There’s new Flower Film out today - Winter at Sissinghurst Part Two! The link is in our bio.
For December we wanted to conjure botanical decorations that nod to the festive season, predominantly focussing on lush evergreen foliage and glittering flashes of gold and silver found in the garden in the form of drying seedheads, focussing on those with a metallic quality that lend them an icy, burnished or pearly shimmer.
The doorway to Vita’s writing room is outlined by a tall, narrow arch that used to be in the White Garden and we dressed this with yew, Christmas box and English holly and a spiralling gold-to-silver garland of dried astrantia, asparagus, honesty, allium and sea kale. On the opposite side, a large urn of evergreens and silver melts into the last corner with a light final touch of the cherry blossom, sea kale and pearl-white honesty. Taking inspiration from Vita’s library and the dusky colours of the book spines we hand-made a long garland with hanging strips of fabric including botanically-dyed silk streamers. The dusty, smoky colours are interspersed with flashes of molten gold which flutter festively in the breeze and catch the light.
Thank you to @j_sutherland84 @saffronprentis @_gardening_adventures_ @sissinghurstcastlegardennt for all your collaborative thinking, ideas, gathering, making and maintaining! It’s such a pleasure to be working with you.
And thank you to our friends Heidi and Julia (the creative Sussex-based mother and daughter team at Flint) for botanically-dying the silk streamers that appear along our garlands specially for the occasion @flint_lewes
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#winteratsissinghurst #aseasonalyear #thebotanicalseries
#gardeninspiredfloristry #autumnlight #autumnflowers #gardengathered #novemberflowers #fromthegarden #sissinghurst #sissinghurstcastle #realflowersoftheseason #awintergarden #botanicalinstallation #winterflorals #winterbotanicals
New Flower Film!
This week we wanted to make something a little shimmery to kick off the festive season, so Jess had a hunt around in the garden for materials with a bit of sheen. Turns out November is a great time for finding metallic ingredients and she cut Silverberry (Elaeagnus) for silver and yellow-gold leaves, feathery Golden Oats (Stipa gigantea) and Chrysanthemum ‘Spider Bronze’ for a pop of colour. As it was her birthday Jess took the arrangement home to enjoy (even if party plans were at best a jacket potato with a three year old).
We hope you enjoy this week’s flower film!
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#slowsimpleseasonal #aseasonalyear #thebotanicalseries #gardeninspiredfloristry #autumnlight #autumnflowers #gardengathered #novemberflowers #fromthegarden #thatautumnmagic #growingflowers #realflowersoftheseason #seasonalfloralstyle #ayearinmygarden #ayearinflowers #gardenmagic #natureishome #homegrownflowers #autumnbeauty #gardenbeauties #flowersfromthefarm #flowerstudio #londonflorist
Form refers to a three-dimensional object – in flower arranging this applies to the organic form of each individual flower, but also the form of the arrangement as a whole.
If we think of floral design as a kind of sculpture, the choice and combination of individual forms can bring an arrangement to life. They will also determine how the design holds together and how well balanced it is - both physically and visually.
A good way to begin an arrangement is to ask yourself - what is the effect that you want to create? Natural, minimal, loose, intimate, organic, soft, garden-y, wild, romantic, effortless: any one of these phrases, or a combination of a few, might be a jumping off point. The next stage is to translate this emotive language into a list of ingredients. This is where understanding the role of form is crucial. The flower forms, the shapes of the leaves and the overall structure of the design will help you to achieve the desired effect.
Explore FORM, one of the seven vital elements to master in the practice of flower arrangement. This class is available singly or as part of our new course ‘Elements of Design’ including Colour, Tone, Shape, Form, Line, Space and Texture.
Don’t miss the chance to take 30% off the full Elements bundle before FRIDAY. Offer ends tomorrow, 30th November.
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#aesmeworkshops #floristrycourse #floristryschool #flowerschool #floristryclass #onlinefloristry #flowerschoollondon #floristrystudent #floralphotography #onlineflowerclass #onlinelearning #learnfloristry #foamfree #nofloralfoam #learnfloraldesign #floristrytechnique #flowerstudio #onlineflowerclasses #ecoflorist #gardeninspiredfloristry #seasonalflowers
#gardengathered #sustainablefloristry #flowersfromthefarm #natureishome #realflowersoftheseason #seasonalfloralstyle #homegrownflowers
Every flower arrangement has a range of contrasting textures, from the vase to the ingredients. And each individual ingredient has its own set of textural surfaces, from the stems and leaves to the petals and stamens - glossy, rough, pitted, downy, thorny, furred, waxy.
Texture refers to a visual feeling and a physically tactile quality of a surface - it is noticeable to both the eye and the touch. Perhaps this is why we so often describe a texture by comparing it to another object that has a distinguishable familiar feeling - camellia (gloss), fern (feather), ivy (satin), rose (velvet), anemone (chiffon), peony (silk), Ammi (lace).
