Michael. 🥂🍾

I was delighted to create this display for the wedding of a beautiful couple who celebrated their wedding at Bistro Number 19 earlier this year. I chose a selection of flowers to fill the room with perfume and colour, and I loved this quirky display the couple chose.

Bistro Number 19 is a wonderful small venue, and the team were a pleasure to work with, as we put the reception together. I always love working with amazing suppliers.

Bistro Number 19

10/08/2024

It’s delivery day!

It’s August so my palette is jewel colours - think high summer in a vase. I just can’t resist sharing with you while I’m out on deliveries with the butler 💕

07/08/2024

A quick look back at last month's flower bouquets, which I create every month for my subscription customers.

This month I was delighted to present a bouquet from a husband to his wife, who will now receive flowers every month as part of her subscription. And, even more delighted to be presented with this gorgeous gift of Lichfield Honey in return. I can absolutely promise that it is delicious. We are very partial to honey in the Parlour, but then, it is made from flowers!

If you'd like to present a gift of monthly flowers to your loved one, take a look at my website today to book in for the next delivery.

31/07/2024

How beautiful are these two ladies! And just look at the wonderful bouquets they made.

It was my absolute joy to share my passion for flowers with mother and daughter in their bespoke cosy workshop, bought as a Mother's Day gift. They learned about flower care, created wonderful hand-tied bouquets to take home, and spent some time together creating memories.

My cosy workshops give you time to learn a little floristry and share moments with your friends and family. Completely private, run from my studio and, of course, with a proper cake break in the middle. If you'd like to know more, visit my website today.

13/07/2024

Summer holidays are around the corner and this looks a fabulous thing to do! In fact I wouldn’t mind doing them myself 🥰

🌟✨ We have some fantastic workshops happening over the 6-week summer holidays, and this is the first one! 🌈📚

CRYSTAL KIDS with the lovely Jennie from Inner Harmony💎

🔮 Workshop Details:
👧 Ages: 7-16
🕙 Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

26th July: What are crystals? Learn all about where they are formed, how they are made, and the countries they come from. Each child will get some specially chosen crystals to take home. 🌍💎

9th August: Crystal healing bead bracelet making. Your children will choose crystal beads to make their bracelets and learn about other uses for crystals in daily life. 📿✨

23rd August: Crystal wishes bottle making. Lots of crystal craft messy fun! Learn how to cleanse and charge your crystals. 🌟🔮

This 3-week course costs £70 and includes all equipment and Jennie's expert tuition from Inner Harmony.

📅 Total Course Price: £70

🔗 Book Directly with Jennie:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/935572922797?aff=oddtdtcreator

Don't miss out on this magical opportunity to explore the world of crystals! ✨🌟

🌈📚

12/07/2024

A beautiful bouquet for a fabulous lady.

I was delighted to be asked to create a truly scrumptious birthday bouquet recently. Happy birthday to Nina, celebrating her 60th with armfuls of blooms. 🥰🥳🤩

10/07/2024

How’s your garden coping with all this rain?

Our garden and cutting beds are looking really sad and floppy after the deluge and everything is in need of rescuing. I’m really glad I got some photos to share with you before the deluge!

In case you want to know the varieties I’ve added them.

The simply beautiful single flowered, climbing rose is Rosa ‘Meg’ for my gorgeous granddaughter (I’ll be sharing my ‘Tilly’ balloon flower very soon for my other gorgeous grandgirlie)

Next up is the exotic looking Passion Flower - passiflora caerulea. Such a beautiful addition to an arch or frame.

The rose near Mr Tumnus’ lamp post is Rosa ‘Lucky’ and my word the fragrance is divine.

Finally, this beautiful, self seeded o***m poppy (Papaver somniferum) was just outside our bedroom window.

I simply ‘let it be’ and left it to flower for me, I’m so glad I did. Happy accidents in the garden are always welcome. I have lots of seeds from the poppies, so just ask if you’d like some.

I’m popping into the garden with my snips while it’s dry, to do some necessary pruning but I just wanted to share some of my flower friends from the Parlour garden before I do.

I’d love to see your favourite flower, plant or tree in your garden, so please share your pics with me

🌺 xx

09/07/2024

A little look behind the scenes in my Studio. I love being surrounded by the colours, the fragrances and so many beautiful vases for inspiration.

This little video is from last week as I prepped the flowers for my monthly bouquet subscription - and the beautiful bouquets were all delivered over the weekend. No flat pack, DIY arrangements here - you’ll get properly prepared blooms that will last for weeks to give your home a monthly splash of happiness.

Want to bring monthly delight to someone you know, or treat yourself? Visit my site now. Link in the comments.

04/07/2024

I've been a little bit quiet recently, as I've been privileged to create some arrangements for a number of funerals, all in the space of two months. Some were personal to us at the Parlour, but even for those where we didn't know the family directly, our hearts go out to you all. Thank you for choosing me on these very sad occasions.

24/04/2024

Humphrey Dachsund is going home to his momma and papa today and we are really going to miss him woofling around the house and parlour. He’s a bouncy, noisy, cuddly, mischievous little doggy - he even has his own sofa when he visits! He’s our grand puppy and we love him 🥰 ###

23/04/2024

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Happy St George’s Day 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

For the sheer fun of it, the butler and I joined in St. George’s Court, held every year since the 1600’s. In the slightly more recent past it’s held in Lichfield’s beautiful Guildhall.

The fun and frivolity was as evident as ever, thank you to everyone who keeps this historical tradition alive.

