In the times before rain, I helped build a garden....

I'm not Lynn Anderson, and neither did I promise a rose garden.  What we did do is make things flower.  Trade secrets on how we produced an allium from a lily, and delphi and gladi in full bloom so early on in the year shall remain a secret.  (Well, otherwise life would have no mysteries, and Midsommer frankly wouldn't be the same would it?)

Anyway.  This isn't Midsommer - good job, or I'd have no neighbours left I suppose - nor was it actually summer when we worked on the set for the latest Cooperative adverts showing Blighty in full sun, but the results that the team finally produced are worthy of an RHS medal, I'm sure you'll agree. 

They constructed this garden out of a patch of grass, alot of plants (to which we added anything you see that's in flower), a great deal of rather large lighting fixtures, non permanent fencing and handsome man who put the fence panels up.  Sadly, no picture of said handsome man although I do know he's from round here and his brother lives in London.

Flowers for the table were also needed.  "We'd like vintage style soft garden flowers in six of these* if that's OK?" "No problem at all.  In those*? How lovely. Consider it done."

Setting up behind the scenes is a great deal of fun. You meet the actors. You work with a fab team who are brilliant at giving you a detailed brief, you work to it and deliver, and then they say nice things about you.....and you work again, on the new ads that will be ASOS in a few weeks time.

Anyway, here's a few behind the scenes pics I took.

Mighty proud, that, I am.

Laura x

*Cath Kidston multicoloured glasses

A little while ago now white met blue

Well, actually, for this wedding red met red. Mr is a Manchester United Fan, Mrs is a Liverpool Fan. Apparently, they don't speak of the game, it's far too complicated. Thank goodness for multiple televisions in ones home.

The blog, at this current time in no way represents flower seasonality. You can't get brodea now. You can get cornflower. Just. Anthurium are an AYR (all year round for those in the know) and the Liverpool fans favourite. Mr Manchester United didn't want one for his buttonhole. Can't blame him really, bit massive. Cornflower sufficed, and looks most marvellous.

I'm catching up. You'll see this when I feature mimosa next week. Sunflowers will eventually make it on the blog when the snow is falling.

Anyway. Here's what the blue and white wedding looked like. Anthurrium meets vintage. Red wed red. Dare one mention City or Everton?

Laura x

 

When we, Louise Ellen Designs and And The Dish Ran Away With the Spoon do weddings.......

....magic happens. 

What better way to showcase the floral impact we have on weddings than this. 

Big thanks to Mr and Mrs Elliott for letting us feature it.  Stationery by the star of the show (aka Mrs Elliott), cake by And the Dish Ran Away With The Spoon, wow to the amazing Willington Hall, and a HUGE amount of praise to the people that created this marvel, MGH Productions.

Congratulations John and Eleanor.  Most beautiful this is.

Let them eat cake, arrange blooms and be merry....

This post features cornflowers.  It's been a while.  There's been weddings, a class, a giant teapot, an award, a missed opportunity to wear my Vivien of Holloway dress, lots of meetings, many slices of cake and a great big 'welcome home' to the hubbie from hospital.  In true style, we celebrated with fish and chips.  Sometimes healthy green beans and a griddled bit of salmon just won't do.

Big hugs to all my brides.  You have been marvellous.  Seemingly all bridezillas choose to use other florists. 

Two ads featuring our blooms are on the telly.  They're filming more today.  Fancy.

I must thank the master baker at And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon.  She is the queen of cake.  She is also the queen of hearts (a nice one, not the 'Orrrf with their heads' version that features in the Alice books and films).  We took residence in her shop to start the first in our series of  'Classes for the Florally Curious'.  Photos were kindly taken by the lovely Rebecca Harvey who created blooms to be proud of. 

Here's the lowdown of when the dish met up with the bloom.

Laura x

An example of what was created.  Vintage Blooms Inspired by Baking.  Kilner jars featured.

Flowers on the cake counter.  All wrapped up and ready to go in brown paper.

 Something wonderful about the buds of a British Larkspur. 

The class in pinnies, engrossed in conditioning and handing out flowers to each other.  A interactive class this most certainly is.

 Ellie looks at home with the roses.  They match her top.

British Cornflowers featured among others including Hot Diadeem roses.

Me to class: "Red Velvet Cupcake anyone?"

Class to me: "It's your's I think....." 

Me to class: "Oh, so it's mine. Are you sure?  Fab, I'll keep it for the hubbie."

A little while later after the class was finished.

Florist arrives at hospital to visit hubbie.  Walks into room smiling.  Hands over cupcake in a box tied with blue ribbon.

Me to hubbie: "This is for you."

