Kate's wedding.... Part Two

The September issue of Vogue.......featuring Kate Moss' wedding.
Forgive me for blogging about this wedding, not only for a second time, but immediately following the last blogpost........


As you might well imagine, I absolutely adored this wedding. It completely reflects the bride's style.

 What a divinely romantic photo of kate with her bridesmaids.

Love the pathway of flowers. The florist for Kate's wedding: Scarlet and Violet. You may remember my blog about Victoria Brotherson from a couple of years ago. I was lucky enough to work with Vic when I lived in London.

Isn't this an adorable shot of the bridal party ?

Lila Grace is Kate's daughter

I love that Kate kept with her 1920's feel and had classic Parisian cafe chairs and Art Nouveau chandeliers.

Edwardian wicker chairs and vintage iron table with simple but gorgeous flowers !

Kate with her dad and daughter Lila Grace.

Must remember to pick up the September issue.



Plus, Hamish Bowles takes us inside the wedding.


Wish I could have been a guest.....sigh!

To Mothers Everywhere....

This Sunday, May 8th is Mother's Day around the world. I know I'm biased but I truly believe flowers are the sweetest gift. They're impulsive, sincere, endearing and thoughtful.

Have a wonderful and Happy Mother's Day.

Bespoke Country House Parties

So, last year I stumbled across this company that throws bespoke country house parties in the beautifully charming Cotswolds. It just so happens that one of the partners' in this retreat is  Sophie Conran (yes, that Conran, daughter of the great Terence). Man, it must be in their blood to be so entreprenuerial and also so talented. This family rocks !


And so does this place ! Temple Guiting is actually owned by a fellow called Steven Collins. Steven decided that he wanted to convert this family property into an investment. Smart man. Together with the famed Sophie Conran they have created this gorgeous retreat for anybody (which is semi affordable if you don't mind saving for a year and not take another holiday for another year --- the weekend rates will make you gulp a little) to hold your own private country party (just like the wealthy Edwardians did). 


Sounds good to me.You name it. It can be organized. They have experts from a varied and wide set of backgrounds. Hmmmm.....want to do a little fly fishing ? No problem. Always wanted to spend an afternoon baking artisinal breads ? No problemo. How about hot air ballooning, wine tasting, jam making, shooting, learning to play bridge/poker ?  It's covered. And of course, my favourite......the floristry course.


All this, and in the most gorgeous setting. The accomodation is to die for. Heck who cares about the activities. I just want to go and hang out....go for long country walks, read by a roaring fire, eat wonderful meals, drink great wine and sleep in the most sumptuous bedrooms ever !

Of course, there's always the  National Trust  or the  Landmark Trust  if you're not in need of so much pampering but still want to have that great country house/manor  experience. I think this is more my speed and more of what my wallet can handle. But if money were not an object........ then here I come Temple Guiting. Just for the weekend only.

More pictures and definitely more info on their website.

I'd like to introduce you to.........Paula Pryke

A modern day Constance Spry.

Her book, The New Floral Artist (published 1993) was the first flower book I ever bought (1997). And I never looked back. I fell in love...fully and completely.

What fabulous textures and colours -- all of autumn in one wreath !

You see, prior to flowers, I had worked in the really rough world of politics. I had studied Political Science at university. And as you might well imagine, I wanted to see change in the world. So with the arrogance of youth on my side I embarked on a career in the political realm. Ohhhh, how naive I was. Without going into any great detail, suffice it to say, politics was not my calling.

This epitomises summer and romance for me.

Soooo,  in 1997 I was living in London (working for a politician) and one day I found myself in Paula Pryke's flower shop in Islington. I don't know why I walked in as I had never been in a flower shop before. Flowers didn't interest me. I thought it was a trivial waste of time and felt there were more important things to do. 

But somehow I was drawn in. Maybe it was the glorious window display. But I suspect it was more likely my stressed out state of mind. I needed to relax and not think about work. It was Christmas and the shop was so incredibly beautiful, overflowing with flowers, exquisite bouquets, breathtaking wreaths and sumptuous garlands. The florists in their black aprons were wrapping flowers in the most elegant manner with the prettiest tissue papers and ribbons. My head literally spinned in this grotto of beauty.

On one of the consoles was the book, the one that would change the direction of my life. I purchased it, went home and read it, studied it and then reread it hundreds of times over the next few months. I memorized the ingredients to all of the arrangements, the flower names and the histories Ms. Pryke told of this wonderful world of flowers. The styling, the colour combinations, the containers.

Detailed description of how to create a painterly floral still life.

Isn't this exquisite ?

A fantastic bouquet of delphiniums in an antique pot !

 

Paula Pryke has written many books since, but this was my bible. I literally learned all about flowers and flower arranging from this modern day Constance Spry and The New Floral Artist. She has certainly influenced a generation of florists.

