Nancy and Andrew came to see us with bags of amazing ideas for their DIY garden themed wedding. Set in the grounds of Wasing Park's Secret Garden they really wanted to take inspiration from the gorgeous surroundings.
After choosing the wonderful Laura Babb for their wedding photography, Nancy and Andrews wedding was featured on Rock My Wedding. Read all about their big day here
All photographs copyright Babb Photo
Nancy also took the time to write us this fantastic testimonial! We loved been part of their big day!
Drum roll please!
We are all delighted to announce our Summer Flower Schools for 2013.
The perfect way to learn a new skill, get the girls together for a good old giggle or treat someone special, our flower schools will guide you through the process of making gorgeous arrangements.
- Thursday 1st August 2013 from 19:30
- Tuesday 3rd September 2013 from 11:00
- Thursday 26th September 2013 from 19:30
We will show you how to make our signature hand-tied arrangement in a vase using the
freshest seasonal flowers. Price includes 2 hours hands on tuition with a floral expert, all the
flowers that will be used in the arrangements, any containers we may use and some rather
delicious cakes and fancy drinks. Classes are limited to 6 people and cost £55.00 per person
- Thursday 22nd August 2013 from 19:30
- Tuesday 8th October 2013 from 11:00
Learn the art of dressing your table with fresh seasonal flowers. From the main centre piece right through
to every place setting detail. Price includes 2 hours hands on tuition with a floral expert, all the
flowers that will be used in the arrangements, any containers we may use and some rather
delicious cakes and fancy drinks. Classes are limited to 6 people and cost £55.00 per person.
The stuff we love on Pinterest this week ...
We've gone a bit craft crazy in the shop and are completely head over heels with this pinwheel DIY tutorial from Style Me Pretty Living. Take a look at their DIY tutorial here.
I can feel a little pinwheel obsession coming on!
These amazing little lights are perfect for a party. Cover paper cups in the most fancy of papers and thread little lights through for a perfect way to celebrate.
We love sparkly things and we were totally bowled over by this amazing DIY sequined elbow patch tutorial. I think we may have to attach elbow patches to all sorts of clothing.
To see this and more loveliness you must come and say hello to us on Pinterest
Take a look at last weeks favourite pins here
The stuff we love on Pinterest this week ...
I love this dress.
Really love it.
Can't stop thinking about it love it. I love most things Jenny Packham designs but this little number has completely stolen my heart.
These gorgeous little vintage stars are the perfect decoration for cakes. Its made me want to bake lots of goodies this weekend.
Flags! what an amazing window display. Completely adore everything about this image.
To see this and more loveliness you must come and say hello to us on Pinterest
Every girl loves a crown. Flower crowns are the must have accessory of 2013. Don't just wear them to weddings, slip one on whilst popping out for your weekly shop, glam up any evening dress with this floral DIY post.
Invest in a good pair of scissors. We always use these yellow handled beauties - perfect for cutting stems and wires alike.
We've suggested using 3 different wires. One thicker wire which you will wrap around your head to get the correct measurements and 2 different wires for your flowers.
Parafilm will become your new best friend - pop it down your top until you are ready to use it. This will get it nice and warm, making it super flexible and stopping it from snapping every time you pull it tight.
There are loads of different ways you can make a floral crown. In this DIY tutorial we will show you the method where you will bind the flowers onto a metal hair band. Its a little less fiddly than the other methods, and is also a lot quicker allowing you to knock up a floral crown 10 minutes before your guests arrive.
So first off get a long length of your thicker wire and wrap it around your head where you would like your finished crown to fit. At the ends you want to make some loops which you can use to pin the crown to your head for some added security. I like to tie ribbons into these loops too for a little detailing at the back of my head.
Wiring the flowers! This is where the fun starts...
We've chosen to use lots of different flowers in our crown including; carnations, waxflower, calendula, mini daisies and little spray roses. You can pretty much use anything, although some things may wilt a little quicker than others.
For most stems the wiring methods shown in the above diagrams will see you through. For thicker stems where you can pierce the wire through the base of the flower (carnations, roses etc) I would suggest using fig. 1 - 3. If you've got a thinner stem like waxflower or the mini daisies you want to create a little U shape and wrap the wire against itself see fig. 4-6 for our how to.
After you've neatly wired each flower you want to cover the stems in the parafilm. Pull it tight, almost to breaking point and twizzle your stem or wire to wrap it around.
Start wrapping you parafilmed wires around your wire headband. Layer each flower overlapping the next. I love a statement piece ... go big or go home!
One floral crown ready and raring to go!
Send us a snap of your floral crown outings ... pretty please!
Working with beautiful flowers every day means we really notice a change in the season. There is always excitement about all the wonderful new flowers that are starting to filter into the shop, some old favourites (delphiniums, feverfew and peonies!) make there way into zinc jugs, some new varieties grace the presence of our hand tied bouquets. But its also time to say goodbye and au revoir for another year. This week we said our final farewell to our faithful friend the ranunculus.
