Locally Grown Hanging Baskets Now in Stock

The Garden Centre was once again transformed this weekend with the arrival of our range of Locally Grown Hanging Baskets. 

These beauties are absolutely packed with plants, including Petunia, Lobelia and Verbena which are all grown right here on our lovely Island.

The range includes huge 16" wire baskets for making a real statement, or there are luxury banana leaf and rattan cones and wall baskets.  Each basket has slow release plant food in the compost, so all you have to do is water it regularly to get the most of your display. 

We can also deliver your baskets to your house for you, or maybe it would make an ideal gift for someone?  Well, we can tie it with a ribbon and deliver it to them too!

We also offer a planting service for you to use if you have any baskets from last year that you would like re-filling.  Let us know what colours you like, and we will do the messy bit for you, using only the best quality, locally grown plants that we can find.

Call in to the shop or give us a ring if you would like more information.

A Weekend of Wonderful Weddings!

Yes, I was glued, along with about 3 billion other people around the world, to the beautiful Royal wedding of Will & Kate, not just to get a heads up on what could be a big floral trend for 2011, but because I am a big soppy romantic, and yes I shed a tear when Prince William told his future wife how beautiful she looked when she arrived by his side.

However, I couldn't dwell on the Royal Wedding for long, as I had flowers to prepare for Joanne & James's wedding which took place on Saturday.  Everyone that I met who knew this couple, all said how lovely they were, and that they were so great together, and I can confirm that this is also what I thought after only meeting them a couple of times.

The colour theme for their wedding was Manx Tartan (yes the men wore kilts!), which has blue, purple, yellow, green and white, representing the colours in our beautiful Island landscape.  The flowers I used included Delphiniums, Ranunculus, Narcissi, Tulips, and Tanecetum, with lots of natural foliage to give the designs a natural and rustic feel.

The mood of this wedding was very personal and relaxed and Joanne had collected and created lots of items to make the day really feel special.  She bought in a box full of metal and enamel jugs for me to use as tablecentres and had also handpainted little babyfood jars to fill with flowers too.

 

The Ceremony was in the Chapel of St. Johns and as well as the two pedestal arrangements from The Flower Studio, the church was filled with floral arrangements.  Each pew had a twig heart, hanging from a length of Manx Tartan Ribbon and adorned with a single silk daffodil flower.  I could see that the DIY aspect of this wedding was not stopping with the painted babyfood jars!

And I wasn't wrong, because when I arrived at The Hop Garden to deliver the table centres, you could see that Joanne and James had put so much thought into the reception.   Each place setting had a cute metal bucket filled with chocolates for the favour and attached to the bucket was a label with a different message on each one.

As well as painting all the babyfood jars (they were all individual!) on each table were 2 recycled wine or liquor bottles and they had been painted beautifully with the Bride and Groom's names, the date and lots of pretty flowers.  Inside the bottle were some battery operated fairy lights which I imagine looked stunning after the sun went down.

We speak to a lot of engaged couples every week at The Flower Studio and they all want their big day to stand out, but that does not necessarily mean you have to spend a lot of money.  I bet the guests at Joanne and James's wedding on Saturday were thrilled to see all the personal touches the couple had put in to their day and these touches will have made it a day to remember.

We would love to see any of the unique and DIY ideas you have seen at weddings, whether your own, or someone elses, and any really original ideas will be featured on this Blog.

  

Get up and Grow with The Flower Studio!

For those of you that have visited us down at Tynwald Mills in the last few weeks, you may of noticed a lot of dust and noise coming from the Garden Centre area....

Well, the dust has settled and has been swept away, and the only noise you can here is the trickling water in the stream and the birds singing in the trees, and the Garden Centre area has been transformed into a beautiful oasis, full of eyecatching plant specimens, colourful herbaceous perennials and stylish garden statues and furniture.

We are also excited to introduce the famous brand of David Austin Roses, which, in case you have never had the pleasure, are stunning scented English Roses, with masses of petals and a wide range of colours from soft creams and peaches to deep crimson and cerise.

I first saw David Austin Roses at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (to be honest, I smelt them before I saw them!), and have been in love ever since! They have been a popular cut flower for weddings that we have done at The Flower Studio and now you can all enjoy them in your own gardens too!

One of my favourites is Rose 'Alan Titchmarsh' with its soft fragrance and deep pink petals, but we have 17 other varieties to choose from, so I recommend you pay us a visit and smell/see them for yourself!

