Tales From A Flower Shop

Locally Grown Hanging Baskets Now in Stock

2011-05-16T14:20:00.000+01:00

The Garden Centre was once again transformed this weekend with the arrival of our range of Locally Grown Hanging Baskets.

These beauties are absolutely packed with plants, including Petunia, Lobelia and Verbena which are all grown right here on our lovely Island.

The range includes huge 16" wire baskets for making a real statement, or there are luxury banana leaf and rattan cones and wall baskets. Each basket has slow release plant food in the compost, so all you have to do is water it regularly to get the most of your display.

We can also deliver your baskets to your house for you, or maybe it would make an ideal gift for someone? Well, we can tie it with a ribbon and deliver it to them too!

We also offer a planting service for you to use if you have any baskets from last year that you would like re-filling. Let us know what colours you like, and we will do the messy bit for you, using only the best quality, locally grown plants that we can find.

Call in to the shop or give us a ring if you would like more information.

A Weekend of Wonderful Weddings!

2011-05-02T16:23:00.001+01:00

Yes, I was glued, along with about 3 billion other people around the world, to the beautiful Royal wedding of Will & Kate, not just to get a heads up on what could be a big floral trend for 2011, but because I am a big soppy romantic, and yes I shed a tear when Prince William told his future wife how beautiful she looked when she arrived by his side.

However, I couldn't dwell on the Royal Wedding for long, as I had flowers to prepare for Joanne & James's wedding which took place on Saturday. Everyone that I met who knew this couple, all said how lovely they were, and that they were so great together, and I can confirm that this is also what I thought after only meeting them a couple of times.

The colour theme for their wedding was Manx Tartan (yes the men wore kilts!), which has blue, purple, yellow, green and white, representing the colours in our beautiful Island landscape. The flowers I used included Delphiniums, Ranunculus, Narcissi, Tulips, and Tanecetum, with lots of natural foliage to give the designs a natural and rustic feel.

The mood of this wedding was very personal and relaxed and Joanne had collected and created lots of items to make the day really feel special. She bought in a box full of metal and enamel jugs for me to use as tablecentres and had also handpainted little babyfood jars to fill with flowers too.

The Ceremony was in the Chapel of St. Johns and as well as the two pedestal arrangements from The Flower Studio, the church was filled with floral arrangements. Each pew had a twig heart, hanging from a length of Manx Tartan Ribbon and adorned with a single silk daffodil flower. I could see that the DIY aspect of this wedding was not stopping with the painted babyfood jars!

And I wasn't wrong, because when I arrived at The Hop Garden to deliver the table centres, you could see that Joanne and James had put so much thought into the reception. Each place setting had a cute metal bucket filled with chocolates for the favour and attached to the bucket was a label with a different message on each one.

As well as painting all the babyfood jars (they were all individual!) on each table were 2 recycled wine or liquor bottles and they had been painted beautifully with the Bride and Groom's names, the date and lots of pretty flowers. Inside the bottle were some battery operated fairy lights which I imagine looked stunning after the sun went down.

We speak to a lot of engaged couples every week at The Flower Studio and they all want their big day to stand out, but that does not necessarily mean you have to spend a lot of money. I bet the guests at Joanne and James's wedding on Saturday were thrilled to see all the personal touches the couple had put in to their day and these touches will have made it a day to remember.

We would love to see any of the unique and DIY ideas you have seen at weddings, whether your own, or someone elses, and any really original ideas will be featured on this Blog.

Get up and Grow with The Flower Studio!

2011-04-22T10:58:00.000+01:00

For those of you that have visited us down at Tynwald Mills in the last few weeks, you may of noticed a lot of dust and noise coming from the Garden Centre area....

Well, the dust has settled and has been swept away, and the only noise you can here is the trickling water in the stream and the birds singing in the trees, and the Garden Centre area has been transformed into a beautiful oasis, full of eyecatching plant specimens, colourful herbaceous perennials and stylish garden statues and furniture.

We are also excited to introduce the famous brand of David Austin Roses, which, in case you have never had the pleasure, are stunning scented English Roses, with masses of petals and a wide range of colours from soft creams and peaches to deep crimson and cerise.

I first saw David Austin Roses at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (to be honest, I smelt them before I saw them!), and have been in love ever since! They have been a popular cut flower for weddings that we have done at The Flower Studio and now you can all enjoy them in your own gardens too!

