A few ways to make your gifts extra special
The house is decorated, the gifts are hidden, the gatherings are scheduled and there is only one last thing to do, gift wrapping! During the holiday season everything seems to have a bit of extra charm so why not treat your gifts the same way. How exciting it is to get a carefully, thoughtfully wrapped present just for you! Whether you are channeling your style or that of the receiver, the extra care in presentation can mean just as much as the gift itself.
From busy patterns, to bold colors, to plain kraft, the paper you choose will set the tone for the rest of your gift wrapping filigree. If you are going for a more natural look, stay plain with a solid color or kraft paper. This also gives you space for going all out on embellishments without worrying about materials clashing. You can also add to your paper by gluing flowers or leaves, or by adding stamps. Another unique option for stepping up your paper game is to mix and match papers. Try a patchwork style wrap job or keep it simple by wrapping one half of the gift in one style of paper and the other half in another. This option also allows you to make a little pocket in your gift for stuffing feathers, flowers or cards. You simply fold the end of the second paper you add closest to the middle of the gift to give yourself a clean edge, and voilà, a pocket! You can also just wrap a ribbon around the seam line to hide the raw edge. Lastly, instead of using paper at all, try alternative materials. We used paper ribbon on one of our packages, but fabric, bandanas or tissue paper can all work for a unique gift wrapping appearance. One last tip about tissue paper, instead of trying (and failing) to keep it unwrinkled, squeeze your sheet of tissue paper into a small ball in your hand then unfold. It will have a nice even texture that elevates the look into something sweet and sophisticated. This works great for gift bags too!
Is a gift even a gift without a ribbon? Well, yes, of course, however, nothing screams gifting quite like a ribbon laced package with a bow on top. There are endless options of ribbon from velvet to grosgrain, from satin to silk, from wool to twine. You can bow your ribbon with a fancy multi looped masterpiece or just give it a simple knot for a timeless, understated look. An option we liked experimenting with was mixing and matching ribbon. Instead of choosing just one, choose two, three or five! You can wrap them in criss-cross fashion or tie them all together for festive display of colors and textures. Layering your ribbon is also a wonderful way to give your present an uncomplicated extra level of dimension. Raffia, rope or leather could also be interesting materials to try out, use your imagination, as long as it ties it could work as a ribbon alternative for an eccentric or natural feel to ‘wow’ your recipient!
The final filigree of gift wrapping is perhaps the funnest part. Be creative, explore your options and don’t be afraid to try new things. Add an oak leaf, a slice of dried quince or a small bundle of juniper. Feathers, grasses, foliage and flowers can normally all easily slide under your ribbon without any other adhering needed. Fruit slices such as oranges, quince, lime slices, etc., will need to be tied on with wire, jute or ribbon, and the same treatment will need to be done with pinecones. For something different, try moss, palm leaves or ferns. For something whimsical add birds or butterflies. Another option we tried for the over-the-top gifter was creating a miniature arrangement right on top of the gift. We adhered a small piece of foam to the paper then placed stems throughout for a bountiful bouquet coming right out of the package. Lastly, don’t forget to add your gift tag or card, just slip under your ribbon or tie to the bow. Make a statement with your embellishments and have fun doing it, gift wrapping can be a merry and exciting occasion, don’t miss out on the joys of this holiday-time activity.
A Scandinavian styled holiday brings joy through simplicity and intentional design. Comforting neutrals punctuated with muted colors make for an uncomplicated landscape to pair thoughtful holiday decor for a season to remember. We love this style for its emphasis on natural, pared-down materials. Dried fruits, straw ornaments, pinecones and a wool rug will all work wonderfully in moderation to inspire the quaint Scandinavian countryside. You only need a few carefully selected items to make an impact, in fact, how you minimize the decor will be a huge factor in the success of your Scandinavian design, which makes it easier on the wallet as well! Coziness is another essential element. Think fur rugs and knit blankets surrounded by an airy and timeless atmosphere of whites and creams marked by a Charlie Brown tree with hanging fruit slices, a pinecone garland and a straw star on top - along with the folk aspect of the design, which may call for a german smoker, straw star or jute reindeer to adorn the mantel above a crackling fire. Scandinavian holiday decor is a lovely addition to the home, whether modern or rustic, let nature inspired simplicity be the muse for your home in the coming months.
A few of our favorite items to help start your Scandinavian holiday:
As long time lovers of mushrooms and the woodlands they inhabit, we are thrilled to incorporate either at any time but especially at holiday time! Whether it be the whimsy of the forest or the cuteness of the mushrooms, there are endless ways to make your holiday a woodland one. A lush green holiday tree decked head to toe in a variety of mushroom ornaments of your choosing, a forest of mini trees or woodland creatures adorning tabletops and tree branches are all options for your home this season. Evergreens and branches are a good place to start for your base, then you can begin to fill all the nooks and crannies with fungi, moss and creatures galore. This concept works better with a “more is more” type mindset, so don’t be afraid to add more trees and more figurines. Birds, butterflies and dried flowers are great additions if you are wanting more color and liveliness.
A few of our favorite mushroom and woodland inspired items to get you started:
A classic here at Roxanne’s, Victorian decor is a timeless, beautiful and extraordinary way of making your holiday one to remember. Victorian era design is characterized by lavish ornamentation, bold colors and an array of materials, patterns and natural elements. Picture a tree streaming with ribbons, stuffed with dried flowers and consumed by many, many ornaments. Think lots of metals, velvet, silk, crystals and florals. We love this design for its implementation of dried flowers, fruits and pods and paper flowers as well as other natural elements like seashells and feathers. This style feels like the ultimate expression of a warm, stunning and grand holiday celebration! If you are having friends or family visit, they will be in awe of what magic you can create. If you aren’t sure where to start, stick with jewel tones, focus on metals and floral patterns, after you have a path, just keep adding! If you are a maximalist, this one's for you! Treat yourself to a lavish holiday this season.
A few of our Victorian favorites to get you started:
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Think oak leaves, gourds, pods, grasses, grains, pinecones, herbs, yarrow, sunflowers, okra and all things fall bounty we yearn for until the season’s return. Think about adding foam to a favorite vase and creating your own autumnal design, or pick-up a premade arrangement ready for placing and save yourself the work. Either way, the dining table is a great place to start for adding a festive flair to your home.
Whether behind the corner of a frame on the wall, in a favorite arrangement or in your front door wreath, feathers have a way of adding interest and woodland charm. Go on a hike and keep a keen eye out for any that may have been left behind, or shop our collection of guinea, pheasant, ostrich and peacock feathers for some instant gratification. Feathers easily grip into almost all arrangements or bouquets without much fuss, but for a front door we recommend a bit of glue on the tip to ensure longevity.
