Truce

2014 is the centenary of the outbreak of The Great War. Christmas, 2014 was the centenary of the Christmas Truce. One of the most endearing and admirable tales to ever come from war, the Christmas Truce happened on the battle fields of the Western Front in December 1914. Weapons and hostility were spontaneously and willingly swapped for Christmas carols and temporary peace.

Christmas Truce, 1914

Poppy wall, The Australian War Memorial, Canberra

The spirit and respect exhibited that Christmas was incredibly admirable. That 1914 Christmas was full of hope for peace, for an end to conflict. That Christmas acknowledged respect for fellow man. It was a Christmas full of humanity. It's something this world could do with more of. I am hoping for a more peaceful, prosperous, gentle, and respectful 2015 for everyone.

I was able to spend beautiful and laughter-filled time with my loved ones this holiday season. I exchanged wonderful gifts that will be cherished. And, I ate an abundance of food. I am a lucky person. My heart, my table, my home is full. Not everyone is so lucky. I wish they were.

Be kind, be mindful, be appreciative. 

Happy 2015 one and all.

Kate  x

Flowers, Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine

Nice weather for ducks...

...Not so much for country races.

We went home to Cooma yesterday for the 'social event of the year'.

Boy, oh boy, did it rain. It was a wash out. I've got mud on my patent leather heels to prove it.

As mountain kids, we expect four seasons in one day, but I was not prepared for quite so much rain.

I was prepared with the flowers though!

Boutonnière and flower crown.

I ended up wearing a rose fascinator rather than the flower crown, but I enjoyed wiring up this combo none-the-less.

Until next race day,

K xx

Flowers, Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine

Formal

Formal season is in full swing.

It is such a nice thing to be able to create for family. This is last nights wrist corsage.

I hope it was a stellar night for them despite the stormy weather.

K xx

Wrist Corsage, Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine

Say yes to thinking outside the trends

I pursued floristry because I was all about the flowers. Now that I am a florist, I am all about the wedding flowers. Wedding floristry is what I am most excited by, by a long way. But strangely I've seemingly become all about wedding details across the board. Like I've hinted at in previous posts, I spend a great deal of my spare time on wedding blogs. A great deal! Predominantly my focus has been on the flowers, and then the decor and wedding photography as secondary interests. But lately my brain space is being consumed by wedding dresses. I have no clue why I'm interested, but I am. And like any arm-chair expert, I have fervent opinions. In the last three or four weeks I have watched an embarrassingly large amount of Say Yes to the Dress and I Found the Gown and Don't Tell the Bride.

Don't judge me too harshly.

Whilst these shows are fun, they don't quite satisfy my fascination for wedding gowns. And I think it's because they lack variety. Apart from the odd statuesque and overly self-assured New York bride who confidently picks a structured, art-deco inspired gown, the majority of the dresses walking out the door at Klenfield and Bridals by Lori are white, strapless ball gowns, with sweet-heart neck lines. Even the consultants in the bridal stores concede to camera that the majority of the off the rack dresses fit this precise formula. Why? Where is the choice and variety?

Where is the antique lace in off white?

Where are the high neck lines?

Where are the delicate buttons as an alternative to corsets?

Why has everything been embellished with crystals masquerading as diamonds?

And for the love of all things chic, where are the sleeved gown options? 

Below are some links to dress inspirations that don't fit the cookie cutter bridal aesthetic from Wedding Sparrow.

25 Best wedding dresses for the fine art bride

Blue wedding dress inspiration

Blush pink wedding dress inspiration

Black wedding dress inspiration

And yes, I know I just dissed the sparkles, but below is an example of chic, show-stopping embellished dresses.

Sequin wedding inspiration

But at the end of the day, if a white, jewel encrusted, strapless, cinderella-type ball gown rocks your socks, then wear it. There must be an abundance of them for a reason, even if I don't recognise it. Don't let anyone dull your sparkle, least of all me. I just want to see some variety!

K xx

Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine

Photographed open magazine spreads are from Hello May magazine and

Bride to Be  magazine.

Wedding photograph is my own Nan at her 1950s wedding.

Ocean + Bush

My weekend bride adores flannel flowers. That was my brief...

Flannel flowers.

What a wonderful brief.

Below is a pre-view.

Boutonnières

Father of the Bride, Father of the Groom, Brother of the Groom

Boutonnière

Chest corsages

Mother of the Bride, Mother of the Groom

Boutonnière

Groom

Posy bouquets

Ring bearers

Bathroom Arrangement

Flower Crown

Bride

The Bouquet

A thousand times, congratulations!

K xx

Flowers, Styling, and Photographs by Moss & Vine

Pink loads of pink

Mix and match:

paper daisies,

carnations

&

david austin roses

K xx

Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine

Coastal Wedding

22/11/14

It's a wedding weekend for us! 

It's my favourite kind of wedding too. 

I get to be florist and guest.

My Friday will be filled with bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages and flower crowns,

before a Saturday of 'I do's'.