Texture is what makes us want to reach out and touch an arrangement – as the arranger we want to make the viewer instinctively run their fingers along the petals, the serrated edge of a leaf or the delicate necklace of a tomato vine.
Perhaps the most fun element of all... TEXTURE. Dive into this single class or indulge in the full seven-part course ‘Elements of Design’ to explore Colour, Tone, Shape, Texture, Line, Space and Form.
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#aesmeworkshops #floristrycourse #floristryschool #flowerschool #floristryclass #onlinefloristry #flowerschoollondon #floristrystudent #floralphotography #onlineflowerclass #onlinelearning #learnfloristry #foamfree #nofloralfoam #learnfloraldesign #floristrytechnique #flowerstudio #onlineflowerclasses #ecoflorist #gardeninspiredfloristry #seasonalflowers
#gardengathered #sustainablefloristry #flowersfromthefarm #natureishome #realflowersoftheseason #seasonalfloralstyle #homegrownflowers
TONE can be used to great effect in the artistic arrangement of flowers.
Tone refers to the lightness or darkness of a colour or hue. When we talk about tone in flower arranging we might be referring to the varying shades of light and dark found within the individual materials (the flowers or foliage), the vessel, the effect of lighting (whether natural or artificial) and the backdrop or setting.
If you were making a painting, you would create different tones by adding grey to a single colour. The more grey added, the darker the tone would become. A good exercise in understanding tone is to lay out a bunch of flower stems with the lightest at one end (say blush pink) moving through the palest to the darkest – deep plum or almost-black.
Learn to skilfully utilise TONE in your flower arrangements. One of the seven vital elements of naturalistic floral design - this class is available singly or as part of our new course ‘Elements of Design’ including Colour, Line, Space, Shape, Tone, Texture and Form.
You can still save 30% off the full Elements bundle. The offer ends 30th November.
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#aesmeworkshops #floristrycourse #floristryschool #flowerschool #floristryclass #onlinefloristry #flowerschoollondon #floristrystudent #floralphotography #onlineflowerclass #onlinelearning #learnfloristry #foamfree #nofloralfoam #learnfloraldesign #floristrytechnique #flowerstudio #onlineflowerclasses #ecoflorist #gardeninspiredfloristry #seasonalflowers
#gardengathered #sustainablefloristry #flowersfromthefarm #natureishome #realflowersoftheseason #seasonalfloralstyle #homegrownflowers
In the practice of naturalistic flower arrangement, shape helps us to evoke how flowers truly behave within their natural environment and season. This is where we can begin to understand how to replicate what we see in the natural world in an artistic way in the vase.
We often refer to this style of arranging flowers as ‘garden-inspired’ and this is because a garden is the starting point for everything (as well as the wilder hedgerows, fields and verges that surround it.) For our studio, our garden, and those of others, provides both inspirational fuel (in terms of aesthetics) and product (natural materials) that we use in the studio.
The gardens that we admire most tend to have naturalistic planting schemes, achieving a romantic, dishevelled quality as a result. Carefully, intelligently planted and maintained, they are also allowed to go a little wild around the edges, for nature to show its face and encroach in some places, rather than being completely tamed. The unexpected, entangled moments and haphazard appearances of plants is where the magic creeps in...
Delve into the fascinating element of SHAPE. This class is available singly or as part of a seven-part course ‘Elements of Design’ including Colour, Tone, Shape, Form, Line, Space and Texture.
You can take 30% off the full Elements bundle - offer ends 30th November.
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#aesmeworkshops #floristrycourse #floristryschool #flowerschool #floristryclass #onlinefloristry #flowerschoollondon #floristrystudent #floralphotography #onlineflowerclass #onlinelearning #learnfloristry #foamfree #nofloralfoam #learnfloraldesign #floristrytechnique #flowerstudio #onlineflowerclasses #ecoflorist #gardeninspiredfloristry #seasonalflowers
#gardengathered #sustainablefloristry #flowersfromthefarm #natureishome #realflowersoftheseason #seasonalfloralstyle #homegrownflowers
Space is one of the easiest floral design elements to overlook, perhaps because the focus (and joy) of arranging flowers comes from the materials themselves. And yet considering space and ensuring it is present in finished arrangements can powerfully impact their overall effect and our enjoyment of each individual shape, colour and texture.
Without space, we can literally lose sight of the individual materials as everything visually merges together. Think of something like a tight spherical bouquet, or a dome of hydrangea or rose heads in an urn or table centrepiece and contrast that with a loose, airy hand-tied posy. Without space, or without enough of it, the beauty of the whole cannot be appreciated, which is why these massed arrangements are not as visually powerful or interesting as shapely arrangements that incorporate negative space between natural flower forms.
Master the art of leaving SPACE - one of the seven crucial elements of naturalistic floral design. This class is available singly or as part of our new course ‘Elements of Design’ including Colour, Line, Space, Shape, Tone, Texture and Form.
You can save 30% off the full Elements bundle - or take a single class. Offer ends 30th November.