One of my favourites is Rose 'Alan Titchmarsh' with its soft fragrance and deep pink petals, but we have 17 other varieties to choose from, so I recommend you pay us a visit and smell/see them for yourself!

Keep watching this space as we are going to start a regular 'Rose-Care' feature, following the progress of a David Austin Rose in one of our customers gardens.

Our Easter Weekend opening times:

Good Friday 10-5.30

Saturday 10-5.30

Easter Sunday - Closed

Easter Monday - 10-5.30

Spring Bridal Photoshoot

2011-04-15T12:38:00.000+01:00

Last Sunday, I was honoured to be asked again to join photography extraordinaire Shan Fisher on a Vintage Spring Bridal Shoot. The weather forecast was excellent, so the chosen location was St Johns Arboretum, a beautiful setting just around the corner from The Flower Studio with lush green lawns and trees covered in blossom.

I created two lots of flowers to fit in with the theme, one with muted pinks and blues and the other with zingy orange, yellow and green. Both palettes are perfect for a Spring themed wedding and we used lots of seasonal flowers, so they are great for Brides that are on a budget.

Spring Posy - Ranunculus, Viburnum, Tanecetum, Fritillaria, and Craspedia.

Spring Buttonhole - Craspedia, Fritillaria and Tanecetum, tied with green satin ribbon.

We had boxes of props to use for the photoshoot, and 2 gorgeous models, so along with the sunshine and Shan's talented photography skills, the pictures turned out so beautifully (I actually got goosebumps when I first saw them!). The first set can be seen on Shan's Photography Blog which is full of lots of other Bridal inspiration and also the photos from the Manx Bridal Fashion Shoot

Easter Workshop

2011-04-06T16:17:00.003+01:00

It is the time of year where we dig out all our eggs, feathers, and all things Easter!

We would love you join us at our Easter workshop, where we will show you how to make your very own Easter arrangement, using seasonal flowers and foliage and gorgeous accessories. You don't need to have any experience of designing with flowers as we will show you all the techniques required. We will also provide all the materials required to make your design, so all you need to bring is yourself!

This year, we are holding our Easter workshop in the beautiful setting of Milntown Estate and gardens in Ramsey. The workshop will take place in the grand and historic Dining Room and tea or coffee will be provided in the restaurant with views over the walled garden.

The cost of the workshop is £60.00 per person, and will run on Monday 18th of April from 9.30am until 1pm. The price includes all of your materials for the design, tea/coffee and also a ticket to look around the picturesque garden afterwards.

This will be a fun and informal workshop, no experience necessary, but as spaces are limited, we advise you book as soon as possible. To book your place, call The Flower Studio on 800061, or pop in to the shop at Tynwald Mills.

I Love You Mum

2011-03-29T17:52:00.000+01:00

If I bought my Mum the biggest and most wonderful bouquet of flowers that money could buy, I still don't think it would be enough to say thank you for all the love and support she has given me over the last how-ever-many years!

Any Mum, whether she has had 30 plus years of experience or is a brand new Mum with all that excitement in front of her, deserves something every day to remind them how special they are and The Flower Studio has so many lovely designs for you to choose from, as well as a wide variety of funky houseplants and luxury handcreams and toiletries.

This Mother's Day (Sunday 3rd April), our dedicated team of drivers will be delivering all over the Isle of Man on the Saturday and Sunday, so whatever treats you have planned for your Mum, we can add to her day with a beautiful floral gift.

Our shop at Tynwald Mills is open on Saturday 2nd April and Sunday 3rd April from 9am until 5.30pm, so why not call in and choose your gift. Alternatively, we can take orders over the phone on 01624 800061 or through our website

And if you are still looking for the perfect Mother's Day card, have a look at Boho Wedding & Events Blog for some unusual and bespoke designs.

We're walking on Sunshine...

2011-03-23T15:33:00.000Z

As I said in the last Blog post, I am not biased towards pink flowers, so as promised, I have captured part of the other end of the spectrum for you to gaze at.

And what a beautiful sunny day to share these cheery flowers with you, well here on the Isle of Man it is anyway. If you are not blessed with this glorious Spring weather, then just focus on the following pictures, and pretend you have you own personal piece of sunshine!

Which is your favourite?

The bobbing heads of Craspedia, or the papery petals of Tanecetum...

Pale Narcissi 'Minnow' or bright and cheery 'Tete a Tete'...