You spent all summer growing and trimming beautiful herb plants in your garden and there is no reason to let the cold take away your hard work! Preserve your remaining herbs with one of the easiest methods: drying. Whether it be thyme, oregano, lavender, sage or rosemary, simply hang in a warm, dry area such as the kitchen or attic where they will not be exposed to direct sunlight. The sun will deteriorate the stems, bleaching the color and dulling flavors. It is best to gather your stems in the early morning, but after all dew has evaporated from the plant. Make small bunches for hanging, discarding any rotten or browning leaves. For more tender stems such as basil, mint and parsley, you can place bunches in a paper bag with holes cut for aeration, or hang over a pan to catch dropping leaves. Let stems dry approximately 8 days then transfer to an airtight container and store in a dark, cool place. For preserving optimal flavors and aromas, it is best to keep leaves whole until using. Crushing your herbs will release all their good properties, and you do not want to do it prematurely.
Gaze at the splendor of turning leaves from the inside out, and how better to elevate the experience than a seasonal-scent-filled house. Whether it be a burning fire, scented candles, incense or bowls of potpourri, there are ample options to turn your home into a lovely sensory affair. Place in a central place or entrance to get the most out of your fragrance and welcome you home from a chilly day. Or to really maximize the potency, place your fragrance in a small room such as a bathroom or powder room to immerse yourself entirely.
‘Tis the season for gorgeous billowing grasses in their full glory. We can’t help but marvel at the fluffy heads, impressive heights and array of colors when out on a walk, and what better way to celebrate them then bringing them into the home to cherish inside and out. All you will need to display your grasses is a rubber band, scissors and a flower frog. You could also place the frog in a low vase if desired. Begin by obtaining your grasses, whether from the garden or a consenting neighbor’s yard, or from our pre cut and dried collection online or instore, select your specimen and cut to length. We cut around 14-16” in length. The diameter of your bunch should be similar to that of your flower frog. Now put a rubber band right above the cut end and place onto the frog. Sometimes we find it easier to place the rubber band and then cut to length right beneath the band in order to get a crisp edge without too much fuss. Give the grasses a little fluff and place in a vase if desired. You’re now ready to add your new DIY decor to your home.
Records of dried fruits date back as early as 1700 BC in Mesopotamia and were carried on as a staple throughout the middle east for centuries. During the reign of the Roman empire, garlands of dried fruit and popcorn first appeared during the festive celebration of Saturnalia, the predecessor to Christmas. Later, with the ability to import fruits from warmer climates across the globe, citrus and other tropical dried fruits became a status symbol for the elite. Today, dried fruits and pods are a favorite for seasonal decorating, and for good reason! Dried elements are a great way to incorporate nature into your home without the fear of them perishing before the season is over. And with proper care, you can reuse your dried fruits and pods year after year.
References:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/8836/sp50921dryingherbs.pdf
Records of dried fruits date back as early as 1700 BC in Mesopotamia and were carried on as a staple throughout the middle east for centuries. During the reign of the Roman empire, garlands of dried fruit and popcorn first appeared during the festive celebration of Saturnalia, the predecessor of Christmas. Later, with the ability to import fruits from warmer climates across the globe, citrus and other tropical dried fruits became a status symbol for the elite. Today, dried fruits and pods are a favorite for seasonal decorating, and for good reason! Dried elements are a great way to incorporate nature into your home without the fear of them perishing before the season is over. And with proper care, you can reuse your dried fruits and pods year after year. There are limitless possibilities for incorporating them into your furnishings, and by the end of this blog, you are sure to be filled with inspiration!
Garland
Dried fruit, especially citrus, are excellent for garland-making. Fishing line, wire, thread or jute cord will all work as binding agents. If using a soft material such as thread or jute, you will need to puncture the fruit before you can thread it together. Make a small cut with a knife or poke a hole with a pen tip and thread your binding through with care not to tie it too tight and damage the fruit. Cinnamon sticks, apples and pine cones are all nice additions as well!
Pictured: Pinecones, orange slices, apple slices, cinnamon sticks
Table Spray
A dried fruit and pod filled table centerpiece could be just the flourishing your table is missing. We recommend starting with a base of sticks, branches or leaves. A small piece of wood or even cardboard would work as well. Once you have a base wired together at the desired length, you can begin filling in with your dried goods. Gourds, pinecones, pomegranate, artichokes, lotus pods, okra and sora pods are all great large focal points that help cover large portions of the base. Preserved oak leaves, salal, magnolia and eucalyptus are all wonderful fillers that will help give your spray bulk. Use wire or jute cord to make small bunches of the foliage and tie them onto your base. Glue or wire will be the best methods for fastening your dried pods and fruits. Smaller fruits and pods like orange and apple slices, bell gum and cyprus pods will be useful to fill any holes in your design. And for the finishing touch, a few stems of grains and grasses will make for a lovely festive fall time look.
Pictured: Magnolia, artichoke, spiral eucalyptus, pomegranate, quince, okra, gypsophila, quince
Bowl
A collection of assorted dried pods and fruit can be just the quick and easy finishing touch you’ve been looking for. Add to your existing bowl of found rocks and pods, or create a new collection to store and bring out year after year. A collection of gourds, pumpkin peppers and sugar pine cones will make for a lovely autumnal spread. A mix of pomegranate, quince and limes on a bed of cedar is perfect for holiday time. For a year round spread, try a bowl of whole split oranges or artichokes. It sure beats buying fresh produce each week while achieving the same look!
Pictured: Gourds, pine cones, cedar, pomegranates, limes, quince, whole oranges
Stemmed in a Vase
For ease and convenience, many of the pods and fruits we offer come pre-stemmed! This makes life much easier, especially when designing a vase arrangement. Chico choke, sora pods, lotus pods and pomegranate, to name a few, all work wonderfully with a few stems of foliage and flowers if desired. We recommend starting out with a few stems of leaves in a favorite vase to build up a base. Try cutting some oak leaves from the yard or using preserved materials like these yellow oak leaves. Next, place your pods. We chose chico chokes, mahogany pods and bell gum. Lastly, add any additional accent materials of your choosing. Nigella and tansy compliment the pods and oak leaves nicely while adding texture and color. If you are struggling to keep your stems in place, floral foam or chicken wire can be a useful tool to place in your vase beforehand.