Can't wait to see you next year buddy xxx
The wonderful Rosie Parsons aka the brains behind the beautiful blog LoveLuxe asked us some time ago to provide her with a series of expert posts about flowers.
How could we say no?!?
Come and take a look at Emily and Andrews big day on LoveLuxe, with some gorgeous images by the very talented duo behind Aston and Ainsworth photography.
Big love to Rosie for featuring our first post ... can't wait to share some more gorgeous images with you all soon.
Some years ago, I used to work in Pangbourne. I was in my early twenties, and there weren't many people in the village who I knew. The woman in the gift shop would say hello to me, and the chaps in Greens always had some friendly banter for me when I went in to buy a pie, but I didn't really know anyone in the village other than my colleagues.
The shop across the road had closed. Something was going on inside - there were comings and goings, and people were fitting the shop out for something new. I wondered what was coming. I couldn't think what it would be - in a village like Pangbourne, where we already had a fabulous cheese shop - an excellent butchers, and some lovely gift and boutique shops. I started to walk past each day - looking in through the windows trying to work out what it was going to be - when finally the word started to go around... it's going to be a florist shop. Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear; there goes my salary!
I've always loved flowers, and have always struggled to walk past a florist without popping in and buying something, but when Green Parlour opened, it was something different. It was like an Aladdin's cave to me - there was something about the "feel" of the shop which was unavoidable. As soon as I saw that the shop was open, I crossed the road, and popped my head around the door... behind the counter, putting together an amazing hand-tied bouquet, was a lady who was to become one of my greatest friends - this beaming smile greeted me - "Hello, I'm Emma, welcome to our shop". I don't think I've ever had such a heartfelt welcome from anyone in any shop, before, or since. I soon learnt that the reason for this, is because Emma is genuine, she is passionate about her business, and she is passionate about the plants and flowers that she sells. She really meant what she was saying - she was glad to meet me as someone who she would be working alongside in Pangbourne, and she was obviously very proud of what they had created - and rightfully so. The shop was completely unrecogniseable - there were things to look at everywhere you turned, but it wasn't the things to look at which will remain forever imprinted in my memory - it was the absolutely knock out smell! The smell never seemed to change whenever you went in - it didn't matter what time of year it was, or what plants she had in stock - it was just what I have come to think of in my mind as the "Green Parlour" smell - a mixture of fresh flowers, houseplants, and beautiful candles. It is the smell of happiness, the smell of warmth, and overall, the smell of a friendly smile and often a cup of coffee and a chat.
Since that first time of walking into the shop, I have been in hundreds of times. Every time I walk in, it is like the first time - the smell
Blossom and Broom
Cherry blossom to be precise. Gorgeous beautiful blossom.
Full of meaning in Japan and China. Gentleness, kindness and feminine beauty.
I adore its soft pink blooms next to the sturdy deep glossy twig. Beautiful in an old cut glass vase. I’m hoping mine will root and perhaps with a little nurture I can place it out in the garden.
I am new to broom. Before now I have never seen its appeal and I’m happy to admit for the past 5 years I have missed out. Those tiny flowers house a beautiful soft fragrance.
Spring is all about fragrance, don’t you think?
Cheering people up with bouquets of beautiful flowers is something we seem to be doing a lot of this week but we're not complaining! This cold snap makes the mildness of last weekend seem like a bit of a tease and its seems I'm not the only one in Pangbourne who is feeling a little under the weather!
A part of my job that I really enjoy is hearing about the person that we'll be delivering to. Whether its an 'I love you' bouquet, a 'welcome to the world' bouquet, a bouquet being sent to someone who has just lost a loved one or my favorite - the 'just because' bouquet. Sometimes they say 'I know these are her favourite', or 'Those colour tones would be perfect in her kitchen' but this week its been 'Oh, anything lovely... something to cheer her up!' and that in itself makes me smile. That way I get to indulge and its a win-win; I get cheered up by making something to cheer someone else up!
My ideal 'just because bouquet' would definately have some zesty greens in it-perhaps some lovely Guelder Rose {Viburnum Opulus} and an array of spring flowers, bright ones at that! It must seem that we go on and on about spring flowers but they really are special. They are natures way of letting us know that new things are coming and it might be cold and frosty on the outside, underground the bulbs are working hard and soon those brave and optimistic Daffodils will come up and put a smile on everyone's face!
Of course flowers are not the only way to show someone that you care, it can be little things. A hand written note popped through the door, a lovely plant. Last week whilst donning my coat to brave the cold and go home for the day I found some chocolate treats that one of the lovely girls here had snaffled into my pocket without me noticing! I was touched and it was lovely!
