Let me introduce myself . . .

I'm the woman who faced a health crisis, thought she might not make it and then did

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I'm the woman who has family and friends that are not of this world

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I'm the woman who has loved flowers and plants and all things botanical all her life

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I'm the woman who recently started her own business

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I'm the woman behind Anthesis Botanicals

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I'm the woman who walks around smiling all day

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I'm the woman who regularly ends up on her hands and knees with gratitude

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I'm the woman who started this blog but is somehow different

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I'm the woman who's learning to let go, even fall … and enjoy the ride

♥ It's a pleasure to meet you ♥

Vintage Wedding Flowers...

I played around with the floral leftovers from one of my classes...

(one of the many perks in this course)

... and came up with this quaint vintage vignette.

Yellow Calla Lillies, Roses and Statice as well as Deep Purple Hardenbergia

All the vases are thrifted and echo the "bygone era" of the arrangement

As for the salt and pepper shakers ... well I'd use them as cake toppers wouldn't you?

... By the way... just incase I have not mentioned it before... 

I luuuuuuurve this course... ♥♥♥

I've been thinking about doing the bridal component but as soon as I do....

..... I break out into a sweat. 

Brides can sometimes be .... you know... um... difficult and precious and fussy and ...

Did I say fussy?      (am I being too harsh?)

There's also a fair bit of ignorance when it comes to what can (and cannot) be achieved 

within budget constraints, seasonal availability, timing... heat waves...practicality.

Then there's what's in fashion at the moment... David Austen Roses, Peonies, Delphiniums.

All a wee bit hard to source simultaneously and for a reasonable price.

The thing is I know I will eventually learn the ins and outs of matrimonial marigolds.... 

nuptial nasturtiums .... spousal sweet peas (see what I did there?) but for now I'm happy to

concentrate on the basics and play around with wedding styling in the safety of my own home. 

(I AM being harsh I know... especially when there are many gorgeous brides who style 

wedding flowers for themselves & quite frankly OWN it!)

I think flowers are natural works of art and do not need to be "overly designed/styled"

Still... beauty is in the eye of the beholder... so each to their own.

What do you think peoples?

Whilst I do not want to begrudge any bride (or groom for that matter) the wedding

of their dreams I do tend toward the "less is more" ethos.

I also think you can achieve amazing results on a tight budget with a little imagination, 

some elbow grease ... and maybe a trip or two to the local thrift stores.

It also helps to talk to a variety of Florists to get an idea of what truly is possible

(Because let's face it.... between Kate and Kim the media have set quite the impossible 

fairytale standard... Eeek imagine how the dressmakers feel!)

Well these are the crazy thoughts that roam around my brain now that...

..... I'm studying Floristry....

(I still pinch myself when I say that to make sure I'm not dreaming)

Alright enough prattling. I must go peoples - there is a birthday cake to be planned.

A son who turns fifteen says he's not fussed but a mother knows better.... ♥♥♥

Disclaimer

I should just add that I do not blame "Brides to be" ... I blame Pinterest.

(and of course not all brides are ignorant fuss pots... it's actually just a 

temporary syndrome that affects the front cortex of their brain whilst 

they're planning for the big day)

More of Easter and us....

So what else did we get up to over the Easter break? Well not a whole lot actually. As much as I'd love to have gone camping we made the decision to bunk in and make it exclusive "JAm" time. I was still sans chocolate, tea and all things comforting (in exchange for super healthy, super yummy smoothies and juices mind you) so I felt especially grateful to be avoiding family celebrations laden with delicious temptations. Still we had a ball ....

... pardon the pun..

... there was a lot of walking...

... a lot of tree climbing...

... snoozing in the garden and of course ...

... Easter treats 

(thank you to my sister Naomi for organising some delicious herbal ginger tea for me♥)

I'm really glad we chose to stay home. We camped out in the lounge room one evening, we played lots of board games, including a four hour Monopoly marathon wherein my son wiped the floor with us! We watched cool movies, we slept in, we read, we talked ... we connected. I will confess that on Saturday I ducked out for a few hours to source a few much needed winter threads and stumbled upon this new Anna Gere range of kitchenware...

... cute? I think so - although do not ask me what I was doing in House when I was supposed to be shopping for woollen tights and thermal undergarments! I have a weakness.

On the floral design front - we tackled Strauss Bouquet's last night. Can I just take a moment to say "Hooley Dooley all you amazing Florists out there... you are legendary" Especially if you can produce one of these in 15 minutes or less.. with a customer watching and waiting.... phew!! 

Next week it's a symmetrical compact posy. I chose my favourite floral colour combination for the Strauss - green and white, but for the posy I'm going to challenge my eye and select colours that I would normally avoid - you know... for kicks. Here's my attempt at "spiralling"...