K xx

Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine

Love beautiful things?

Me too.

So, I will share with you some pretty// gorgeous// beautiful// stunning// exquisite things.

The Tenth Meadow is the kind of life I dream of living.

Ginnyau has a near perfect aesthetic happening. Her images are blissful. If I could style images half as well as her... oh my!

And whilst we are admiring aesthetics, we must stop by Pearl & Godiva.

Here is Snippet & Ink paying homage to The Mrs Box. And rightly so.

How about the stunning website design at Flannel Flowers?

And here is photographic proof that roses are simply exquisite, no matter what stage of their life they are at.

So much beauty in the world.

K xx

Styling and Photography by Moss & Vine

Lest we forget

11/11/14

K xx

Pause, peonies

Stop what you're doing. It's November. Which means,

Peonies! of course.

If you're an admirer of the head-turning peony, 

then you've got a little over four more weeks to enjoy the layers and layers 

and layers of peony petals.

It's a short season.

Enjoy 'em while you can!

These ones are hanging out on my bedside table. And they smell unreal. 

K xx

Styling and Photography by Moss & Vine

Dapper

I hope you are all enjoying Cup day!

K xx

Flowers, Styling and Photography by Moss & Vine

Giddy up!

It's Melbourne Cup day tomorrow. 

I thought I'd wire up a hair circlet for me, and a buttonhole for the boy!

Halo of David Austin rose buds, paper daisy, and jasmine.

Buttonhole featuring David Austin rose and rosebuds, jasmine, and buxus.

Maybe I'll get some pictures of them being modelled before the race is actually run.

K xx

Flowers, Styling and Photography by Moss & Vine

Wild carrot

I spied Queen Anne's Lace in my local market! 

A sure sign that Summer is on her way.

Queen Anne's Lace is one of my favourite ever flowers. Strangely enough, most of my favourite flowers are Summer flowers. I don't enjoy Summer very much. But I adore Summer's bounty. Dahlias, Lavender, Hydrangea, I love them all.

 Q A Lace is just the most delicate and pretty flower.

More about Queen Anne's Lace.

Queen Anne's Lace is a true taste of Summer, because it is also edible. A herb of yesteryear.

K xx

Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine

Eight// Octo-ber in review

Fun fact: October was once the eighth month of the year, before Julius Caesar gifted himself July. And whilst he was in the mood for rearranging the calendar, he posthumously presented Augustus with August. *

So the Octo in October makes little sense anymore. Come to think of it neither does the Dec in December.

Eight has been a bit of a theme for me this October.

It has been eight months since we left Sydney. I am happier for having made that decision. Life is pretty grand. We love our new city. I love being a florist. And things are only looking better and better.

It has also been eight years since I went on the first date with my boyfriend.  

Eight years ago he bought me pizza. He's a tad more sophisticated these days.

Whilst I was busy styling some photographs of the new (old) ring, I thought I'd try my hand at styling an emerging trend. Recently i've been seeing the 'bed of moss' look appearing in more and more wedding photographs. Don't know what i'm talking about?

Moss ring box on pinterest. Always a good place to get your head around trends.

Or, try here.

What else had me excited this October?

Max Gill Design

How to display flowers in your home

The Mrs Box

Silk & Willow

Bash Magazine

We fell in love

Ben Adams Photography

K xx

Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine


*I stand corrected on the whole calendar thing, my painfully intelligent Brother sent me the following:
'The Senate named July after Caesar, in recognition of his achievements. And Augustus was JC's grand-nephew, so August was not named for him posthumously but inter vivos, by the Senate, some time after Caesar's death.'

So, there you go.

Sláinte

Parfait? Fondue?

Terrariums are very much in vogue at the moment.

Why not? They are pretty darn cool.

Terrariums

It is easy to DIY a terrarium if you have a little know-how and the right 'ingredients'. My favourite terrarium plant is the ever versatile succulent. Let's face it, it is incredibly hard to kill a succulent, making it perfect terrarium material. 

In my cocktail tumbler terrarium I put a bed of moss (ask your local florist) and three succulents. Easy as!

Succulents don't need much water at all. But it's a good idea to give your moss a mist every so often to keep it looking lush and green and alive. Add any whimsical touches you like.  Toadstools, plastic soldiers,  seas shells, acorns. Inspiration is endless. Raid the toy box.

K xx

Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine

Drawing by Gareth Hipwell

Bows and pearl pins

You are not a florist unless you have a large stash of ribbons and pearl pins. 

Ribbons are fundamental to floristry.

I have just spent some time organising my own ribbon station. Colour coded, of course.

Cream, pale blue, lavender and twine, these colours are must haves. 

But you never know when a bride is going to ask for neon orange and sky blue. Together.

Some weddings are all about colour!

My current ribbon crush is this ebony + ivory striped ribbon.

It's a classic look.

I am also lusting over the stunningly beautiful plant dyed silk ribbon from 

Silk & Willow.

K xx

Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine