We were pleased to be asked to provide arrangements for two photo shoots this month. The first was for Pretty Nostalgic Magazine, out the beginning of November. The brief was 'an incredibly creative winter wreath using seasonal British ingredients.' I wanted to create a wreath without being too traditional in style. I started with a moss base wrapped around a copper wreath frame. I then added Dusty Miller leaves. I was very tempted to stop there because they looked so much like antlers! The soft velvety texture of them is just fabulous. Next I inserted dried lavender, mainly for scent. All of the berries I have used are easily gathered at this time of the year in the hedgerow. I had already decided to avoid green and red, so used black privet berries, pink spindle and white snowberries. I particularly enjoyed using the bright pink spindle, it seems incredible it is a native bush, as they look almost tropical. My final touches were individually wired damsons, clematis heads, feathers and a vintage brooch. I thought the damson picked up the blue in the peacock feathers and the clematis heads reflected their texture. The feathers and brooch added some Victorian elegance. Here it is:
The second shoot was more challenging. It was for Wedding Flowers magazine. We have wanted to feature in it for some time as it is the only wedding magazine dedicated to flowers. Although we were excited to be included and offered two full pages, we would have loved the shoot to have been in peak season when we could really showcase our flowers. The edition will come out in January/February. The challenge was to use seasonal flowers for October, but not look too autumnal. Here are the results of our labours, pictured by me in our studio at 6.30am just before we left to deliver them.
Above is our table centre, button hole and flower ring containing roses, craspedia, hypericum, aster, gomphrena, clary sage, nerines and geranium leaf. We also created a hand tie bouquet, but I ran out of time to photograph that one!
Jo Wise