Chronicle of a Black Bouquet

Last night I nestled into bed with one of my favourite books on flowers; "Sensational Bouquets". The book was created and written by one of the world's best and most original florists, Christian Tortu. I happened to be looking for inspiration for an upcoming event thinking to myself Monsieur Tortu will definitely inspire me.

As I casually flipped the pages perusing one beautiful floral arrangement after another, I eventually found myself  at the end of the book reading the chapter "Chronicle of a Black Bouquet". I had previously read it with passing interest. But this time it struck a chord. I was instantly reminded of the devastating fires this past summer here in Canada on the west coast, the California fires near Los Angeles, as well the wild fires in Australia, Spain and Italy.

Flowers taken from the burnt landscape and made into a bouquet.

Monsieur Tortu's words on a deadly forest fire in the south of France 1999.....

July 1999: the Alpilles are on fire; a strong wind spreads the horror at a mind blowing rate. An entire region is taken aback, and the roads are blocked. It's impossible to know the size of the blaze, to know where the devastating wave has struck. Man is forced to acknowledge his impotence before such wild forces.

It is suspected that an arsonist's hand is the cause of the disaster. Outrage, disgust, and also shame because man is responsible for many forest fires every year. Does he need to burn part of himself to this extent? Does he need to think for just one moment that he can dominate nature?

.........

We have scheduled our first photographs for this book (Sensational Bouquets) to be taken at this time. We of course feel the need to testify through a bouquet composed of plant life from the desolate area. We are not out to record final images of the site, for we know that the land will revive.

In the weeks and months following this apocalypse, the landscape is in mourning. Black predominated at all levels. The holiest of trees, one hundred year old olive trees, were but pantomimes barely standing out against a background of gray, brown and black. 

.........

I painfully remember a herd of boars, adults and little ones, wandering aimlessly along the road, bewildered of what they had seen of hell.......For miles and miles, it seemed like the end of the world.

A year later: the same roads, the same paths. Seen from afar, all is green again, a green that is unknown around here, almost worrisome. A uniform colour, bordering on yellow. Vegetation has changed........

For a second, one would think that nature had taken its place again. It's not true. Gone is the metallic green gray of the olive trees, gone is the very particular green of the burgeoning vineyard, the darker green of the changing light hitting the holm oak and pine trees. Only charred silhouettes haunt this luner landscape. A few trees yielded some shoots.......We will never see the Alpilles that we knew again. Time is against us.

.........

We tend to forget that nature is fragile. We crave domination, and this surpasses all of our ancestral fears........

Dead fish, naked trees, tides of many colours, deadly haze on the horizon. All our indignation is in vain if we are not deeply concious of our every act. Serious, often irreparable, whether it damages or builds, nature belongs to a time that outlives our own existence.

Life is so fragile. 

To my late sister Catherine. Miss you.

Romantic rainy weddings

Personally, I love the rain. Mind you, I wouldn't want an entire season of it, but I do love the moody nature of it all. The sound of a light drizzle hitting the roof makes me want to get all cozy - make tea, delve into a great book or just languish about with a pile of favourite magazines and perhaps a wonderful glass of something. Even a dramatic burst of thunder followed by a heavy downpour brings out the kid (or TOAST model) in me. I suppose it's the element of surprise and the unexpected pursuit of suddenly running for cover and giddily laughing along the way. Blame it on TOAST, my childhood, whatever.

Anyway, despite what some grumpy Brits (that would be my relatives by the way) might think about their own weather system, I happen to find it rather romantic.

Brides nearly always want a perfect sunny day for their wedding and worry about inclement weather imposing on planned events. Particularily an outdoor wedding. We try to reassure them that a rainy day wedding is far from being a spoiler. For one thing, it's a known fact that photography is best on an overcast or rainy day. And in some cultures rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck. Ok maybe that's a stretch.......Well maybe it is, who knows !

We've certainly had our share of rainy weddings. But you know what ? They were really lovely. Here's a few snapshots we took.......

Miller Lash House, an Arts and Crafts manor in Highland Creek (Toronto)

I love this house. It is sooo gorgeous. Even the rain doesn't distract from its beauty. In fact I think it only adds to the romance of the place. It has such lovely paths and is surrounded by incredible lush greenery and huge evergreens. The landscape has a slight rolling hilliness about it.

It was a tented affair in the garden. We did simple, lush peony bouquets for centrepieces. I actually loved the sound of the rain gently falling on the tent. Everyone just quietely worked away at setting up.

Snapshot of peony bouquet at the studio.

The bridal flowers

This garden wedding took place at the bride's family home located in a gorgeous neighbourhood in Toronto known as Hoggs Hollow. It's a little hidden Eden in the north part of town and has the some of the loveliest homes and gardens.

The home (though you don't see it in the picture) has a charming white picket fence and you're only seeing a very small portion of the front garden. It was so lush and green (wet summer). That's me pointing my finger somewhere towards the house.The sky was overcast and yes, it did rain that evening.

The back garden had a pool that had to be covered over to accomodate the guest tables, the band and bar. The tenting was quite lovely.

