Spring greens

Over the Easter holidays, I did deliveries for some contract work for my college. The tutors and technician needed a proper break, and I was happy to get some different work experience. It was a little bit scary having so much responsibility (the client is a chef with a number of restaurants all over London), but once the first day was over, I felt fine. The driver was brilliant, as was the supply tutor at college (who made most of the designs during the Easter break). The work involved packing and carrying flower arrangements (some were huge) to and from the restaurants, doing maintenance work at some restaurants (i.e. removing wilting flowers and topping up arrangements and outside plants with water), and making lots of small table arrangements on site for three of the restaurants. One day, I got to college at 7am, only to find my poor tutor madly trying to make arrangements that were supposed to have been made in his absence, so I helped out – and wow, I have never worked so fast or so instinctively! Doing this work has certainly tempered my tendency to over-think arrangements.

Here are some of the arrangements that I’ve made.

And here are some others in situ.

One restaurant had new arrangements three times a week. The old flowers would be thrown away, and it seemed like a waste, so one day I asked if I could take them back with me. My tutor gave me a new stem of cymbidium orchids that hadn’t been used, and I made a table centre for my friend and three little arrangements for me. I think this shows how effective simple arrangements and grouping the same flower and/or colour can be. These parrot tulips and orchids were used in different arrangements for the contract work, and they are two flowers that I wouldn't have thought of putting together, but I loved how the lime green colour and curvy shapes linked them so well.

Right place, right time

Last week was my friend’s 30th birthday. She used to be my mentor at work, and is one of the loveliest people you could hope to meet. When I asked if she had a present request, she said she wanted me to do a bouquet for her, which I did with pleasure.

It’s inspired by a beautiful dress that she wore when we saw Fantastic Mr Fox at the London Film Festival opening night (we got a kick out of walking down a red carpet!) – ideally I would have used purple and red anemones, but as it’s summer and not spring, I used lisianthus and vanda orchids.

Some flowers have such great names – the orchids are called Black Magic and the scented roses are called Norma Jeane. They even have a picture of Marilyn on the cellophane wrapper!

As I was carrying them, I was asked about them by some staff who work in the hair salon in Fenwick of Bond Street. They told me that their colleague was leaving later that week, and asked if I would do a bouquet for her. I was gobsmacked and delighted! I asked what she was like, so I had an idea of what sort of flowers and colours to use.

I did a softer and lighter arrangement with pink bouvardia, purple veronica, huge pink roses from my garden, and Norma Jeane roses and garden jasmine to add some fragrance. As I don’t drive and I had to deliver them to the West End anyway, I carefully carried them up on the train and tube – I went mid-afternoon so there was less chance of them getting squashed in rush hour commuter traffic! Judging by the reaction of the lady who ordered them, and the lady they were for, I think they liked them.

I’d gladly recommend the Headmasters Blow Out Bar in Fenwick – the staff are incredibly friendly and talented, it’s calmer than many other salons in Central London, and although they have a menu of styles on the wall, they will happily suggest something a bit different.

And of course I have to thank my friend – had it not been for her birthday request, I wouldn’t have got my first commission!