Thursday, January 15, 2015

IN A VASE - practice makes perfect

In two weeks we will be hosting our annual winter party, a tradition my husband and I started three years ago when we moved to frigid but beautiful Winnipeg.  Since I am going to try something new with the flower arrangements this year, I thought it would behoove me to practice. This might sound a little over-the-top at first, but who does not want fresh flowers in their home, practice or no practice?


Over the winter I collected some floral knick-knacks and fake flowers and when it came time to see what they looked like on display it occurred to me that they might in fact help turn a regular bunch of flowers into my own floral displays if I combined them with fresh flowers.

Apologies, but I just did not have the energy to move this where there was a less busy background.  This vase will be in the centre of a room for the party which means its shape will have to change so its height is in the centre rather than at the back, but these will remain the materials I will use in this vase. 

I am uncertain about the height of the coils, should they be cut back a few inches so they do not tower so high above the flowers?  Or should they be cut back more severely, hiding their sticks making it appear as if they are sprouting up like flowers from a Dr. Seus book?

Let me know what you think.

The strongly scented Asiatic lilies, (the only real flowers in the vase), will have to be white of course since for our annual winter party there is a strict white dress code.

In order to keep the wooden sticks dry I have placed the real flowers in a beaker of water that sits discreetly in the vase which is thankfully still easily watered from above without having to remove a thing.


This vase is quite slim and therefore more difficult to work with since it wants to push all the blooms out its crowded centre.
Here again the lilies are the only real plant along with some white decorative berries and some silk flowers.


I have realize that I will need to find something for the under story so this 'practice' is definitely paying off.

I am not certain how I feel about mixing in the silk flowers...berries, silver pine cones and the like are definitely okay since they are clearly decorative, but what about the silk flowers that are designed to deceive, do they help to turn this into something special for the party, or do they cheapen it? 

I am undecided so please be free with your advice.

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14 comments:

  1. Lilys are always great in vases! My favourite is te first one, with nicely coordinated colors and contrasting shapes!

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  2. Personally, I would leave out the fake flowers, but that's just my opinion. I go for a very simple look.

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    1. Pam, I won't be going for a simple look at all, but I will do it with only the knick-knacks and leave the false flowers out.

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  3. I love the lilies. I think I would keep it simple and leave out the fake flowers, but both arrangements look good to me.

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    1. Gunilla,
      I think I am going to take the fake flowers and put them outside where it will be clear they are fake blooming in the snow. If I do I will be sure to do a post.

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  4. i have no complaints with you mixing the silk and real flowers!! i love the whole lush arrangement! in the first one, i like the coils as they are, forming another layer to the bouquet! if you do cut them, not by more than an inch or so!
    in the second vase, can you use tin foil or plastic container lid to make a frog to hold the flowers more upright? i love all the pracyice you have to do - keeps flowerrs in the house longer!!

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    1. Judy, 'practice' is a great excuse to have flowers in the house. I have decided I will not mix the silk and real flowers, but don't worry I am still going to make some fabulous bouquets.

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  5. These are wonderful, I love your photos. I also want to thank you for correctly identifying the flowers I put on our home page. I will change that as soon as I can. Have a great week and thanks for sharing with Today's Flowers.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for hosting Denise!

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  6. Beautiful flowers that you fortografiert there. The image with the stems in the vase
    remember exactly mine.
    Look Here -
    ♥ly greetings from germany

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  7. Hi Derek, I agree about putting the fake flowers out in the snow, they will make a good display there. Some evergreen foliage amongst hothouse or imported flowers can make for stunning winter displays. Yu can also incorporate pine cones, apples (impaled on twigs/branches) or citrus fruits.
    Thank you for participating in the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

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    1. fake flowers did indeed go outside into the snow :)

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