Twins

This set on two beautiful handmade bowls is stitched in bio-stitch foam from Smithers Oasis. The bowls are also the starting point for the shape - continuing the shape of the base into floral work is always especially powerful. All the flowers and berries are thoroughly cleaned. The leafless stems really participate decoratively in this story. The flower heads and berries are tucked into a kind of screen. There are many chrysanthemums incorporated as well as Hypericum berries: true autumn materials. Also discover the processed Astrantia, Scabiosa, Guzmania, Phalaenopsis and Dianthus.

Better together

A delightful set of beautiful objects whose base can be easily reused. The base is self-made from two decorative garden plugs in flower shape - when purchased they were flat. The two plugs were drilled into the wooden blocks and unfolded to make them spatial. To create even more possibilities, thick aluminum wire was worked through and around them - so that tubes can be easily attached to them and flowers woven through them. Zantedeschia lends itself beautifully to braiding through the frame, with the stems also joining in nicely. Talinum 'Long John' is dry processed here - it always dries in beautifully. In addition, Gloriosa, some orchids and Scabiosa are beautifully in place in these autumn objects.

Stewed pears

The stewing pears that were blown out of the tree after a big storm were given new life. The colors in the pears are beautiful and together with the pretty floral tones make a lovely whole. The base is a wooden MDF board with small water tubes drilled into it. The board was pimped up with metallic spray paint from Smithers Oasis. Satin cord was glued around the edge of the disk for an added accent. This object can be reused many times. The flowers used are Cambria orchids, lisianthus, chrysanthemums, dill, Scabiosa and Phalaenopsis.

Autumn wreath in the mix

A lot of dried skeletal Physalis seed pods have been glued onto an organic wreath from Smithers Oasis. All kinds of dried flowers are incorporated on this base which makes this wreath largely long lasting. For example, there are many small buds as well as Helichrysum, Gomphrena and Zinnia. Also incorporated are some beautifully indented fresh materials. To break up the whole and create a contrast between the natural materials, beautiful (completely biodegradable) satin cord is incorporated.

Indian summer

Glued around an Oasis wreath are dried sunflower stems of various lengths. These stems are a harbinger of autumn. The whole is topped with orange candle wax. Several flowers were inserted into the floral foam wreath, including Dianthus 'Green Trick,' nutans (Leucospermum cordifolium), Dahlia, Freesia, Tillandsia, Heliopsis, Stipa grasses, Crocosmia and Begonia leaf. Glass stitch tubes were placed in some sunflower stems, in which flowers were also placed. The Indian summer coloring emphasizes the fall season.

'Plants play a big role'

'Deep reds and bordeaux may be seen,' says floral designer Hanneke Frankema, 'with accents in gold, cream or white tones and undergrounds with an oil lustre or mother of pearl you make it special. Pronounced color and powerful design: the Lush Natural Elegance theme doesn't need much.'

'Within this theme, plants and organic forms play a major role. These can be distinctive strong leaf shapes but also flowers with special special shapes that often match each other beautifully. Think of the Guzmania, Gloriosa, Phalaenopsis but also certainly Celosia, with which as a florist you can really make a statement.'

Everyone knows it: you have nice vases but they are missing a corner or the paint is peeling off. But you don't want to throw them away, so they often sit gathering dust in the cupboard. Yet they offer many possibilities if you think out of the box and give them new life by pimping them up. For example, I have applied dark red and gold accents to pots and vases with self-adhesive mourning ribbon made of woven fabric. A product for which I see many other uses.'