Hubbie opens box.  Florist walks to put handbag down on windowsill.  Returns to give hubbie a kiss. 

Hubbie to me: "Thanks, that was lovely.  Made me feel alot better.  Needed that.  Are they available on prescription?"

Me demonstrating how to achieve the finishing touches.  I have a double chin.  Not one of the photogenic sorts. 

Here's one we made earlier.

Fancy close up shot of limonium among other things.

 

 

A beautiful British Larkspur.  A great bloom for an evening of larking about with flowers.  Do you see what I did there?

Can't wait for the next one! x

Soft pink vintage flowers and a blast from the past

This week the rain has been playing havoc with my cycling plans.  I've had the bike all done up.  It's got a new chain.  The seat remains uncomfortable, but there is nothing to be done.  It's one of those mountain bike ones.  It's bright blue.  It's functional.  Sadly, it is not a classic, vintage style, black, slim framed, 'designed for ladies wearing nice dresses' one with a basket on the front for your shopping.  That is the bike of my dreams.  If the weather improves, I'll keep you posted on the journeys of the magical mountain bike.  Until then, flowers it is.  Not bad really.

Today is brought to you by the letter V.  V is for vintage.  It is also brought to you by the letter P.  The letter P is for Peonies (British ones - their nearly done now), Pink and Pedestal.  More on this below.

Christines wedding was lovely.  All blousy flowers with lots of lovely textures.  The peonies opened perfectly (there's another P) and the weather was warm.  Christine needed it to be that way for her lovely floaty Jenny Packham number.

Here's her wedding in the final (well almost) Letter P - Pictures.

Laura x

 Very magical light. I rather like it.  Feels a bit creative.

 An urn of blooms that look simply magical.  Hazel and honeysuckle feature.

 Delphinium.  Always provides glamourous height.  The floral equivalent of Laboutins.

 Flowers on film.......my old mate Bradders getting all the detail in.

I'm going to try my hand at Sweet Pea growing.  Success will be blogged, lack of success will be erm......not mentioned and politely glossed over.

Pretty bridesmaids bouquet.  Love it when a British Peony does you this proud.

The Jenny Packham dress was a cracker.  So are these flowers.  I wanted to hug it.  Best not.  They're pretty delicate blooms.

For the final P.  Perfect.

As seen on TV......

It must be most peculiar to be an actor, an actress, a TV star or starlett.  When you're sat on the sofa of an evening, quietly minding your own business, following the evolution of an injunction storm on Twitter and tucking into a low fat salad.  There you are.  On ITV.  In all your finery. Dressed up to the nines.  Proud as punch.  It's all a little surreal wouldn't you say?


The closest we've ever got to this is when we were on the BBC's Beat The Boss.  The other times are when our flowers feature on the Beeb and in The Times in the hands of the odd famous cyclist or two. Our flowers were the Charlotte Balbier facebook page profile pic the other day. The most recent viewing was in a Cooperative Food advert during Corrie.

I may not be one for eating salads.  But if this is fame, I'm happy with our lot.

Here's a few examples of the blooms on tour.

Laura x

What Katy did next......

This weekend has been filled with delights.  There were flowers (naturally), there was the removal of the Christmas tree from the garden, the power washer was unpacked from its box and there was a great deal of excitement about the fact that the poppies are in bloom.  We now have a new Union Jack door doormat in pinks, blues and yellows, the wall at the front is Raspberry Bellini and the one at the back is some funny name from the Dulux collection.  I've renovated a piece of furniture with a lick of paint and a few polka dots to boot.  I've not told the Mother in Law yet....it used to be her piece of furniture, I don't think she'll want it back now.

Sam's Chophouse served a great bitter shandy.  I wore high heeled shoes on Friday night and Saturday night.  I didn't on Sunday night, but I did wear a black and white neckscarf. 

Now to Katy.  She's afterall what the blog is about today.  I'm envious of her ballet pumps.  She has two pairs that she wears.  They are flat and pretty and apparently available from Topshop.  She wears them when she's photographing weddings.  She probably wears them in the garden when teaching Sophie about the plants.  She may not, potentially, she more of a 'bare feet in the garden' type of girl.

I digress. 

Here's a few more pictures of the photoshoot in the Northern Quarter.  It was shot by Katy Lunsford.  She's ever so clever.  Images were first seen on Love My Dress.  Here's a link to that spectacular blog entry.

Enjoy the newly seen images....there are more to follow.

Laura x

Team for this included me on blooms, Katy on the camera, Charlotte on the dresses, Nicola on the charms, Ailsa on the styling, Charlie on the lippy, Fred on the cakes,