Pictured: Oak leaves, tansy, nigella, chico choke, bell gum, mahogany pods
Wreath
Create your very own dried fruit and pod-filled wreath to cherish in your home for many seasons to come. Begin with a wreath base, either bare or with foliage, such as this oak wreath or this eucalyptus wreath. You could also spruce up an old wreath you already have or create your own base from stems in the yard. Fresh curly willow and pussy willow branches work very well for this. Next you will want to wire on your foliage followed by your fruits and pods. Smaller items, like the eucalyptus pods and straw flower heads in our example will have to be glued. If you don’t have a hot glue gun, just avoid items like this. Citrus, quince and apples wire very easily without the need for glue!
Pictured: pomegranate, lotus pods, quince slices, strawflower, salal, plumosa fern, pumpkin peppers, poppies, echinops
Hangdown
A simple hangdown is a quick and minimal way to add a bit of festive cheer to your home. A sturdy branch cut to size, jute cord and a few of your favorite flowers, fruits and pods are all you need. This option is very customizable and could be made to fit any nook or cranny in your home. Following the same principles mentioned in the garland section, you can string up oranges, limes, apples, pinecones or quince with ease. You also have the option of hanging full stems upside down by simply tying around the end of the stems and attaching to the branch, this option works well for artichokes, flowers, foliage, bell gum and many, many more!
Pictured: Magnolia, orange slices, poppies, apple slices
Bibliography:
Hoge, T. (2019, March 12). Since Ancient Times : Dried fruit favorites - Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-02-27-fo-12046-story.html
TUBERS AND DRIED FRUIT MONTH -January 2024 - National Today. (2022, August 3). National Today. https://nationaltoday.com/tubers-and-dried-fruit-month/
The History of Garland. (2016, December 10). https://www.kpcnews.com/. Retrieved August 14, 2023, from https://www.kpcnews.com/features/life/kpcnews/article_266ae77b-0805-584f-b7f5-1af20e1954d9.html
Kenzan or flower frogs are handy, easy to use and lend to creating beautiful, airy designs. Traditionally used in Ikebana, a Japanese style of floral design, flower frogs only require a few strategically placed flowers to create a natural, organic arrangement, paying homage to a plant growing from the ground. We recommend starting out with one large flower frog, or multiple smaller frogs like this Niwaki set. Choose 1-5 different types of flowers and consider the compatibility of the stems with the frog. Flower frogs are typically used for fresh flowers making use with dried flowers a little tricky with thin or hard stems, but we’ve found an easy hack to make most any stem work! A small bundle of thin to medium sized stems can be made by grouping the stems and pinching them at the point where you want them to attach to the frog and place a small rubber band, cutting the stems just below. The grouping now has the surface area for the spikes to grab onto and hold the stems upright. We recommend doing this with one type of flower per grouping. This makes it easier to design by maintaining the capability of moving the different elements without having to redo each bundle. The groupings are also often visually more coherent and organic. For this table display, we chose 3 elements, rice grass, nigella and tapestry millet. We used 4 small flower frogs offset from one another and placed down the center of the table. The rice grass, tapestry millet and nigella all have very thin stems that have to be banded together. Medium sized stems such as peonies are thicker and often stand alone, however if the spikes of the frog still aren't catching, try banding the stem at the bottom. The rubber band will add width and grip. We arranged the groupings and stems naturally by placing them in a clump, spraying outward as if growing from a single spot out of the table. The ends of all the stems do not have to be in the center of the frog, nor do they have to be squeezed together. Just keep in mind the image of a plant sprouting from the ground and that with this design style, less is almost always more! This makes for a quick and easy display that's easy on the wallet. Once you have the frogs, just grab a bunch or two of flowers for every dinner party and easy peasy! And with dried flowers, you can keep up your display all season long.
Pictured recipe
1 x 4 pack flower frogs $26
1 x 1.5oz rice grass $11
1 x 2oz nigella $14
1 x 1.25oz tapestry millet $10
=$61
Instead of considering the space on your table, consider the space above it. Not only does a hanging centerpiece offer a unique solution that's sure to awe-inspire your guests, but it frees up space on your table, ideal for family style meals or tight spaces. First, choose a sturdy branch such as manzanita or one from the yard. We chose hakea stems. They are very sturdy, an easy to manage size and have the added visual appeal of seed pods. Choose 1-3 floral elements that are appealing from the top and sides. Lemon mint has multiple flower heads going up the stems, and caspia has loads of tiny flowers branching out in every direction that come to a natural point, both ideal for this style of design. Begin by attaching rope to either end of your stick with slack in the center, making a triangle shape. Tie an additional piece of rope to the top point of the triangle and the spot you wish to secure your centerpiece to. It’s wise to make a slip knot here to adjust later if additional or less space is needed. Now you are ready to hang your flowers. Use twine or fishing line to hang your stems, tying the twine in a tight knot around the end one or two stems at a time. Trim the stems as needed. Be sure to hang your elements at various heights with appropriate spacing. None of the elements should touch or crowd each other. Negative space is your friend, don’t forget to keep it in mind as you are designing. Use the same strategy of tying a slip knot where your twine attaches to your branch for easy rearranging and adjusting. Once you are pleased with how the elements are spaced, double knot the twine attached to the branch and the knot you used to secure the centerpiece above your table, and voilà! Just like that you’ve created a magical canopy for a night to remember.
Pictured recipe
1 x 3 stem hakea $12
1 x 4oz lemon mint $34
1 x 4oz plum caspia $24
1 jute twine $9
=$79
3 . BUD VASES
One of the easiest and quickest options on this list, bud vases make for a beautiful centerpiece display that's low effort and low cost. If you are someone usually operating on a time crunch, this one’s for you. You may already have a few bud vases at home you could reuse, or you could grab a few from a thrift store or check out our offerings for stress free, time saving delivery. For a 4-6 person table, we recommend 3-4 bud vases. For an 8-10 person table, we would probably bump it up to 5-6 bud vases. When choosing flowers, 2-3 materials will suffice. We kept it minimal with mostly only 2 colors. Clean your materials removing leaves and debris from the areas of the stem that will be in the vases, especially if they are clear vases. This will give you a cleaner look. Strategically place your stems at varying heights, only a few to each vase. We kept some stems dramatically longer to give more impact, but feel free to experiment with what length you like best. Just remember, you can always cut shorter but not the other way around! For a finishing touch if you are feeling ambitious, grab a few citrus fruits from the store, lemon, orange or grapefruit will all work. Cut in half or leave whole to add a little extra pizazz. The best part about this method is that once you have your vases you will be able to refill them for the next dinner party and lower the cost even more.