Keep watching this space as we are going to start a regular 'Rose-Care' feature, following the progress of a David Austin Rose in one of our customers gardens.

Our Easter Weekend opening times:

Good Friday 10-5.30

Saturday 10-5.30

Easter Sunday - Closed

Easter Monday - 10-5.30

Spring Bridal Photoshoot

Last Sunday, I was honoured to be asked again to join photography extraordinaire Shan Fisher on a Vintage Spring Bridal Shoot.  The weather forecast was excellent, so the chosen location was St Johns Arboretum, a beautiful setting just around the corner from The Flower Studio with lush green lawns and trees covered in blossom. 

I created two lots of flowers to fit in with the theme, one with muted pinks and blues and the other with zingy orange, yellow and green.  Both palettes are perfect for a Spring themed wedding and we used lots of seasonal flowers, so they are great for Brides that are on a budget.

 

Spring Posy - Ranunculus, Viburnum, Tanecetum, Fritillaria, and Craspedia.

Spring Buttonhole - Craspedia, Fritillaria and Tanecetum, tied with green satin ribbon.

We had boxes of props to use for the photoshoot, and 2 gorgeous models, so along with the sunshine and Shan's talented photography skills, the pictures turned out so beautifully (I actually got goosebumps when I first saw them!).  The first set can be seen on Shan's Photography Blog which is full of lots of other Bridal inspiration and also the photos from the Manx Bridal Fashion Shoot



Easter Workshop

It is the time of year where we dig out all our eggs, feathers, and all things Easter!

We would love you join us at our Easter workshop, where we will show you how to make your very own Easter arrangement, using seasonal flowers and foliage and gorgeous accessories.  You don't need to have any experience of designing with flowers as we will show you all the techniques required.  We will also provide all the materials required to make your design, so all you need to bring is yourself!

This year, we are holding our Easter workshop in the beautiful setting of Milntown Estate and gardens in Ramsey.  The workshop will take place in the grand and historic Dining Room and tea or coffee will be provided in the restaurant with views over the walled garden.

The cost of the workshop is £60.00 per person, and will run on Monday 18th of April from 9.30am until 1pm.  The price includes all of your materials for the design, tea/coffee and also a ticket to look around the picturesque garden afterwards.

This will be a fun and informal workshop, no experience necessary, but as spaces are limited, we advise you book as soon as possible.  To book your place, call The Flower Studio on 800061, or pop in to the shop at Tynwald Mills.

I Love You Mum

If I bought my Mum the biggest and most wonderful bouquet of flowers that money could buy, I still don't think it would be enough to say thank you for all the love and support she has given me over the last how-ever-many years!

Any Mum, whether she has had 30 plus years of experience or is a brand new Mum with all that excitement in front of her, deserves something every day to remind them how special they are and The Flower Studio has so many lovely designs for you to choose from, as well as a wide variety of funky houseplants and luxury handcreams and toiletries.

This Mother's Day (Sunday 3rd April), our dedicated team of drivers will be delivering all over the Isle of Man on the Saturday and Sunday, so whatever treats you have planned for your Mum, we can add to her day with a beautiful floral gift.

Our shop at Tynwald Mills is open on Saturday 2nd April and Sunday 3rd April from 9am until 5.30pm, so why not call in and choose your gift.  Alternatively, we can take orders over the phone on 01624 800061 or through our website

And if you are still looking for the perfect Mother's Day card, have a look at Boho Wedding & Events Blog for some unusual and bespoke designs. 

We're walking on Sunshine...

As I said in the last Blog post, I am not biased towards pink flowers, so as promised, I have captured part of the other end of the spectrum for you to gaze at.

And what a beautiful sunny day to share these cheery flowers with you, well here on the Isle of Man it is anyway.  If you are not blessed with this glorious Spring weather, then just focus on the following pictures, and pretend you have you own personal piece of sunshine!

Which is your favourite?

The bobbing heads of Craspedia, or the papery petals of Tanecetum...

Pale Narcissi 'Minnow' or bright and cheery 'Tete a Tete'...

Big bold Helianthus 'Sunrich Orange' or the delicate peach and green tinted petals of Rose 'Cosima'... a girl's name which appropriately means 'beauty'.

