Silk roses

Please be kindly informed that we have moved! To read new blog posts, purchase our floral pieces and learn more about how to make flowers you are welcome to visit out new website.

Autumn is taking its toll on nature. The trees are showing their bare branches as the last leaves fall onto the cold wet ground. The grass is not as green any more. The days are short, grey and full of drizzly rain. Gardens seem to be hybernating and apart from a lonely pink nerine or a yellow spike of mahonia the eye does not see any bright colours.

Fortunately for us, handmade silk flowers are still there where the fresh ones might have gone. They please our eye and lift our spirits. Old English roses continue to flower despite the autumnal darkness.

Old English Rose brooch

I am often asked to do a rose tutorial. To be honest, roses are one of the most complicated flowers to be created out of silk and before  one attempts to try and make a complicated silk rose dozens of less complex flowers have to be made to gain enough experience, get to know the tools and properties of the silk, learn coloration techniques and flower shapes. Obviously a .pdf tutorial will not suffice in this case. Although a one-to-one session is ideal, in the modern world of technology the Skype lesson is next best. And now let's concentrate on Christmas pieces!

Accentuate your bridal sash with a silk rose

Lilac rose brooch

I must admit I like the idea of a beautiful silk flower accentuating a wedding dress sash. Painted by hand to match a wedding colour scheme it stands out against the white or cream froth of a bridal gown and yet complements the theme.

Hand made using a specialist technique the rose brooch is more durable than you might think yet delicate and beautiful, which makes it a great accessory even after your W-day. Wear it with a romantic outfit and it will always remind you of one really special day in your life.

Silk rose corsage for a bridal sash

The rose measures about 10 cm in diameter without foliage. The size of the brooch as well the the colour can be customised according to your preferences. To purchase the designer silk rose corsage before someone else snaps this desirable piece of wearable art please head to my Etsy store. There you can also place your custom order.

Peter Beales: classic English roses

Last Saturday in between the showers we set off to visit Peter Beales nursery, which so happens to be only 20 minutes drive from our place. Peter Beales, sadly deceased earlier this year, was very well known as a rosarian, author and lecturer. Beales was considered one of the leading experts on roses, especially species and classic roses, preserving many old varieties and introducing 70 new cultivars during his lifetime.

Our humble collection has one of Peter Beales' roses and we've got our eyes on another one for next year.

To read more please click here

Discount on WEDDING ACCESSORIES AND FABRIC FLOWERS

As the May promotion continues I am happy to offer a 10% discount on my line of wedding and bridal accessories and fabric flowers. The offer is valid till 23 May 2013. To redeem your discount please use 13WEDDING10 coupon code on check out at my ETSY store.

Double cherry blossom wreath

Handmade fabric flowers are ideal to decorate bridal hairdos, wedding dresses and shoes. They add finishing touches to bridal hats and fascinators, which are the modern alternatives to a classic bridal veil.

Pearl silk peony fascinator with a veil

You may choose fabric flowers if you wish to have a keepsake of this very important day in your life. For example, a groom's buttonhole, a mother of the bride's corsage, a maid of honour's wrist corsage etc.

Calla lily boutonniere

Whilst I would suggest you get your bridal bouquet from a florist, I would recommend the accessories (especially those used for hair and clothing) be handmade from fabric. In this case the choice of  attachments (comb, headband, hair clip, shoe clip, brooch pin etc.), colour options (blue rose, golden peony etc.), types of flowers (lily-of-the-valley, cornflower and similar are not found at florists) is almost endless.

Large assymmtrical rose in golden silk

If you opt for a themed wedding, for example, a sunflower theme, you could not do without handmade miniature fabric flowers. Imagine trying to decorate your hairdo with these huge blooms!

Silk and velvet sunflower for hair

Gone are the days when the wedding was only associated with whites, ivories, creams. Nowadays weddings have a colour scheme or a theme to them and these options are endless. They create opportunities for new ideas and interesting interpretations.
Whether you love the idea of a traditional white wedding or would rather go for some brigther unusual schemes,  handmade fabric flowers will work in both cases. The choice of colour, size, type of bloom can be customized according to your preferences. Remember, if you can see what you want in my portfolio of designs please contact me to discuss your ideas either via this blog or my Etsy shop.

Promotion on brooches and corsages

Please be kindly informed that we have moved! To read new blog posts, purchase our floral pieces and learn more about how to make flowers you are welcome to visit out new website here

Continuing with my May promotion I am offering a 10% discount on brooches and corsages till 16 May. 

The brooches and corsages can be made of silk or other fabric as well as real leather. Gone are the days when we used brooches to decorate a jacket lapel or a dress. Now they are embellishing belts, handbags, clutches, hats and all sorts.

Leather and suede brooches do work really well with leather handbags and belts, like these fantasy camellias:

To read more please click here