Pictured recipe
4 x allium bud vases (in-store) ($7 each) $28
1 x 1.5oz cream strawflower $13
1 x 1oz billy balls $12
=$53
Fresh orange/lemon halves if desired
Looking for something different to “wow” your guests but don’t have the time or energy? Having a family style dinner and don’t have a lot of space on your table for decor? A mossy landscape with pods, fruits or nuts can make for an interesting and unique display with minimal effort and ample free space. We chose a mixture of sheet moss and reindeer moss to make the base. Place your dishes and candles ahead of time and fill in the moss around them. This will look as though your food presentation is growing right out of the table. Use crumpled up paper to make mounds and shapes if desired and place the most overtop. Avoid holes or too much negative space in the moss to make it look as though it is one solid mass growing over the table. Avoid mixing the different mosses too much and instead group them in small clumps for a natural look. Once you have a nice shape and ample coverage, add 1-3 extra elements to add a little extra interest. We chose dried cyprus pods to scatter about to add little moments of complimentary focal points. And done! Once the evening has come to an end, store your moss in tupperware or a plastic bag, and throw your pods in a jar for next time!
Pictured recipe
2 x gold artichoke $12
1 x sheet moss $7.95
1 x reindeer moss $8.95
=$28.95
If you are thinking of keeping things simple and classic with a single large centerpiece, this option provides a beautiful, striking way of creating a focal piece while keeping the cost down.
Begin with a vase around 4”- 6” in width and similar in height. Keep in mind every inch wider the vase is the more flowers you will need. Choose 1-3 different bulky materials, like broom bloom, greek oregano, lepidium, spiral eucalyptus, star flowers, caspia, rice grass, setaria or baby’s breath. We chose berry broom bloom and added pink strawflower as a focal point. Begin by putting one stem of your bulky material in your non-dominant hand, continue by adding stems at an angle, spiraling around the original stem. After you are satisfied with your shape, add in your focal/complimenting stems by continuing to place them at an angle. Tie stems off with some jute, raffia or tape. Cut your stems a little at a time to decide the length which is needed for your vase. If the bouquet is too wobbly you may need to cut your bouquet down shorter or use a narrower vase. We added a finishing touch of some ripped pomegranate and limes. Pro tip: score the pomegranates and rip it in half instead of slicing.
Pictured recipe
1x 3oz berry broom bloom $16
1 x 1.5oz pink strawflower $13
1 x sidney container $15
=$44
1-5 x fresh pomegranate or dried pomegranate
3-6 x fresh limes
Similar to the bud vase option but with an extra component, the combination of plants and dried flowers creates an unexpected moment of beauty and freshness. This option only requires a minimal amount of flowers and a few vases, both of which you can reuse, however you may already have in the house! Small potted plants may also be a fixture of your home already, and if not, they could certainly be after creating this table display with a little tender care. Once you’ve collected any found materials, gather the remainder. We used 3 billy bottles, ammobium and lavender for our bud vases. We chose very natural and garden-y flowers of only 2 kinds. Keep your vases simple, we love the billie bottles for the utility/apothecary look to them. Now, let’s see what plants you have to work with! Various shapes and sizes will work fine. If you don’t have any small sized plants, grab a few ~3” plants with pots from your local plant shop. Take care of them until your next gathering when you can reuse them or find a nice home for them around the house. They also work nicely as a party favor! Just get the same amount of plants as guests and let everyone take them home at the end of the affair. Not only is it a long lasting gift that will remind them of this special occasion, but it also makes for a speedy clean up!
Pictured recipe
1x 2oz ammobium $12
1 x 1.5oz lavender $14
3 x Billie bottle $6 / $18
3”-4” 3 x pots $8 / $24
3 x small plants ~$15
=$83
Garlands have long been loved for dinner table gatherings. They are elegant, casual, traditional yet minimal, there is a garland for every genre of affair. The one constant with garlands is however, they get pricey fast. They require a lot of material and time, and the cost can add up. For this centerpiece, we created a simplified garland embracing minimalism. For materials we chose broom bloom and marcela, for a fluffy, monochrome cloud. Sticking to one color is always a safe bet, especially when you are going minimal. We recommend 1-3 elements for this strategy with at least one bulky material to create your mass. Broom bloom is an excellent choice that is easy to work with and fills space easily. First, cut a piece of thick jute or rope the length you’d like your garland to be. Next, make small bundles of your materials, each around 6”-10” long depending on the width you’d like your garland to be. Secure each bundle with tape, raffia or a rubber band. Make the bundles as fluffy as possible focusing on the side that will be facing up. Make one bundle per 5” of rope. Use wire to attach the first bundle on the end of the rope with the tied side towards the center of the rope. Place another bundle overtop the previous, hiding the tie and creating a cohesive thickness from one bundle to the next. Repeat this process until you reach the center point, then build your bundles going outward in the opposite direction. Be sure to tie your first bundle going the other direction snugly along the side of the last bundle. You may also need to add a few mini bundles to even out the middle and fill in any holes. Continue the bundles outwards until you meet the end of the rope, and voilà! Gently lay your garland down the center of your table. You can always go back and wire/weave in extra stems to fill out any areas that could use some help. Wrap in tissue paper and store in a box for next time!
Pictured recipe
1 x 3oz bleached broom bloom $22
1 x coco twine $9
1 x spooled Wire $12
=$59
Baroque Era Design
The French Baroque era of design is characterized by its dramatic, bold, flashy and over-the-top aesthetic. This period began during Louis XIV's reign from 1661-1715. It was expressive of the noble’s wealth and power. The Baroque era was defined by lavish ornamentation including fruit, scrolls, candles and figurines, bold jewel-toned colors and an oval, dense shape. Usually in a gilded bronze container, the arrangements were celebrated for their refinement and grandiose. They had no center of interest or hierarchy, but rather featured the overall impressiveness and quality of the arrangement. Later in the 18th century the style transformed into a brighter, lighter and less rigid design known as the Rococo. Featuring pastels rather than jewel-tones, this era of design was less restrictive and allowed for more freedom in design and asymmetry. During this time the famous “s” curve that is commonly used today was coined by William Hearth as the “Line of Beauty.” It is also referred to as the “Hearth Curve.”
English Garden Design
Medieval style gardens became increasingly rigid in their designs with carefully planned patterns and designs. They were mostly structured and sculpted hedges of a limited variety of hardy, low growing plants that were easily manipulated. Symmetry, geometry and man’s touch were at the forefront of the design, rather than nature itself. The English garden style arose around the 18th century as a blatant revolt from the rigidity of gardens at the time. It embraced nature and its wildness, relinquished formality from the garden and strived to have little to no evidence of man’s involvement. They are the quintessential “cottage garden” featuring unruly grasses, climbing vines and disorderly beds filled to the brim. In floral design, the arrangement gives a small taste of the garden one could envision the blooms were plucked from. They have a lot of vertical movement symbolizing the branches that reach out higher than the rest as well as the vines that hang from the stone wall but contrasted by the short buds peeking up from beneath the garden floor. The “s'' line design style that arose during the Rococo period became a great tool to materialize this imagery. Seasonality is a key feature and garden flowers are the primary material as well as ample foliage. The English garden style of arranging gave way for foliage to become a key component of design, often used concurrently in importance as the flowers. English garden style is hugely popular today and is the most common styling of most weddings. This style teaches us a lot about what is considered to be formal or traditional and opens the door for a huge array of styles and techniques.
Pavé Style
In French, the word pavé translates to paved, often being used as a signifier of a cobblestone road. The tight grouping of elements on a flat plane inspired other forms of art such as jewelry. Pavé styled jewelry features many diamonds or gems closely grouped together set in metal creating a flat, seamless surface of jewels covering the whole piece. This style of jewelry is difficult to trace the origins with examples from ancient times to present day. The technique of pavé found its way to floral design and grew in popularity around the 18th and 19th centuries, however it wasn’t until recent years that the design really took off as a style of flower arranging. It has now been one of the most common design styles in Europe and the US for the past 20-40 years. It’s a sophisticated, clean look often using traditional flowers of only 1-3 varieties. The flowers should have a flat or rounded head that’s compatible with creating a flat cohesive surface. Roses are the most common choice for this style because of their size, uniformity and flattened face. They are tightly arranged in a domed or block shape usually spiraling out from the center. Foliage is often absent from these designs or is solely placed between the flowers and the perimeter of the vase alluding to leaves along the base of a flower's stem and/or adding extra protection to the heads of the flowers.
Biedermeier Style
Arising in a transitional and impoverished period, the Bidermeier style came to fruition primarily in the middle class of Germany and Austria between 1815-1848. There was much distress and divide throughout the continent that created great insecurity especially among lower and middle classes. This style was created in the spirit of manifesting reassurance, structure and control. Restraint and conservatism were of practical importance but also inspired an aesthetic of simplistic, functional craftsmanship that cherished beauty in its modesty. In floral design, the principles of Biedermeier actualize through rigid control over placement of flowers as well as constraints in variety. The flower arrangement has a very specific design that involves creating levels, each containing only one type of material. It usually forms into a cone shape where each layer is composed in a compact, flat mass encircling the level before it at a lowered height, creating a stepped appearance. The materials can range in color and texture but must compliment and contrast the materials in the level before it. Flowers, foliage, berries or nuts can all be used but their shape must be compatible in creating a flat surface. This design is cherished for its minimal yet deliberate nature and prizes craftsmanship and material over ornamentation.
Dutch Masters Painting Design
Not only did the Dutch master painters of the 1600s and 1700s hugely influence the world of painting, but also the world of botanical study and floral design. Dutch master style is hugely popular in the current day and will likely remain a constant influence in the world of flowers for days to come. It began in a time of widespread advances in science and a peaking interest in botany. The merchant class grew in power with the expanding trade industry and accessibility to new lands creating an interest for exotic and newly discovered specimens. Art was typically driven by the Church and nobles, but with the emerging economic growth within the merchant class a new type of imagery arose diverging from the typically religious iconography. Interest in sharing and appreciating the bounty of discovery and beauty in the natural world took over. Exotic flora became a symbol of status and wealth. Lavish botanical paintings emerged dramatically displaying a vast array of flowers from all over the world with no typical seasonality. They generally depicted an oval shaped arrangement featuring unique angles of the flowers and hierarchy of the most significant or interesting blooms towards the top or forefront. Imperfections such as bitten-at-leaves, browning and insects about the flowers were often showcased to exemplify nature’s imperfections. The arrangements were very stylized with dark backgrounds and brightly colored flowers. Nature’s vast range was showcased through the variety of seasonal and regional flowers. Tropical flora, fruits, garden flowers could all be in a single painting, but they always included bulbs. Blue was also typically included, it could be presumed that the inclusion of blue and bulbs was a way of paying homage to the Dutch.
The Dutch master flower arrangement paintings are hugely influential to contemporary floral design and references can be seen in almost every florists’ work. And now with the extreme ease of ordering flowers from around the world online, we often implement the same strategies the Dutch trade industry conjured. Florists are constantly creating awe-inspiring collections of flowers of vast and unique origin without even thinking about it but nonetheless representing nature’s immeasurable wealth of beauty.
French Country Design
Like many interior design styles throughout Europe of the time, the French country design style was largely influenced by Louis XV who ruled France from 1710-1774. Louis XV and his court spent ample time in the countryside and enjoyed many of the simpler, casual leisures of life. The style began in the province and is sometimes also called “French provincial style,” provincial referring to anywhere outside of Paris, as in the countryside, which was becoming more and more of interest. Furniture makers of the time were also traveling in and out of Paris informing each other’s work. The Parisian furniture style was highly decorative and lavish whereas those living in more rural areas did not have the tools or materials to mimic and therefore created simpler, more utilitarian pieces. Such pieces gained demand with the city's interest in country life.
The key ingredient to French country is the mix of rustic simplicity and delicate elegance. The beauty and rawness of a vine growing up a trellis, with the lushness and wealth of the sophisticated. It differs from farmhouse style in that it is not based purely on utility and quaintness, but rather pairs it with a keen eye for detail and adornment. It encourages the whimsy of nature but articulates it in a way that still portrays sophistication and thoughtfulness. French country style in floral arrangement is not nearly as contained as the pavé style, but not as free as the English garden style. It's normally a roughly rounded, compact shape with moments of unpredictability and freedom from constraint. Muted, natural colors including soft pastels and white are normally a signature of this style. French country style is the perfect bridge between the formal and rustic. It's airy, fresh and inspires awe while referencing the casual, natural beauty of the country.
Citations:
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "English garden". Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/art/English-garden. Accessed 17 April 2023.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Biedermeier style". Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Nov. 2012, https://www.britannica.com/art/Biedermeier-style. Accessed 17 April 2023.
Virginia Garden Club. Traditional Floral Styles and Designs Reduced - Gcvirginia.org. 2018, https://www.gcvirginia.org/warehouse/fm/documents/FlowerShowResources/Traditional%20Floral%20Styles%20and%20Designs%20reduced.pdf. “Biedermeier Vienna - History.” Www.biedermeier-Vienna.com, www.biedermeier-vienna.com/biedermeier.php?section=history. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.