So this week there is sunshine inside and outside our shop... why not come down and take a piece home for yourself?

Warning - This shop contains gorgeous blooms and delightful scents....

We should have that on a sign outside the shop....

I love it when people walk through the door and gasp, then take another deep breath and are surprised that they can smell the beauty as well as see it.  Even the men are doing it!

So for this Blog post I thought I would let the flowers do the talking.  All you have to do is imagine the smell.  Or you could come and visit us in the shop, we would love to see you!

Ranunuculus 'Cappuchino'

Pussy Willow and Cherry Blossom

Rose ' Upper Secret'

Rose 'Glorious' - isn't it??

Yes, more Ranunculus, but I love them.  This one is called 'Pauline'. Pretty isn't she?

I seem to be in a pink mood today, which isn't unusual. But I now feel sad for the little yellow Narcissi that I have overlooked.  I will share them with you soon, I promise.

My Heart Belongs to You....

So, to celebrate the start of our working week (!) I thought I would show you how to make one of our popular heart designs from The Flower Studio.  The beauty of this design is that it can be made to any size, for any occasion and using a wide range of materials... so you can either follow the instructions to the letter, or make the design more unique and personal to yourself.


Ingredients:

Twigs - we have used Birch, but any can be used, so long as they have a bit of bend in them!

Scented foliage or herbs, such as rosemary and eucalyptus

Twine, or string

Ribbon or raffia

Butterflies or other cute accessories

Silk Flowers- you can use real, but don't expect them to last much longer than 1 or 2 days.

1 - divide the twigs into two even(ish) bundles

2 - tie the two bundles at one end to make a 'V' shape

3 - Bend over one side of the 'V' and tie to the lower half of the other side

4 - repeat with the other half of the 'V' to make your heart.  If you are using bushy twigs, you might need to bind in or snip off any loose ends - depends how neat you want your heart to be!

5 - tie or wedge in small pieces of your foliage around the edge of the heart

Make a bow for the centre of the heart and a loop to hang it up and then attach the butterflies and flowers to the outside.

This design has been used quite often for weddings, but can also make a gorgeous gift for a loved one... and with Mother's day less than 3 weeks away, we think you should get those creative juices flowing!

Here are two more versions of the design, this time using fresh flowers.

Have fun!

Handmade + Vintage = Love

The last year has provided us with so many opportunities to be involved with loads of lovely couples big days, and a lot of those weddings from 2010 had a handmade vintage feel.  This trend appears to be continuing into 2011 which I have to say we are really excited about!

So we have decided to introduce our Vintage Keepsake Bouquets, for those Brides who want a wedding bouquet that will last a lifetime (and even longer!).  These pretty posies are made up to include mementos and keepsakes from the couples relationship together, material from the Bride's or Bridesmaids' dresses, champagne cork from their engagement, photographs, old family brooches or jewellery.... anything can be included to make the Bouquet a personal treasure.  And our designers will fill in any gaps with fabric, jewels, vintage buttons and other accessories to ensure the bouquet is perfect for the big day.

As well as the Bride's bouquet, we can also design buttonholes, Bridesmaid's Posies and other accessories.  We also like to work closely with other local artists who also make beautiful handmade items, such as hair flowers and favours.  Two of our favourites are Paperstitch and Manxmiss, both have a gorgeous selection of handmade hairflowers, headdresses, brooches, and favours, all beautifully made with cute details.


If you are interested in having one of our Keepsake bouquets, come in to our shop at Tynwald Mills and have a chat about your ideas!

Monday is for Making Things!

So, if you have been following our little Blog the last couple of days, you will know that we have just celebrated  our 2nd Birthday and this week we are looking at some of the wonderful experiences that have happened in our shop since we opened.


Yesterday I shared some photos from our workshops, and seeing as we have our Flower Design School class this evening, I thought I would do a 'How To' feature so those of you that aren't coming this evening can still join in the creativity and make something!  And if you like this feature, let me know with a comment and it might become a regular Monday post.

Funky Candle Table Centre

Ingredients:

1 Chunky candle, string or binding wire, decorative wire, wool or ribbon, buttons or beads, selection of cut flowers (we have used Rose 'Red Naomi', Craspedia and orange and cerise Germini)

Picture 1:  tie one end of the string tightly around the candle, leaving a length of string to tie off at the end of the design

Pictures 2 & 3:  Holding the candle in one hand, place the flowers under the long end of the string, winding it around the candle and keeping it tight to hold the stems in place.