Turns out picking Lisianthus for this was not really the optimum choice and flowers that 

present a more passive form are better. Whilst I'm usually one to challenge the rules (I'm not a fan of formal floral arrangements) I can see the point of using flowers that make creating a natural arch easier. Something that I'll have to get used, if I'm to work in this industry, is the fact that everyone has differing tastes and even though I think certain arrangements are ghastly old fashioned, there are many who do not. The notion that customers are going to come in and ask for something that I myself would avoid at all costs is quite challenging and I guess it means you have to rethink, not only the way you work but also the stock you purchase. Anyhooo.. I'm kinda prattling out loud now. Apologies. 

I hope you all have a super duper weekend. I have arrived at Day 60 of my "healing cleanse"

The results are PHENOMENAL and whilst I am truly looking forward to embracing food again I am also mindful of all that I have learnt... You really are what you eat.

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Still learning...

My oh my... if anyone had told me that one of the most challenging tasks in Floristry was wire work I would have scoffed and (rather arrogantly) replied "Oh I can handle wire... " Um.. No.
It's hard peoples... maybe not for everyone but for me it. is. haaaaaard.

My humble attempt!

Maybe the fact that I have such large hands and long fingers, makes it even more challenging 

to tackle these fiddly bits. We were asked to make an OTT Corsage and I bought a bunch of Orchids for the class to share (that's why they all look similar) Whilst I'm not one for corsages myself (or any strict symmetrical design for that matter) I do appreciate that young debutantes demand these in droves and they end up being a nice penny earner if you can master them. I am still loving this course more than words can say and I cannot wait to start other components ... like... NOW! I'm a wee bit impatient I'll admit. Next week we tackle staggering in a symmetrical bouquet. On another note....

We attended the Blues and Roots Festival last weekend and had a ball. My favourite act was definitely Rufus Wainwright who stole my heart with his amazing voice and unique song writing. He does a pretty amazing version of this well known number too. We had great weather for it and I left feeling incredibly grateful to live in a country that organises and offers so many fabulous artistic festivals. 

Well peoples I have lots to do to prepare for Easter ... a hearth to decorate, food to purchase, recipes to read, bunting to make.... I'm a little unorganised. I think it's hard to face Easter knowing that I wont be (by choice of course) eating chocolate and drinking tea. Still this juice journey has been AMAZING and I feel so incredibly rejuvenated and renewed... in mind, body and spirit. Only seven more sleeps and I will have completed a 60 day journey that has changed my thoughts on health, nutrition and natural remedies for life. I have a lot to be grateful for this Easter and for me it really is a time of rebirth.

I wish you all a safe a break and a very Happy Easter. 

♥♥♥

Learning again...

I've bought some new stationery, a binder and fresh pencils to be precise.

I need to go to the hardware store and purchase secateurs, needle nose pliers and

(if I can find it) a device called a rose stripper - which de-thorns them with minimum fuss.

I have a beginners kit containing a multitude of items that I will soon 

be using, the most exciting (and frightening) being my new Swiss Army florist knife. 

Thus far we've looked at compact versus light and airy symmetrical arrangements.

We've had a go at wiring, using the floral knife, prepping oasis, cut flower care, 

product preservation, economising, design elements applicable to symmetry, 

best practice, precautionary measures, the wholesale industry, time management 

and last but not least... botanical names...... phew

Floristry is hard peoples! I mean really hard

Now don't misunderstand me.... I am not under any illusion that 

the Hollywood version of this career actually exists.

You know the one I mean...standing around arranging stunning

blooms in a crystal vase ... whilst the birds tweet and the tea brews.

No sir.

Early hours, quick decisions, fast paced work, grubby hands and very little glory. 

Think about it...

When the man in your life hands you that gorgeous bouquet you don't ever say:

"Oh wow... who did this? I must ring him/her and tell them I love it"

Uh-Uh

However I've come to understand that it's very rarely about accolades

when you are arranging, designing and creating. Yes you want to know

it looks good, it's liked, loved... admired. Only because you'd obviously 

suck at your job if it didn't. No - you do it because time just stands still.

Everything melts away... housework, bills, world issues, the kids, the duties...

I even forget to finish my tea.

I am not sure what other florists will say when they read this.

I have a friend who insists that even when she's run off her feet she 

couldn't think of any other job that would give her the same satisfaction

and pleasure that working with flowers does.

I'm inclined to agree

♥♥♥

It's a long weekend here in Perth. 

Young Prince has a buddy staying over and they're in the pool role playing as their heroes. 

Hubby has just arrived home from a great day at work and I've got "homemade fish and chips" cooking as we speak. The weekend consists of a whole bunch of paperwork, some study for moi ... (botanical names are something else peoples!) reading, swimming, markets and herbs... lots and lots of herbs. I hope wherever you are right now you're looking forward to some fun this weekend. See you on the flip side!