'Beauty lies in the moment'
Florist and master binder Ilona Oostenveld runs her studio with heart and soul. ‘After having a shop for years, I recently chose a new path: no more opening hours, but a studio where work is only done on order. I wanted more freedom and creativity in my work. In a store you are often bound by the clock. Now I work by appointment, I can fully focus on the wishes of my customers and I have more time for freelance work.’
‘I get my inspiration from daily life, a walk through the forest or beautiful art that I come across, those are things that stimulate me. Nature gives me endless ideas, especially in the summer. That is the most beautiful season for me: everything blooms, lives, and sparkles. I like to work with seasonal flowers – Delphinium and peony are the real summer flowers for me.’
Ilona's floral work is an ode to color, seasons and the small happiness of every day. 'In a world that is often rushed, I want to show that beauty lies in the moment - if you have an eye for it. I love the colors and the trend of today: organic shapes and natural tones, which brings nature even more inside!'
Summer power
We've already had a taste of it this spring: summer. And what is particularly striking about those first beautiful summer days is the power that this brings about. Not only in nature, which literally explodes, but also in people. Everyone seems more cheerful, lively, and full of energy.
Exuberant
The base of the surface is a ready-made cylinder of branches. The branches are fixed with nails, allowing you to unfold the cylinder into a 'dish'. The base dish has been extended with pruned branches from the garden. Many tubes have been attached to this with wire, and tendrils of the Ceropegia sandersonii plant have been incorporated. This super strong tendril remains beautiful for months without water. Brightly colored French tulips and Gloriosa are woven through the branches and tendrils. A number of Talinum 'Long John' stems have been incorporated for extra details.
Spring love
The base of this fine, sweet heart is made of dried Craspedia, the stems of which are attached to each other in a heart shape with wire and mixed with fresh flowers. Beautiful to give at a birth, at a wedding as a ring cushion or as a funeral arrangement.
In a row
An arrangement made on a base of tubes. The tubes are connected to each other by rubber rings – and can be turned into all sorts of shapes. A versatile base that can be reused very often, ideal for subscriptions. Talinum ‘Long John’ is placed in the tubes first. The other spring flowers are woven through it. Simplicity with a grand effect.
Classic still life
This delightful bouquet, styled after still life paintings, features a wide variety of stunning flower types and colors. Certainly not the easiest floral work to create. To mix French tulips and Ranunculus with Bromeliads and orchids, each stem requires its own specific placement. The positioning, as well as the selection of which varieties are placed next to each other, is also very precise. However, the result of all the effort is more than worth it!