Big bold Helianthus 'Sunrich Orange' or the delicate peach and green tinted petals of Rose 'Cosima'... a girl's name which appropriately means 'beauty'.

So this week there is sunshine inside and outside our shop... why not come down and take a piece home for yourself?

Warning - This shop contains gorgeous blooms and delightful scents....

2011-03-17T16:58:00.001Z

We should have that on a sign outside the shop....

I love it when people walk through the door and gasp, then take another deep breath and are surprised that they can smell the beauty as well as see it. Even the men are doing it!

So for this Blog post I thought I would let the flowers do the talking. All you have to do is imagine the smell. Or you could come and visit us in the shop, we would love to see you!

Ranunuculus 'Cappuchino'

Pussy Willow and Cherry Blossom

Rose ' Upper Secret'

Rose 'Glorious' - isn't it??

Yes, more Ranunculus, but I love them. This one is called 'Pauline'. Pretty isn't she?

I seem to be in a pink mood today, which isn't unusual. But I now feel sad for the little yellow Narcissi that I have overlooked. I will share them with you soon, I promise.

My Heart Belongs to You....

2011-03-14T09:00:00.001Z

So, to celebrate the start of our working week (!) I thought I would show you how to make one of our popular heart designs from The Flower Studio. The beauty of this design is that it can be made to any size, for any occasion and using a wide range of materials... so you can either follow the instructions to the letter, or make the design more unique and personal to yourself.

Ingredients:

Twigs - we have used Birch, but any can be used, so long as they have a bit of bend in them!

Scented foliage or herbs, such as rosemary and eucalyptus

Twine, or string

Ribbon or raffia

Butterflies or other cute accessories

Silk Flowers- you can use real, but don't expect them to last much longer than 1 or 2 days.

1 - divide the twigs into two even(ish) bundles

2 - tie the two bundles at one end to make a 'V' shape

3 - Bend over one side of the 'V' and tie to the lower half of the other side

4 - repeat with the other half of the 'V' to make your heart. If you are using bushy twigs, you might need to bind in or snip off any loose ends - depends how neat you want your heart to be!

5 - tie or wedge in small pieces of your foliage around the edge of the heart

Make a bow for the centre of the heart and a loop to hang it up and then attach the butterflies and flowers to the outside.

This design has been used quite often for weddings, but can also make a gorgeous gift for a loved one... and with Mother's day less than 3 weeks away, we think you should get those creative juices flowing!

Here are two more versions of the design, this time using fresh flowers.

Have fun!

Handmade + Vintage = Love

2011-03-11T10:37:00.000Z

The last year has provided us with so many opportunities to be involved with loads of lovely couples big days, and a lot of those weddings from 2010 had a handmade vintage feel. This trend appears to be continuing into 2011 which I have to say we are really excited about!

So we have decided to introduce our Vintage Keepsake Bouquets, for those Brides who want a wedding bouquet that will last a lifetime (and even longer!). These pretty posies are made up to include mementos and keepsakes from the couples relationship together, material from the Bride's or Bridesmaids' dresses, champagne cork from their engagement, photographs, old family brooches or jewellery.... anything can be included to make the Bouquet a personal treasure. And our designers will fill in any gaps with fabric, jewels, vintage buttons and other accessories to ensure the bouquet is perfect for the big day.

As well as the Bride's bouquet, we can also design buttonholes, Bridesmaid's Posies and other accessories. We also like to work closely with other local artists who also make beautiful handmade items, such as hair flowers and favours. Two of our favourites are Paperstitch and Manxmiss, both have a gorgeous selection of handmade hairflowers, headdresses, brooches, and favours, all beautifully made with cute details.

If you are interested in having one of our Keepsake bouquets, come in to our shop at Tynwald Mills and have a chat about your ideas!

Monday is for Making Things!

2011-03-07T12:20:00.003Z

So, if you have been following our little Blog the last couple of days, you will know that we have just celebrated our 2nd Birthday and this week we are looking at some of the wonderful experiences that have happened in our shop since we opened.

Yesterday I shared some photos from our workshops, and seeing as we have our Flower Design School class this evening, I thought I would do a 'How To' feature so those of you that aren't coming this evening can still join in the creativity and make something! And if you like this feature, let me know with a comment and it might become a regular Monday post.