Picture 4:  Once all the flowers are around the candle, wind the string around an extra couple of times for good measure, and tie off using the shorter length from the start.

Picture 5: Use your ribbon or wool to cover the string.

Picture 6:  Trim the stems of the flowers so that they are the same as the bottom of the candle.

  Place the candle in a bowl or on a plate and add just enough water so that the bottom of the stems are covered.

 Thread your buttons and beads on to the piece of decorative wire and loosely bind around the base of the design to finish.

Voila! Stand back and admire your floral Masterpiece!  

The Birthday Celebrations Continue...

Yesterday was our 2nd Birthday and this week we are sharing some of our favourite moments with you from the last 2 years.

Wonderful Workshops...

Hearts And Stars

Christmas Wreath

Flower Studio Design School

We love holding our workshops and are always open to new ideas... if there is something you would like to learn, come and ask us!  Keep up to date with our workshops and other events on our website Events Page

Coming up tomorrow.... We don't just do White Weddings....

Happy Birthday To Us! 2 Today!

Wow, doesn't time fly when you're having fun?  Today we celebrate our 2nd Birthday and the last two years have been such an amazing experience, full of laughter and meeting some fantastic people along the way!


Over the next week or two, I will be sharing with you some of these experiences and events that have made The Flower Studio what it is today.  And on behalf of everyone here, would like to thank you all for your support and love of all things floral... after all, that is why we do what we do!

In the beginning....

Noel (joiner, shopfitter, painter,boyfriend!) taking a well earned tea-break!)

2 years ago today...

Our doors opened for the first time!

More to come tomorrow!

International Women's Day - 8th March 2011

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.  This day of celebration dates back to 1911 and was formed to honour the work of the Suffragettes who marched through New York City in 1908 campaigning for women's right to vote. 

Now, we shouldn't need a reason to buy a lady some flowers but here at The Flower Studio we are sure there are some pretty amazing women out there who deserve a bit of a treat.  So to mark the Centenary celebrations of International Women's Day we are having a little competition to win a stunning bouquet of flowers worth £100 and here is what you need to do!

Email The Flower Studio and let us know which lady in your life has inspired you... it is that simple!  Whether it is your Mum, Grandma, Sister, Teacher, Friend, Neighbour, or Colleague... have they helped you, supported you, loved you, cared for you in a way that makes them stand out as someone extra special?  We will choose the best story (althought I think that will be very difficult!) and the winner will receive our bouquet.

Click here to find out more about International Women's Day Celebrations around the world.

Terms and Conditions apply.  Delivery of the Bouquet is only possible  to an address on the Isle of Man.  No Cash alternative.  Judges decision is final.  Closing date for competition is Monday 7th March.

Sefton Hotel Wedding Fair, Saturday 26th February, 12-3pm

We are really looking forward to meeting lots of lovely Brides (and Grooms)-to-be, at The Sefton Hotel Wedding Fair this Saturday.  Our stand will be in the Atrium next to the talented Shan (Shan's Photography), so come and say Hello!

Other confirmed exhibitors are:

Beautiful Music String Quartet

Switched on Entertainment

Graih My Chree Wedding Stationary

Balloons 2 Go

Finishing Touches/A3 Marquees

The Palace

Steve Woodley

Marianne McCourt

Manx Miss

Cocoa Red

The Studio Colby

P.A.O.S. Ltd

Nail House

Itsy Ditsy Hats

Freedom Travel

Platinum Cars

Plus many more!

Come and grab a bargain!

The Flower Studio Sale is coming to a close, which means there are loads of amazing bargains to be had as we start our final clearance.


We have vases, ceramic containers,  birdcages, coloured pebbles, silk flowers, zinc buckets, soaps, toiletries and candles in the sale, with reductions of up to 70% on selected items!

And to give you a bit of inspiration....

Glass Bud Vase was £7.00 now only £2.50

Green pebbles, were £6.50 per bag, now only £3.00

Charger plate, was £7.95, now only £3.50

Add a couple of stems from our cut flower display (we have used Narcissi 'Paperwhite' and Aspidistra 'Milky Way') and create your own elegant floral design!

Don't end up in the Dog House this Valentine's Day - Monday 14th February!

