'Beauty is in the moment'

Florist and master florist Ilona Oostenveld runs her studio with heart and soul. 'After years of having a store, I recently chose a new path: no more opening hours, but a studio where I only work on order. I wanted more freedom and creativity in my work. In a store you are often tied to 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 everyday life, a walk in the woods or beautiful art I come across, these are things that excite me. Nature gives me endless ideas, especially in the summer. For me, that is the most beautiful season: everything is blooming, alive, vibrant. 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 is in the moment - if you have an eye for it. I love the colors and trend of today: organic shapes and natural tones, through this we draw nature inside even more!'

Summer power

We have already had a taste of it this spring: summer. And what is striking about those first beautiful summer days is the power it brings. 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 base is a ready-made cylinder of branches. The branches are secured with nails that allow you to unfold the cylinder into a "bowl. With pruned branches from the garden, the base bowl is extended. In it, many tubes are attached with wire and tendrils of the Ceropegia sandersonii plant are incorporated. This super strong tendril stays beautiful for months without water. Braided through the branches and tendrils are brightly colored French tulips and Gloriosa. For added detail, several stems of Talinum 'Long John' have been incorporated.

Spring Love

The base of this delicate sweet heart is made of dried Craspedia whose stems are tied together 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 mourning piece.

In a nutshell

An arrangement made on a base of tubes. The tubes are connected by rubber rings - and can be twisted into all sorts of shapes. A versatile surface that can be reused very often, useful for subscriptions. First of all, Talinum 'Long John' was placed in the tubes. Through this are woven the other spring flowers. Simplicity to great effect.

Classic still life

This lovely bouquet in the style of the still lifes in old paintings is suitable with lots of different beautiful types and colors of flowers. Definitely not the easiest flower arrangement to make. To mix the French tulips and Ranunculus with Bromelia and orchid species, each stem needs its own place. Moreover, the placement and also the choice of which species next to each other comes very precisely. But the result of all the effort is well worth the effort!