McLaughlin, Katherine. “French Country Decor: Everything You Need to Know about This Rustic and Refined Style.” Architectural Digest, 23 Feb. 2023, www.architecturaldigest.com/story/french-country-decor-101. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.
“How to Identify French Provincial Furniture | Laurel Crown Furniture.” Www.laurelcrown.com, www.laurelcrown.com/how-to-identify-french-provincial-furniture#:~:text=French%20Provincial%2C%20sometimes%20used%20interchangeably. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.
]]>photo credit: Lindsey Zern
In the last few years we have seen a deconstruction of the typical, formal wedding flora of tight buds arranged in a structured, uniform manner relax into an airy, whimsical landscape. This new trend pulling from the past is exciting and full of unexpected moments. Often featuring lush greens, many colors, branching wisps and dramatic shapes, the garden wedding feels almost painterly.
We are featuring a wedding this month created at Roxanne’s Dried Flowers for a client who had this very dream. The couple’s wedding featured soft, pastel colors with moments of bursting color. We took inspiration from the Rococo era of muted but colorful designs embracing asymmetry as well as the traditional English Garden aesthetic. The English Garden is wild but controlled - filled with roses and other blooms, but highlighting the greenery as well.
Throughout this post we will take you on the floral journey to a whimsical garden wedding and give insightful tips and tricks to help advise you on your own DIY garden wedding.
photo credit: Lindsey Zern
With every bride we take our time in understanding what exactly she is envisioning. We think about all aspects from the dress to the event space to the bride’s height. No detail is too small! For this bouquet, she didn’t want her bouquet to overshadow or compete with the dress or the other arrangements on display. We kept it tighter and more formal with moments and wisps of lightness and intrigue. This allowed for more drama between the other flowers, creating moments of compact calm that turn into elegant bursts of longing branches.
photo credit: Lindsey Zern
The centerpiece is often the flowers guests are most intimate with, so it's important to consider them carefully. Centerpieces, due to the sheer volume usually needed, can get pricey. The garden style is a great way to get the most ‘bang for your buck,’ as the loose greens and asymmetrical shapes allow for a lot of intrigue and ground to be covered with little effort. They also don’t require as many expensive bloom heads as a compact vase of roses would. On the contrary, they can add even greater value and prominence to the flowers in their deliberately minimal and delicate placing. Choosing a vase is an important aspect of the arrangement. For this wedding, the couple wanted the flowers to do all the talking, so we kept it very simple with a plain, white cylinder vase. This allowed the flowers to really pop, and give the viewer’s eye a moment of rest while also adding a simple, modern feel to a traditional look. Using an antique urn or brass bowl would alter the feel into that of an old, cherished and fanciful garden, whereas this wedding felt very fresh and vibrant while still embracing whimsy. These small choices can have a big impact and it is always wise to refer back to the overall tone or environment you are trying to create.
photo credit: Lindsey Zern
The ceremony arch is always one of the most important and show-stopping displays of the event. Larger stems of foliage and branches as well as clusters of roses or clouds of grasses are great ways to fill up space, be cost efficient, and create dramatic moments. For this one, we actually wired the arch up around the hill all the way to the fence behind. If there is a will, there's a way! Always discuss options with your florist even if the event space originally declares no nails/screws or altering of the space.
photo credit: Lindsey Zern
The bridal bouquet may get all the glory, but the bridesmaid’s bouquets and the groomsmen’s boutonnieres are elements not to be overlooked! Carry on existing themes or use them as an opportunity to show something different. The personals can mimic the design of the bridal bouquet or tell us something new. For bridesmaids bouquets, having all one type of flower or mixed foliage are both options that make the bride stand out even more by creating more contrast and uniqueness. Having one cohesive look across all the personals and elements gives the appearance of one large garden for your guests to be entranced by.
photo credit: Lindsey Zern
There are always other cracks and crevices at every event space that allow for other magical landscapes to awe and inspire your guests. In this space, we had a beautiful stone fireplace mantel to work with. Always consider nontraditional areas for adding flowers – especially for a garden wedding which you want as lush and voluminous as possible to create your very own oasis. If you feel your space may not have what you are looking for, always work with your florists, we can create shapes and structures just about anywhere!
photo credit: Lindsey Zern
This wedding had cocktail tables where we added sweet, little bud vases. We kept them simple and complimentary and let the bigger moments shine while steering away from having empty, unconsidered areas. The cake is another important area to consider adding florals. And don’t forget the bathroom, entrance table, aisle, buffet tables, bar, and light fixtures,
-Clumps of garden flowers such as roses, hydrangea, and peonies. The big, lush heads will give grounding points to the areas of negative space and help dramatize the extended branching moments. Clustering the flowers together gives the effect of an actual plant growing in nature. Garden themes get their name by alluding to and even mimicking actual flowers growing from the ground with groups of flowers surrounded by foliage.
-Wispy, branching drama galore. The key to whimsy is delicate, airy moments with ample negative space and heightened contrast in lengths of stems from compact, clustered moments to a lone branch extended outward.
-Lots of foliage. It wouldn’t be a garden without lots of lush greens and leaves.
-Keeping a bright but soft color palette. You will want to restrain from limiting your color palette and be sure to incorporate the whole range of colors. Having too narrow a palette will stray from the wild look. It is also good to avoid too many dark colors to keep things bright and light. Lastly, neon and an over-abundance of bright colors may become too loud and lack overall softness.
-Let things droop! Allow stems to hang and dip down. Consider materials that will help accentuate adding drama and length in every direction.
-Avoid symmetry and uniformity. One of the most key ingredients is keeping things as beautifully wild as possible and freeing the viewer from any remnants of the man-made. Symmetry and uniformity are the enemy of garden style. Embrace uniqueness even from centerpiece to centerpiece, bridesmaid’s bouquet to bridesmaid’s bouquet. There is a scale of control you can practice here on just how wild you want to go. This is the area that will most greatly impact how “garden-y” or whimsical your wedding is. Anywhere on that scale is a fine place to be!
Roses, craspedia, lunaria, happy flower, broom bloom, caspia, plumosa fern, eucalyptus, ammobium, stoebe, integrifolia, peonies, echinops, strawflowers and sola flowers.
]]>It’s that time of year again! The trees are budding, the tulips are sprouting and the birds are singing. As new life and beauty enters our everyday lives, we can’t help but reflect on the space we reside in. And as we begin to wrangle the dust bunnies and throw out evidence of hibernation, we share with you some of our favorite ways to embrace the season of new beginnings, Spring!
reimagine your entrance and front door
Start with the place that acts as the intermediary between the fresh, wild outside world and the one we control, the entrance. A space as important as within but easily overlooked, the entryway gives preview to what lies beyond the door. It’s the first greeting dear guests receive, the welcome back home after time spent away, and the friendly hello to neighborhood passerbyers. Not only that, it's one of the few places in our control that has the backdrop of the outside world.
Planters: Do you have planters that are in need of a post-winter makeover? Throw in some blooming spring bulbs, after they have bloomed take them out and replant in fall to skip this step altogether next spring! Pussy willow or curly willow branches are also a great choice in spring to add some height to your planters.
Wreath: Consider sprucing things up with a seasonal wreath. While choosing your wreath, keep in mind what type of weather your front door is exposed to. In general, dried flowers will only last one season but some are hardier than others. Definitely stay away from preserved flowers as the humidity can allow for dye drippage. Also avoid delicate dried flowers if your door has no coverage and is exposed to wind and rain.
Garland: Garlands aren’t just for the winter months! A garland can be made for any season and possibly just the thing your front door is missing. A simple angel vine garland can make a huge difference yet be just the simple solution your entrance was needing. For spring and summer months, it is best to keep it simple and hardy to withstand the heat. Branches and vines are always a safe bet. A hardy dried flower can also do the trick, such as broom bloom and naturally dried grasses. A few other hardy naturally dried elements are happy flowers, palm spears, safflower, german statice, marcela and craspedia!
add plants to your home
Indoor plants have been around since the ancient Greek and Romans and it is no wonder we have continued to implement them in our homes all these years later. Not only do they assist in the appearance and styling of our homes, they also help eliminate pollutants and cleanse the air. They also help boost our mood, reducing stress and anxiety. But what plants do you choose? Think about the light in your house, how much effort you are willing to give, and your plant experience. Bright light, bright indirect light, and shade are going to be your main groups of plants. Some will sustain in different kinds of light, but usually for a plant to flourish you will want to stick to the optimal amount of light. If you are looking for something fool-proof with no experience necessary, try a ZZ plant, sansevieria, pothos, spider plant or aspidistra. All are very hardy and do well with little fussing. If you are looking for something in the medium care range, philodendron, alocasia, birds of paradise, begonia, hoya, succulents and cacti are manageable and easy as long as they have correct lighting and watering. For the seasoned plant parent, orchids, ferns, tillandsia, calathea, ficus, gardenia, and jasmine are all manageable with a little experience and attentive care.
Now choose a spot in your house that could use a little face lift and pick-me-up! Decipher which kind of light that area receives, and research which plants will thrive there with the appropriate amount of care you are willing to give. Once you have one picked out, go find it at your local plant store! We recommend waiting to re-pot your plant until the next growing season so as to not add extra stress on the plant. If you notice it not thriving at first, that can be normal due to the new environment, continue proper care guidelines until it improves. If it doesn’t improve, contact your plant store for extra care tips and troubleshooting!
start seeds
Few things represent new beginnings like baby plants raised from seed. Most seeds need to be started indoors around 6-8 weeks before the last frost, which is on average around May 15th, so time is of the essence. At Roxanne’s, we offer organic seeds from Seed Savers Exchange, a nonprofit dedicated to the preservation, collection and sharing of heirloom seeds. Once you have your seeds, all you need is a seed starting tray, soil, and a nice sunny spot by a window. Give yourself the gift of waking up to new growth each morning and the eventual addition of hand grown veggies or flowers to your garden. If you're feeling nervous and want to take the beginners approach, start with easy flowering seeds such as zinnia, marigold, cosmos and sunflowers. For vegetables, castor beans, tomatoes, basil, peppers, kale, pumpkins, peas and broccoli are all beginner-friendly seeds to start with.
garden books to inspire
Whether it be for the beautiful imagery or the meaningful text, a book on nature, gardening, or floral design can inspire and invigorate you for Spring and change. Maybe this is the year you get into gardening, or perhaps go down the spiritual journey of Ikebana floral design, or maybe get inspired by beautiful floral designs for your next painting project. Whatever book it may be, now is a great time to allow something new and beautiful to enter your world.
From entryway decor to plants, books to seeds, there’s plenty of fodder for reflecting the springtime world within the home. Find inspiration in our seasonal collection and tag us on instagram to share your own spring refresh. We’d love to see it! @roxannesdriedflowers
Stephanie McLellan, Photographs by Stephanie
Dried flowers imprint on us a soft, sweet, natural essence that is fragile but strong in its long lasting quality. They are sincere and they are beautiful. Much the same can be said for love, which makes dried flowers an exceptional choice and metaphor to add to your wedding day. As the winter days begin to dwindle here in Pittsburgh and feelings of excitement around pastels and pops of colors bubble up, it is hard not to be eager for Spring and warmer, brighter days. However, the coolness carries on for now and just as we miss the magentas and okras of seasons to come, we will miss the murk of Winter. Soft, subdued palettes that reflect the coolness of the weather, the muted landscapes and the calmness of long nights. There is such beauty in every season with each their own specialty and evocative powers. Dried flowers have long been the bridge between nature, beauty and the desolate months when weather doesn’t permit fresh blooms. Even so today, although we have access to fresh flowers all year round, they can still be very sensitive to freezing temperatures and extra steps and care must be taken to prevent damage whereas dried flowers are much more resilient against the cold. The muted colors of naturally dried flowers compliment the mood and palette of Winter and are indicative and metaphoric for the beauty of the barren and hibernating world soon to be lush once again.
We’d like to reflect on one of our 2022 weddings that embraced Winter and celebrated the greys, neutrals and blues. We especially loved how much thought the bride and groom put into the landscape the flowers would exist in. The ceremony took place in the woods and they wanted to be sure the naked trees and dead grasses were made beautiful with complimenting colors and elements.
The bridal bouquet and other focal arrangements featured big, fuzzy, natural protea that aided in the color palette with browns and black. The icy blue echinops added a pop of color and playful texture. We featured lots of sagey blue eucalyptus to give color and lushness. Silver stoebe was the perfect shade of grey and brightness while also adding movement and texture. The bunny tails and rice grass created movement and added a snowy softness to the harsher woody elements, such as the compacta and plumosum.
We made a ceremony piece that was mounted on a circle made of branches. We love how this piece really becomes one with the environment, connecting colors and textures while embellishing and creating a focal point amidst the woods to feature the bride and groom.