Funky Candle Table Centre

Ingredients:

1 Chunky candle, string or binding wire, decorative wire, wool or ribbon, buttons or beads, selection of cut flowers (we have used Rose 'Red Naomi', Craspedia and orange and cerise Germini)

Picture 1: tie one end of the string tightly around the candle, leaving a length of string to tie off at the end of the design

Pictures 2 & 3: Holding the candle in one hand, place the flowers under the long end of the string, winding it around the candle and keeping it tight to hold the stems in place.

Picture 4: Once all the flowers are around the candle, wind the string around an extra couple of times for good measure, and tie off using the shorter length from the start.

Picture 5: Use your ribbon or wool to cover the string.

Picture 6: Trim the stems of the flowers so that they are the same as the bottom of the candle.

Place the candle in a bowl or on a plate and add just enough water so that the bottom of the stems are covered.

Thread your buttons and beads on to the piece of decorative wire and loosely bind around the base of the design to finish.

Voila! Stand back and admire your floral Masterpiece!

The Birthday Celebrations Continue...

2011-03-06T11:00:00.002Z

Yesterday was our 2nd Birthday and this week we are sharing some of our favourite moments with you from the last 2 years.

Wonderful Workshops...

Hearts And Stars

Christmas Wreath

Flower Studio Design School

We love holding our workshops and are always open to new ideas... if there is something you would like to learn, come and ask us! Keep up to date with our workshops and other events on our website Events Page

Coming up tomorrow.... We don't just do White Weddings....

Happy Birthday To Us! 2 Today!

2011-03-05T08:00:00.004Z

Wow, doesn't time fly when you're having fun? Today we celebrate our 2nd Birthday and the last two years have been such an amazing experience, full of laughter and meeting some fantastic people along the way!

Over the next week or two, I will be sharing with you some of these experiences and events that have made The Flower Studio what it is today. And on behalf of everyone here, would like to thank you all for your support and love of all things floral... after all, that is why we do what we do!

In the beginning....

Noel (joiner, shopfitter, painter,boyfriend!) taking a well earned tea-break!)

2 years ago today...

Our doors opened for the first time!

More to come tomorrow!

International Women's Day - 8th March 2011

2011-02-28T11:01:00.002Z

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. This day of celebration dates back to 1911 and was formed to honour the work of the Suffragettes who marched through New York City in 1908 campaigning for women's right to vote.

Now, we shouldn't need a reason to buy a lady some flowers but here at The Flower Studio we are sure there are some pretty amazing women out there who deserve a bit of a treat. So to mark the Centenary celebrations of International Women's Day we are having a little competition to win a stunning bouquet of flowers worth £100 and here is what you need to do!

Email The Flower Studio and let us know which lady in your life has inspired you... it is that simple! Whether it is your Mum, Grandma, Sister, Teacher, Friend, Neighbour, or Colleague... have they helped you, supported you, loved you, cared for you in a way that makes them stand out as someone extra special? We will choose the best story (althought I think that will be very difficult!) and the winner will receive our bouquet.

Click here to find out more about International Women's Day Celebrations around the world.

Terms and Conditions apply. Delivery of the Bouquet is only possible to an address on the Isle of Man. No Cash alternative. Judges decision is final. Closing date for competition is Monday 7th March.

Sefton Hotel Wedding Fair, Saturday 26th February, 12-3pm

2011-02-24T11:59:00.000Z

We are really looking forward to meeting lots of lovely Brides (and Grooms)-to-be, at The Sefton Hotel Wedding Fair this Saturday. Our stand will be in the Atrium next to the talented Shan (Shan's Photography), so come and say Hello!

Other confirmed exhibitors are:

Beautiful Music String Quartet

Switched on Entertainment

Graih My Chree Wedding Stationary

Balloons 2 Go

Finishing Touches/A3 Marquees

The Palace

Manx Miss

P.A.O.S. Ltd

Itsy Ditsy Hats

Plus many more!

Come and grab a bargain!

2011-02-17T14:29:00.000Z

The Flower Studio Sale is coming to a close, which means there are loads of amazing bargains to be had as we start our final clearance.

We have vases, ceramic containers, birdcages, coloured pebbles, silk flowers, zinc buckets, soaps, toiletries and candles in the sale, with reductions of up to 70% on selected items!

And to give you a bit of inspiration....

Glass Bud Vase was £7.00 now only £2.50

Green pebbles, were £6.50 per bag, now only £3.00

Charger plate, was £7.95, now only £3.50

Add a couple of stems from our cut flower display (we have used Narcissi 'Paperwhite' and Aspidistra 'Milky Way') and create your own elegant floral design!