The count down to Valentine's Day has started and hopefully, by this time next week you and your loved one will have declared (or re-declared!) your love for one another, swapped gifts and be looking forward to a night of romance!

If you haven't already decided what gift to get for your other half, then why not look at our stunning Valentine's collection of flowers.  Starting from just £19.99 plus delivery and with finishing touches like yummy chocolates and fun balloons, there is something there for all tastes and budgets.

We have secured hundreds of stunning red roses from the Dutch auctions including the beautiful 'Red Naomi' and velvety 'Upper Class', both varieties have an excellent vase life and will gradually open to show off their large full petalled blooms.  And if you want to break from the norm, we have a glorious selection of other flowers, including white and pink roses, orchids, tulips and seasonal spring flowers.  Don't leave the order too late though as we would hate you to be disappointed!




'Red Naomi' Heart (courtesy of Schreurs)


Don't forget to enter our competition on our Facebook page as well.... all you need to do is upload a romantic photo of you and your beloved and the one that has the most 'Likes' by the close of business on Saturday 12th February will receive a beautiful Valantine's Day Bouquet!

Mmmm Mimosa

Walk through our shop door, close your eyes and take a deep breath.....

That fragrance that is delicately dancing up your nostrils is the beautiful Mimosa and it is one of my all time favourites!  After doing a bit of research I found out the Mimosa is actually renowned for its healing properties and is widely used in alternative medicines for its uplifting and energising effect.  That must be why it has made me feel so happy!

Spreading the Happiness...

Get some Mimosa in your life!

Mimosa stems - available during February and March at The Flower Studio £2.50 per stem (and other happy florist shops nationwide I'm sure!)  Put a few stems in a vase on your breakfast table to lift your spirits at the start of the day.

Mimosa room spray - for year round scent when the cut flowers are out of season!  Diptyque Mimosa Room Spray £34 John Lewis

Mimosa perfume - For a bit of luxury, Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Tiare Mimosa Women's Fragrance mixes the scent of Mimosa with citrus zest, vanilla and other flowery notes.

Add finally... A Mimosa Cocktail!

Ingredients:

1 part Disaronno

2 parts fresh orange juice

Champagne to top up

Method:

Pour the Disaronno into a tall champagne flute and mix in the orange juice.  Top up with chilled Champagne and garnish with a slice or two of orange.

Best served immeditely, with friends!

Getting Married?

Wedding Fairs are a great source of inspiration for Brides-to-be (and Grooms) as there are a whole host of wedding industry professionals under one roof waiting to show you their talents!

We are exhibiting at the following wedding fairs in the next couple of months:

Glen Helen Inn Wedding Fair 

 Sunday 30th January 12 - 4pm

Claremont Hotel Wedding Fair

 Sunday 6th February 12 - 4pm

Sefton Hotel Wedding Fair

 Saturday 26th February 12 - 3pm

To keep up to date with more of The Flower Studio Events visit our events page on our website

Top Tips to get the most

out of a Wedding Fair

• Take a pen and notebook to jot down things you liked from certain vendors.  You will get given heaps of business cards and brochures during the day and you don't want to get home and forget which one had the really nice flowers/chair covers/favours!
• Take a bag to put all these brochures and cards in!  Some stands also give away freebies or testers so it is worth having somewhere to stash them..  And wear comfy shoes... there is a lot of walking to do!
• Speak to as many vendors as you can, after all, we are there to sell ourselves to you and will be able to give you free advice and tips on the day.  We are in the wedding industry because we love weddings and are more than happy to talk about them!
• Keep an eye out for special discounts and prizedraws but don't ever be pressured in to commiting to anything on the day if you aren't 100% sure of the product.
• Take you diary/Blackberry/organiser so you can book follow up visits with any of the vendors you like.
• Don't forget your camera too!  Some Fairs have fashion shows and you never know when you'll spot the perfect dress!
• If you have your dress or Bridemaids dresses picked, it is always worth taking a photo or fabric swatches with you as this can help with decisions about flowers, favours, invitations and anything else you want to co-ordinate!
• Make sure you have some cash or a cheque book with you as some stalls will be selling their goods on the day, such as fashion accessories and jewellery or you might want to place a deposit.

Go to as many Wedding Fairs as you can as there are usually different companies exhibiting at different hotels and venues, and if your Groom can only handle one, I'm sure your Mum or chief Bridesmaid would be more than happy to come with you!