The company that erected the tent allowed for the

Japanese Maples and other foliages to be part of the setting. Isn't it pretty ?

The flowers included hydrangeas, dahlias, roses and orchids with ivy tendrils.

A bouquet of dahlias and ivy wrap with black silk ribbon.

All photographs taken by David Evans

I'd like to introduce you to......Victoria Brotherson.

Victoria Brotherson is the lovely proprietress of Scarlet and Violet, a gorgeous flower shop in London, UK.

I had the great pleasure of working with Vic many years ago at the very glamorous florists Wild at Heart. Vic and her sister Charlotte were two of the original employees and their hand tied bouquets were glorious ! I learned so much from them. Their sense of colour and texture was inspiring. To receive a bouquet from Wild at Heart, especially one made by Victoria was considered a very chic gift indeed.

I love the vintage vibe of her shop.

Her style is definitely of the quintessential English country garden vein, but with a vintage, bohemian twist. The flowers are loose, blowsy and seasonal, displayed in wonderful old jugs, buckets, urns and ceramic pots. This is a look that's very much in vogue at the moment, though it has always been Vic's signature.

I also adore the Scarlet and Violet website.

I love the Scarlet and Violet font. I love the way the card tags hang. I love its' old fashioned sensibility and the floral image is so charming. But most of all, I love this sentiment she shares with us. It simply says;

"In March 2006, after 14 years of working with flowers, I opened the doors (tentatively) to a very personal place.

We now deliver flowers across London, install house flowers lovingly and give our all to weddings and events.

I wouldn't change my job for anything."

Vic Brotherson

Now you know why I am such a huge fan.

Glamour Girls (Part 1)

About a year and a half ago, I was in NYC with my friend Stephanie of EyeSpyStyle. Whilst there she took me to this fabulous clothing shop, Steven Allan, in Tribeca.

Stephanie shopped, I browsed. While Stephanie was checking out the pretty tunics and shirts, I happen to notice flowers were being sold there. The most charming hand tied bunches were displayed in an old world galvanized trough. It was a delightful find and the flowers were presented in a style very similar to Wild thyme. Bouquets were wrapped in simple brown paper and tied with twine. I loved it. They were just the kind of flower bunches one could splurge on, without it costing the earth.

And oh....didn't they ooze downtown chic ! This was no green grocer, corner store bunch. This was all about style and understatement.

What I loved even more was the calling card of the florist who was selling her flowers there.

I think it's beautiful! I love the Art Nouveau styling, the old fashioned typewriter print, the antique gold framing and the card itself was just plain old brown card. Isn't it gorgeous ?

Well I thought.......I have to find out more about this florist. Who is she? Where will I find her ?

Upon my return to Toronto, I immediately googled the name and finally found a web address. I was so excited and instantly clicked www.flowergirlnyc.com.....only to find a home page stating "Under Construction". Sigh... I suppose I'll have to wait.

Then one spring evening last year I picked up the May 2008 issue of Vogue and who do I find in it but.... Flower Girl ! 

Denise Porcaro is quite the glamour girl in her John Galliano dress and very, very high heeled shoes. And look at the rough hewn trough with all those glorious flowers ! You can see she brings cool glamour and downtown style to her flowers. I love the bouquet of lily of the valley (forefront of pic) in the vintage tin. Sweet !

The flower industry is due this kind of publicity. Thanks Denise !

Porcaro works out of the Earnest Sewn Boutique on the Lower East Side NYC. 

Well then, I'm very much looking forward to seeing more of her flower work once her website is up and running.

I'd like to introduce you to.....Miho Kosuda

Miho Kosuda is one of my favourite and most inspiring florists. Her style is so deceptively simple, yet her technique requires patience and a lot of practice. Even then, there's no guarantee you'll master the "Twist".

Miho is credited with creating this quintessential New York look; a combination of precision styling with a large number of flowers (monofloral). Her bouquets are extravagant and luxurious with a modern edge. At the same time, she uses simple lines, understated styling, and classic flowers.

Designer Bill Blass was a big fan and she was his personal florist for over twenty years ! When they first met Mr. Blass asked her to create a luxurious, contemporary arrangement and Ms. Kosuda responded with more than 600 mango coloured calla lilys. Wow!

When she first started clients would dictate the floral style they wanted. Kosuda would oblige, but she would also send one of her own designs. This way clients could decide which one they liked better. Suffice it to say they often chose her style ! 

Miho's sister once said; "Miho, your flowers are like little ambassadors". To which she replied "That's true. They speak for me". 

Today, she is the preferred florist for many of New York City's society doyennes, fashion designers and interior designers. Her signature "twist" is very much emulated but rarely perfected. Michael George, one of Martha Stewart's favourite florists, and...... ex husband of Miho, is also a master of the " Twist".

Unfortunately, she doesn't have a website.

The first 4 images are from Veranda magazine. The last image is from Eileen Johnson "The Art of Flower Arranging".