Don't end up in the Dog House this Valentine's Day - Monday 14th February!

2011-02-07T14:58:00.003Z

The count down to Valentine's Day has started and hopefully, by this time next week you and your loved one will have declared (or re-declared!) your love for one another, swapped gifts and be looking forward to a night of romance!

If you haven't already decided what gift to get for your other half, then why not look at our stunning Valentine's collection of flowers. Starting from just £19.99 plus delivery and with finishing touches like yummy chocolates and fun balloons, there is something there for all tastes and budgets.

We have secured hundreds of stunning red roses from the Dutch auctions including the beautiful 'Red Naomi' and velvety 'Upper Class', both varieties have an excellent vase life and will gradually open to show off their large full petalled blooms. And if you want to break from the norm, we have a glorious selection of other flowers, including white and pink roses, orchids, tulips and seasonal spring flowers. Don't leave the order too late though as we would hate you to be disappointed!

'Red Naomi' Heart (courtesy of Schreurs)

Don't forget to enter our competition on our Facebook page as well.... all you need to do is upload a romantic photo of you and your beloved and the one that has the most 'Likes' by the close of business on Saturday 12th February will receive a beautiful Valantine's Day Bouquet!

Mmmm Mimosa

2011-02-03T17:08:00.000Z

Walk through our shop door, close your eyes and take a deep breath.....

That fragrance that is delicately dancing up your nostrils is the beautiful Mimosa and it is one of my all time favourites! After doing a bit of research I found out the Mimosa is actually renowned for its healing properties and is widely used in alternative medicines for its uplifting and energising effect. That must be why it has made me feel so happy!

Spreading the Happiness...

Get some Mimosa in your life!

Mimosa stems - available during February and March at The Flower Studio £2.50 per stem (and other happy florist shops nationwide I'm sure!) Put a few stems in a vase on your breakfast table to lift your spirits at the start of the day.

Mimosa room spray - for year round scent when the cut flowers are out of season! Diptyque Mimosa Room Spray £34 John Lewis

Mimosa perfume - For a bit of luxury, Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Tiare Mimosa Women's Fragrance mixes the scent of Mimosa with citrus zest, vanilla and other flowery notes.

Add finally... A Mimosa Cocktail!

Ingredients:

1 part Disaronno

2 parts fresh orange juice

Champagne to top up

Method:

Pour the Disaronno into a tall champagne flute and mix in the orange juice. Top up with chilled Champagne and garnish with a slice or two of orange.

Best served immeditely, with friends!

Getting Married?

2011-01-28T15:48:00.001Z

Wedding Fairs are a great source of inspiration for Brides-to-be (and Grooms) as there are a whole host of wedding industry professionals under one roof waiting to show you their talents!

We are exhibiting at the following wedding fairs in the next couple of months:

Glen Helen Inn Wedding Fair

Sunday 30th January 12 - 4pm

Claremont Hotel Wedding Fair

Sunday 6th February 12 - 4pm

Sefton Hotel Wedding Fair

Saturday 26th February 12 - 3pm

To keep up to date with more of The Flower Studio Events visit our events page on our website

Top Tips to get the most

out of a Wedding Fair

Take a pen and notebook to jot down things you liked from certain vendors. You will get given heaps of business cards and brochures during the day and you don't want to get home and forget which one had the really nice flowers/chair covers/favours!
Take a bag to put all these brochures and cards in! Some stands also give away freebies or testers so it is worth having somewhere to stash them.. And wear comfy shoes... there is a lot of walking to do!
Speak to as many vendors as you can, after all, we are there to sell ourselves to you and will be able to give you free advice and tips on the day. We are in the wedding industry because we love weddings and are more than happy to talk about them!
Keep an eye out for special discounts and prizedraws but don't ever be pressured in to commiting to anything on the day if you aren't 100% sure of the product.
Take you diary/Blackberry/organiser so you can book follow up visits with any of the vendors you like.
Don't forget your camera too! Some Fairs have fashion shows and you never know when you'll spot the perfect dress!
If you have your dress or Bridemaids dresses picked, it is always worth taking a photo or fabric swatches with you as this can help with decisions about flowers, favours, invitations and anything else you want to co-ordinate!
Make sure you have some cash or a cheque book with you as some stalls will be selling their goods on the day, such as fashion accessories and jewellery or you might want to place a deposit.