Of course while we were in our lovely city we just had to visit my favourite shoe shop Friary Shoes Ltd.. and I didn’t buy shoes - this time 😘

I did however buy a bag … well, two to be precise. I just couldn’t choose! They are beautifully made and brilliant value too. And stylish summer additions to my wardrobe.

I always try to support our wonderful local businesses, I know they do a little happy dance for everyone who does buy from them. So you need to visit …
before they all disappear ❤️ xx

20/04/2024

I forgot to tell you, I have a little parlour visitor to stay for a while. He’s been helping in the garden too.

Meet Humphrey the miniature dachshund. This sweet cutie pie is lil Miss Parlour’s bestest buddy and he’s just adorable. Noisy but utterly adorable.

Jessie cat however is unimpressed with the furry dervish, so she stays out of the way and aloof in the bo***ir or pops into the parlour to see we’re doing our jobs right.

In the evenings Humphrey is cuddled up next to me on the sofa. This stick carrying lark and ball chasing is hard work and he needs all his strength for it 🥰😘 x

19/04/2024

How do you like my upgraded raised beds! All eight of them! I’m thrilled skinny - if only 🤭
They are taller, pressure treated timber and just need finishing off on the outside. Why taller? I need to give them as much light as possible on this east facing area and do these will be perfect for me and my plants.

Thank you so much to Adrian, our wonderful handyman. If you are local and need some home or garden maintenance, he’s your man!

My next job is ordering topsoil and then mixing it with our homemade compost. I want to give the best chance for my plants and flowers.

I always choose a mix of annuals, perennials and herbs for my bouquets and arrangements including dahlias, chrysanthemums, gyp, calendula, craspedia, oregano, mint varieties, lemon balm, achillea, cerinthe.. to name a few 😘

Now it’s fingers crossed for some sunshine tomorrow, I’m eager to get outside and play 🌷 x

18/04/2024

This week is all about prepping for renewed raised beds in my cutting patch. The old wood has just about had it so I’m having deeper beds this time to try to get more light. I grow lots of a herbs and filler flowers for my bouquets. To say I’m a happy petal is understatement. I’ll be sharing progress of the installation with you tomorrow, so watch this space.

The other lovely job I’ve had this week was creating a glorious, huge faux flower arrangement for a vestibule. Yes, they are all silk 🥰 x

31/03/2024

🌷 Happy Easter my flowery friends 🌷

“Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer.”

And David is in the garden as I write… we are but custodians of our gardens, we cherish the time we spend there and enjoy the fruits of our labours. Whatever you’re up to, take a moment to enjoy Mother Nature’s spring bounty 🌼🪻🌸 x

27/03/2024

I had the huge pleasure of creating spring wedding flowers for a fabulous couple last week.

The ceremony was at my favourite Erasmus Darwin House followed by a lovely reception in The close opposite Lichfield Cathedral - Bistro Number 19. What a treat to work at that beautiful place! Nothing is too much trouble for the team and oh my the scones!

Here’s a little tempter of photos for you. I can’t wait to see what the lovely team of professionals come up with ❤️

Finally I must send my warmest congratulations to Nicki and Michael. You were so lovely to work with 🌷

12/03/2024

My fabulous step son sent me this…. 🥰

10/03/2024

🌷 Happy Mothers Day 🌷

07/03/2024

Helllo my lovelies!

I wanted to pop in before the wonderful world of florist madness for Mother's Day flowers get in full swing. I am overwhelmed by all your orders, thank you so much. It means so much that you choose me to make your Mum happy.

I will be spending Mother's Day with my beautiful daughter - twice in one week is a real treat! She lives in London so we get together when we can.

However you celebrate, I wish you a lovely day.

Jan x

03/03/2024

I’m sitting quietly in the sunshine on the train to London. I’ll be seeing my gorgeous Miss Parlour for a mom and daughter catch up, a meal and theatre. I’ll be staying overnight do I get to meet my handsome son in law and my grand-doggie! I get to see her next week for Mother’s Day too 🥰

Remember yo get in touch for your Mother’s Day flowers too 🥰 x

02/03/2024

I've had a fabulous morning teaching one of my cosy workshops.

I was joined by Matteo, who is 8 years old, with his Mummy. He wanted to make a bouquet for his Nonna ready for her birthday tomorrow and what a delight his creation was. Yes, it's the one he's holding! I can't wait to hear how she loves her gift. Mummy also went home with a jam jar posy and Matteo made a teeny one for his own room.

It is so rewarding to teach those who are excited to learn - whatever age they are - and Matteo is just one of many I've shared my knowledge with.

And this my friends, is my job! 💐 x

29/02/2024

Mother's Day is now just around the corner and there are so many different types of us with many different names.

I'm a Mom to my beauiful daughter Sarah, I'm also a step-mom to Dan, the Butler's wonderful son. I'm a mom-in-law to my fabulous son-in-law and adopted mum to his delightful sister. I'm also a pusscat mom to Jessie!

My mother died in 1993 and not a day goes by that I don't think about my 'Little Mom'. We shared silliness and love on a daily basis, we were Gert and Daisy - She was Gert and I was - appropriately - Daisy! As soon as I smell the perfume of a freesia, she is with me. They were one of her favourites.

Mother's Day is a time when we can celebrate someone in our lives who is our Mom, Mother, Mommy, Momma, Mum, Mummy, Mumma, Mater, Step-mom, Foster mum, fur baby mum - someone who represents the love of a Mother for her child.

I will be preparing beautiful bouquets in all shapes and sizes for you to choose from. It's my passion helping you brings smiles.
Jan 💐x