It's cold and rainy here in Southern California. Once in awhile the sun peeks around the clouds, but to say that spring is in full swing would be a fib. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that by the time Easter comes and we host our annual Easter Lunch, spring will be here, the sun will be out, and the garden will have something blooming to hide the eggs under!
So let's get started with today's floral arrangement. We decided each one of us would make something flowery and springy in a basket for this Friday.
This week, we just happened to receive some beautiful antique French baskets at the shop, and I decided to create something gorgeous to show you in one of the baskets, the smallest one.
These baskets were used over 100 years ago to take on train trips, larger than a purse, but not quite as large as a bag for clothing. Day trips only, perhaps, or to carry a luncheon packet and other necessities inside the train, while the porter stored the lady's small valise somewhere in luggage storage?
I had the best intentions of going out to look for beautiful, fresh new flowers.
But the day got away from me, after driving around the California freeways more than half the day to pick up the latest "faux" florals I chose for our Les Belles Fleurs Atelier. {and yes! They will be available soon and I AM super excited about them!!}
So there was that. Loading at the dock, the warehouse, and then unloading back at FrenchGardenHouse. Oh, and then unpacking and oohing and ahhhing over the flowers. {that probably took more time than it should have, but it's so exciting to see my design ideas come to reality in the silk flower world!}
Let's just say my day was filled with non-flower seeking activities, so by the time I did go to two stores to shop for flowers, the selection was not fabulous. At all. I left the last store with just a bar of Belgian chocolate, because #chocolatemakeseverythingbetter.
So I had to get creative. Really creative, and in a hurry!
Confession #1. This arrangement has 1. Left-over flowers. 2. Clipped greenery from our front garden. 3. Faux flowers. 4. And thankfully, yes! - real roses.
I used some left-over larkspur, three ranunculus flowers and wax flowers from last week's bouquet here at home that still had some beauty and life in them. And clipped some greens from the front garden, as well as a purple cabbage.
Luckily it was our anniversary last week so Mr. FrenchGardenHouse had brought home a beautiful bouquet of white roses with a pink edge for me. {yes, he's a keeper!}
I put all the "fresh" flowers and gleaned greenery from the garden in the container filled with water inside the basket. And then tucked in some of the purple faux hydrangeas that I just unboxed.
And called it good.
Confession #2. I am somewhat of a perfectionist, but I learned something wonderful from this Floral Friday arrangement.
It's this: If you can't have the perfect flowers you really want, you can still create something lovely that will make you smile each time you see it!
Here's what this arrangement can teach all of us.
1. THINK OUTSIDE THE VASE. Like all of us did today, you can use anything to hold a bunch of flowers. ANYTHING! If you use a basket, you need to place a glass container inside, of course, to hold the water. But the sky is the limit for things you can use to hold flowers.
2. FORGET THE RULES. It's great to know what the rules are, but once you do, just go ahead and break them. It's too hard to always be thinking of scale, size, complimentary colors and all that. Take risks, experiment, and trust yourself to create a stunning arrangement. If you love it, it's perfect!
3. ADD THE UNEXPECTED. It's fun to add vegetables such as cabbage, artichokes or fruit to your arrangement. A basket arrangement is actually wonderful for adding vegetables and fruits, since baskets tend to be a little more stable than a vase and are able to hold the weight of fruit or vegetables.
3. SUBSTITUTE. No flowers to be had locally that you love? Just cheat nature like I did by adding some faux flowers to your arrangement. No one will know! And if you have a great bush or tree growing in your garden, clip away. Greens from the garden are always my favorite "filler" in my bouquets.
There. That's it. You are ready to go out and clip a few greens, add a few flowers, arrange in a container of some kind, and stand back to enjoy your floral creation.
Please go visit my three creative friends to see what they have designed for this Floral Friday by clicking on their links below:
Thank you for joining us this Floral Friday.
I hope you create a beautiful floral arrangement for yourself and enjoy its beauty soon!
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25 comments
Enjoy your day too Shannon. {And you are right, sometimes the unexpected plans work out! }
Mary, that is exactly what I love about antique baskets. Often they are no longer perfect, but “perfectly imperfect”, and that is so charming. It’s always a pleasure to blog with you too, friend.
Thanks so much Ginger! Thank goodness my Mr. FGH bought the roses, otherwise I would have truly been in a pickle.
Thank you Rita. There are plenty of times when I just buy all one kind in the same color, and just cut the stems and plop them in a vase, because I know that’s all the time I have. But they still are beautiful and add joy to my day. :)
Thanks so much, Jenna! Once in a while, it’s good to mix in the faux with the real. Hope you have a beautiful weekend!
Thank you Shirley! I had to give myself a firm talking to so as not to have a pity-party when the beautiful spring flowers were all sold out when I went to look for some. Sometimes it’s good to work with you have, and be happy with it! It’s such an honor to join the three of you for Floral Fridays. Wishing you a gorgeous weekend, friend.
Bravo Lidy for taking those breathtaking faux flowers and mixing them with the special anniversary roses….and that basket….truly the other star of the arrangement! I think I would have lost time too in admiring the beautiful faux florals…You truly thought “out of the basket” on this stunning arrangement. Thanks again for always giving us “stories” behind the pretties you present to us. Truly an elegant arrangement using your extensive creativity! … Floral Fridays make Fridays even better! Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend…hopefully it will be drier!
Great mix of real and faux Lidy! Also fresh flower can really make a faux arrangement look real and I think the fading flowers do too, it looks fantastic to me!
Thank you so much, Bonnie. Sometimes it just happens that you have to use what you have to create something pretty. I hope I have done that, even though I had something totally different in mind. Wishing you a beautiful weekend, friend! xo Lidy
Lidy, Your antique basket is the piéce de résistance! I enjoyed the history of these type baskets. Your tips on creating arrangements were helpful and encouraging. Your arrangement using clippings and cabbage from your garden mixed with anniversary flowers with a touch of faux blossoms has personality and charm.