Go to as many Wedding Fairs as you can as there are usually different companies exhibiting at different hotels and venues, and if your Groom can only handle one, I'm sure your Mum or chief Bridesmaid would be more than happy to come with you!

A Rose by any other name...

2011-01-24T15:20:00.001Z

We all know that the red rose is the traditional symbol of Romance, but what if it doesn't set off a spark in your heart? We wanted to show you some alternative flowers and bouquets that you can order this Valentines day, that have all of the passion, but none of the cliche!

Pretty in Pink: A contemporary posy of pink garden roses and seasonal tulips is a perfect gift for all 'girly girls', it still says romance but with the vintage garden style that is so in fashion at the moment.

All things Bright and Beautiful: An eclectic mix of spring flowers, including Tulips, Anemones, Freesia and Lisianthus, a bouquet of brightly coloured blooms to put a bit of sunshine in to your loved ones day!

Sparkling Rose Cube: If you still think that red Roses are the best way to declare your love, then instead of going for the traditional 12 red rose bouquet, why not opt for a funky Rose arrangement like this in a silver glass cube with diamante accents? And we could even hide a real diamond in there if you have a really special message to send!

Diamond rings from a selection at Charles Alexander Jewellers

And remember, each Valentines order that we receive before close of business on 31st January will receive a free box of chocolates with their order. Orders will be available for delivery on Saturday 12th, Sunday 13th and Monday 14th of February. Visit our online shop for more details.

Wake up and smell the Narcissi!

2011-01-14T14:28:00.000Z

At last, a sunny day, blue skies and only a breath of wind, could Spring be on its way? Well, it certainly is in The Flower Studio, with the arrival of cut Hyacinth and Narcissi this week. Just close your eyes and take a deep breath and you almost forget about all the snow and ice that lay on the ground a few weeks ago!

A beautiful mixed Spring flower bouquet is guaranteed to make anyone smile, but for a more longlasting gift, we also have a selection of planted bulbs, including Muscari, Amaryllis, Tulip, Hyacinth and Narcissi. Most of these bulbs aren't in flower yet so to add a splash of colour to the design we have accessorised with cute toadstools, fabric daisy flowers, twigs and ribbons.

And we mustn't forget our Plant of the Month... the pretty Crocus! In the Garden Centre we have pots of Crocus bulbs in purple, yellow and white, ready to plant in your garden for a special price of £3 per pot. Crocus are usually one of the first Spring flowers to appear and are great for naturalising under trees or hedges to give dark areas of the garden a splash of colour.

We also have Crocus vases, in sets of 3 which are perfect for growing on a windowsill and then the bulbs can be planted outside to flower again next year.

A little bit of inspiration....

2011-01-10T16:28:00.000Z

The first week back at work since the New Year began had a predominant theme: Brides getting organised! From those who had already booked The Flower Studio to design their wedding flowers coming in to chat, to those who were newly engaged popping in to flick through our portfolio and wedding magazines, as well as a handful of Wedding Consultations.... We've certainly been busy!

So I thought, while I was still in the wedding frame of mind, I would blog some photos of weddings we did in 2010 to show how different wedding bouquets can be! I hope you enjoy and would love to know your favourite, so please leave a comment!

Handtied posy of David Austin 'Patience' Rose, Rose 'Vendella' and 'Vivianne!'

Handtied posy of David Austin 'Juliet' rose, Tritilleria, Delphinium, Scabious, Passionflower and Lily longiflorum, bound with satin edged ribbon from VV Rouleaux (one of the most beautiful shops I have ever been in!)

Handtied posy of Cymbidium orchids, Calla lilies, Clematis, Campanula, Eryngium, Fountain grass and peacock feathers, bound with satin ribbon and a vintage brooch

A photo from the Manx Bridal Fashion photoshoot, with the lovely Teri Anne modelling a contemporary Orb bouquet and matching headpiece. The flowers in this design are Dendrobium orchids and Calla lillies.

Contemporary wirework bouquet with Phalaenopsis and Vanda orchids, blue 'Vendella' rose petals and single Hydrangea flowers.