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#aesmeworkshops #floristrycourse #floristryschool #flowerschool #floristryclass #onlinefloristry #flowerschoollondon #floristrystudent #floralphotography #onlineflowerclass #onlinelearning #learnfloristry #foamfree #nofloralfoam #learnfloraldesign #floristrytechnique #flowerstudio #onlineflowerclasses #ecoflorist #gardeninspiredfloristry #seasonalflowers
#gardengathered #sustainablefloristry #flowersfromthefarm #natureishome #realflowersoftheseason #seasonalfloralstyle #homegrownflowers
Better late than never… here’s one I made earlier (this week) using spider chrysanthemum and fluffy miscanthus grasses, straight from garden to vase. Thanks for watching! Ax
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#slowsimpleseasonal #aseasonalyear #thebotanicalseries #gardeninspiredfloristry #autumnlight #autumnflowers #gardengathered #novemberflowers #fromthegarden #thatautumnmagic #growingflowers #realflowersoftheseason #seasonalfloralstyle #ayearinmygarden #ayearinflowers #gardenmagic #natureishome #homegrownflowers #autumnbeauty #gardenbeauties #flowersfromthefarm #flowerstudio #londonflorist
The joy of using botanical materials must be similar to the excitement a painter feels when approaching a new canvas. Such potential - unlimited possible outcomes. Flowers and foliage grow in every conceivable size and shape, so it follows there are a myriad of different lines that can be drawn from them.
Sometimes a line will be a deliberate and intentional construct, sometimes it may be the unintended result of a branch moving or one stem lining up with another. This is one of most enjoyable things about arranging flowers - the unexpected consequences and unforeseen outcomes - things we don’t anticipate that nature can give us. Naturalistic flower arranging is not mathematical, it is a unique blend of biology, design and emotion. The arrangements we create are different depending on the season and the ingredients available, as well as where we are, how we are and how much time we have for making the arrangement.
We are firm believers in learning rules in order to know how to break them. Spontaneity, experimentation and individual expression are all equally important in flower arranging. In this class we hope to find a happy medium between “good line design” and the gorgeously natural chaos of the living garden.
Explore LINE, one of the seven core elements of floral design. This class is available singly or as part of our new course ‘Elements of Design’ including Colour, Tone, Shape, Form, Line, Space and Texture.
You can save 30% off the full Elements bundle until 30th November.
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#aesmeworkshops #floristrycourse #floristryschool #flowerschool #floristryclass #onlinefloristry #flowerschoollondon #floristrystudent #floralphotography #onlineflowerclass #onlinelearning #learnfloristry #foamfree #nofloralfoam #learnfloraldesign #floristrytechnique #flowerstudio #onlineflowerclasses #ecoflorist #gardeninspiredfloristry #sustainablefloristry
The human eye experiences colour physically, mentally and emotionally. We paint our homes in shades that feel comforting, wear clothes in colours that represent our personality or mood, plant our gardens in soothing or exciting ‘colour schemes’.
Colourful flowers are joyous and uplifting. Colour is the main reason why flowers are bought for homes and used to decorate events, and why the cut flower industry focuses on breeding stronger colours rather than scents or shapes. Of course a flower’s purpose is not simply to bring us joy. Flowers are the reproductive organs of plants - their intense hues are there to attract pollinators and ensure evolutionary survival. Plant breeders select and adapt colour genetics to cultivate more and more colours for gardeners and florists to design with and enjoy.
In naturalistic design, it feels right to study the colours of the natural world - sky, sea, landscape, flora and fauna. For flower arrangers this is a constantly changing source of inspiration, from dawn to dusk.
Learn more about COLOUR, one of the key elements of floral design. This class is available singly or as part of a seven-part course ‘Elements of Design’ including Colour, Tone, Shape, Form, Line, Space and Texture. You can take 30% off the full Elements bundle until 30th November.
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#aesmeworkshops #floristrycourse #floristryschool #flowerschool #floristryclass #onlinefloristry #flowerschoollondon #floristrystudent #floralphotography #onlineflowerclass #onlinelearning #learnfloristry #foamfree #nofloralfoam #learnfloraldesign #floristrytechnique #flowerstudio #onlineflowerclasses #ecoflorist #gardeninspiredfloristry #seasonalflowers
#gardengathered #sustainablefloristry #flowersfromthefarm #natureishome #realflowersoftheseason #seasonalfloralstyle #homegrownflowers
An autumn concoction for my neighbour Christina - thank you for all you do for us.
Colourful foliage, roses, chrysanthemum, geranium, gaura and salvia. Shame Jess busts me for the hydrangea right at the last minute!! Oops!
Thanks for watching.
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#slowsimpleseasonal #aseasonalyear #thebotanicalseries #gardeninspiredfloristry #autumnlight #autumnflowers #gardengathered #novemberflowers #fromthegarden #thatautumnmagic #growingflowers #realflowersoftheseason #seasonalfloralstyle #ayearinmygarden #ayearinflowers #gardenmagic #natureishome #homegrownflowers #autumnbeauty #gardenbeauties #flowersfromthefarm #flowerstudio #londonflorist