Jenni wanted a large single contemporary flower such as a Hydrangea or Paeony for her bouquet, but she also wanted it to be dark purple to match her colour scheme and although Hydrangeas come in a wide variety of colours from pure white to dusky vintage pink and bright blue, we were unable to find a colour suitable. So to give the effect of a single large flower, we wired single and double Lisianthus flowers to create a perfect domed posy and the same in white for her Bridesmaids... it was fiddly work, but definietly worth it for the end result! Jenni and George's wedding went on to feature on the fabulous 'Rock N Roll Bride' website and in Perfect Wedding magazine (issue 49). To see more of Jenni's purple wedding have a look at Shan's Photography Blog.

This bouquet has already appeared on this blog back in the summer (the what? Such a distant memory...) but it is still one of my favourites from last year, not only because of the gorgeous vintage colours and scented roses but because it is going to be appearing in 'The Decoy Bride' film with the gorgeous David Tennant (along with some equally beautiful actors and actresses I'm sure), and will be showing on the silver screen in Summer 2011.

Now I have to admit, Rachel's trailing shower bouquet was one of my favourites, don't get me wrong, I LOVE all the designs we create for each wedding as they are all unique to each Bride and her day, but I think Rachel chose to go for a style that is the sort of fairytale bouquet little girls dream of having when they meet their Prince Charming (in Rachel's case, the handsome Will!). Her stunning bouquet was made from Rose 'Memory Lane', 'Vendella', and 'Milano', local Manx grown Delphiniums, Campaula, Honeysuckle and Aster complimented with a mixture of scented and trailing garden foliage.

This is just a small selection of the bouquets we have designed for our beautiful Brides over the last year, but if you would like to see more, come and see us in our shop at Tynwald Mills, or browse our website and Facebook pages. We will also be at the Glen Helen Wedding Fair on the 20th January, and the Sefton Hotel Wedding Fair on the 26th February so come and say Hello!

In the next few weeks I will be posting a blog with my predictions for wedding flowers styles for 2011/2012 and also a very exciting competition for any Bride gettting married on the Isle of Man in 2012, so keep checking back with us!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2010-12-07T14:20:00.000Z

How much fun was had at our Traditional Wreath Workshop last night?? Lots, that's how much!

Jill & Anne-Marie with their beautiful Door Wreaths

Everyone was given the choice of exactly the same ingredients and accessories, but they all left with totally different designs, unique to them and their tastes.

And they finished their wreaths so quickly I had to fill the last half an hour with a demo of a Christmas Handtied bouquet, using a willow wreath as the frame! It was a great evening and I can't wait until tonight, just hoping it won't be quite so icy on the way home though!

Even Lil'Ted had turned blue and put his woolly hat on!

Early New Years resolution!

2010-12-06T14:34:00.000Z

I have to admit that my frequency of Blog posts is not great... in fact it is rubbish, and for that I apologise!

So I am making a little bit of an early New Years Resolution.... to write at least 2 posts per week! Yes you lucky readers, I promise to give you your weekly fill of flowers, plants and all things lovely!

Be prepared for plenty of photos of all the gorgeousness that comes in and out of our shop on a daily basis as well as some simple step by step designs for you to make yourself at home.

I would love to hear your ideas as well, let me know if there is anything you want to see, or would like me to write about, and I will do my best to make your wishes come true.

For now, here are a couple of photos to wet your appetite and I wish you all a very Happy Monday x

Festive Candle Arrangement with yummy oranges & cinnamon sticks

Silver & White candle arrangement with Honesty seedheads and pretty Hellebores

I LOVE Christmas!!

Awesome Autumn!

2010-09-01T18:02:00.001+01:00

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Autumn... yes its my birthday in the first week of September, but the thing I get most excited about is the rich palette of colours that are in season. Everywhere you look, there are rusts, golds and bronzes... fiery colours to warm up the slightly cooler days.

And it is no different in The Flower Studio! This weeks sees the launch of our Autumn Collection, including flowers such as golden Roses, deep orange Lilies, bright yellow Solidago and scented bronze freesias. Why not have a browse through our online shop to see more?

But if you can't see what you are looking for online, then we have loads more in the shop at Tynwald Mills and the selection will change weekly, so give us a ring on 800061 to chat to one of our designers.

In the meantime, I will share my excitement with you in the form of some photos! Enjoy!

Malus (crab-apple)... I can't wait to put these in a bouquet!

Locally grown Chrysanthemum Blooms

Wreaths aren't just for Christmas... this Mushroom and Acorn design will look fab hanging from your door right now!

Or perhaps something a bit brighter with this Pumpkin &

Berry design?