Even the bride’s hair with moments of brown and gold fit so well into the overall palette. We made her a comb that continues the theme and makes more beautiful connections with the scenery, flowers and the couple themselves. Although it often doesn’t take up that much space in the planning process of a wedding, the appearance of the couple is a place for consideration. The shade of someone’s hair, the tone of their skin, all things can be (and should be) considered when creating a palette. There are always places to draw connections and create new compliments. When struggling to come up with inspiration, take a good look at what is around you, the environment, the people, the season, there is always something to draw meaning from.
Material suggestions for a winter wedding
Softness for snow:
Bunny tails, pampas grass, rice grass, snowdrop grass, everlasting, furry plumosus and protea, white straw flowers, ammobium
Hard, wooden elements for the barren trees:
Plumosus, compacta, protea, banksia, okra, twigs and branches
Neutrals and dried grasses for the latent gold-brown grasses:
Wheat, avena oats, natural bloom broom, millet, lepidium
Muted blues for ice and coolness:
Echinops, hydrangea, mountain mint, eucalyptus, lavender
Greys and black for the short days and long nights:
Bearded black wheat, protea, silver stoebe, lavender, black broom corn
If you’ve ever wanted to make your own dried flower projects but didn’t know where to start, our dried flower kit can turn you into your own florist! This kit - one full of garden blooms and grasses - will help you dive into the world of floristry. It’s perfect for small scale crafts like bouquets, petite arrangements, and festive boutonnieres. Take a look at our guide below for project ideas, detailed steps, and suggested materials for creating your own unique, long-lasting dried flower creation.
We’d love to see your final creations, so please snap a photo and tag us on Instagram! Find us @roxannesdriedflowers
Tips:
-Cut stems at varying lengths to create depth;
-Spin your design periodically and work all sides to make sure your design stays even;
-Step back once in a while to see how the design is coming along;
-Be gentle with the stems;
-Always cut little by little as you can always cut more.
Material suggestions:
Using flower frogs or kenzan is usually reserved for fleshy, thicker stems; however, by making small bunches of thin stems you can create a structure for the pins to hold on to and give the stems structure. This grouping method is also similar to the principles of Ikebana, where you keep like stems grouped as if growing from the ground as a single plant.
Material suggestions:
-mini rubber band or clear floral tape
You can use any kind of wreath base with this kit. We recommend one with a diameter of 6-10". Grapevine, metal, twisted curly willow, or wired twigs from your backyard could all work as a base!
Material suggestions:
-wreath base
-tape, binding wire, and/or jute cord
-glue (hot glue or floral glue)
This is a great option for the crafty bride and groom who wants to make their own boutonnieres. This kit would also work for pinned and wrist corsages!
Material suggestions:
-glue (hot glue or floral glue)
-pins
Material suggestions:
A dried floral arrangement brings lasting, natural beauty to any space. While the process of preparing, shaping, and arranging your flowers and grasses might seem intimidating, it only takes a bit of practice before you’re making your own gorgeous bouquets and centerpieces. Learn how to create a dried floral arrangement with our favorite tips and tricks.
Start by untying and laying out all your materials so you have a good idea of what you are working with.
“Fluff” your materials by gently spreading out the stems, leaves and flowers. This will make them appear more voluptuous. Be gentle, but if a few pieces break, don’t sweat it.
Clean and edit your materials by removing foliage from the ends of the stems. This will help when arranging and moving elements and give an overall cleaner look.
Do you want a tall, airy arrangement? A full and compact style? Symmetrical, asymmetrical? Perhaps you wish to keep your elements in clusters for a more modern approach? Or maybe you only want to use certain flowers and preserved foliage for your design.
Start with your greens and textural elements. Think about the shape and style you want your arrangement to take on and use these elements to start crafting an ‘outline’ or flow.
Once you are satisfied with the rough shape, begin adding your focal flowers. For this set, the banksia has the showiest head, and we recommend highlighting it. The protea and straw flower can also act as focal points, depending on how you craft your design.
Now that you have the basics of how to create a dried floral arrangement down, use these tips and tricks to expand your skillset and experiment with new designs.
When cutting your elements, be sure to cut a little at a time. You can always cut shorter if need be but not the other way around.
When arranging your stems, always try to insert them on a diagonal. This will keep your arrangement from looking too rigid and upright.
Work all sides of your design simultaneously, consistently turning and evening out the design.
Step back. When you are up close and personal with your design it can feel intimate and romantic, but don’t get blinded by love! You can’t always see the full image of your design unless you take a few steps back. We recommend doing this periodically to make sure you are happy with how things are coming along.
Frustrated? Unsure? Crying? Don’t give up! Walk away from it for an hour, day, or even a few days. You’ll come back with a fresh perspective and experience under your belt.
Most importantly, don’t overthink it. Have fun! No matter what design you come up with, they are flowers and they are beautiful, just like you.
]]>One of the perks of choosing dried or preserved flowers is that they’re much easier to care for than fresh flowers. However, there are still a couple of best practices you should follow to help your beautiful bouquet last as long as possible. Keep your flowers looking as gorgeous as the day you get them with this rundown of the dos and don’ts of caring for dried flowers.
Avoid putting your flowers in front of a window because direct sunlight can cause the colors to fade over time. Similarly, dried flowers that reabsorb moisture can wilt and lose their color. Be especially careful with preserved flowers as these contain glycerin, a wax-like substance that plays a key role in the preservation process. If your flowers get wet or are in a humid environment, the moisture can cause the dye to drip out, damaging nearby walls, furniture, or doors.
Dried flowers do best in a permanent place where you don’t have to move or arrange them often. Unfortunately, this can lead to dust gathering on your blooms. Keep your flowers from looking old or dusty by using canned air or a blow dryer on a low, cool setting. Be careful and handle your flowers gently as you dust them.
As we mentioned above, dried and preserved flowers prefer dry spaces. That’s why it’s important to control the humidity in your home—especially if you live in a warm or humid climate. Use a dehumidifier and try to keep humidity levels in your home around 60 percent. In addition to keeping your flowers in good shape, this will help keep your home comfortable during those warm, humid summer days.
As good as your flowers might look on your front door, they won’t hold up as well outside. The sunshine, humidity, rain, and other elements can damage your flowers and severely shorten their lifespan. If you want your dried florals to last longer, keep them inside. They’ll look good on an interior door, above your mantle, as a centerpiece on the table, or anywhere else in your indoor space.
With these dos and don’ts of caring for dried flowers, you can make your dried or preserved arrangements last for months, a year, or even longer. Spruce up your home with the natural, lasting beauty of dried foliage and other preserved décor from Roxanne’s Dried Flowers.
]]>Both dried and preserved flowers bring lasting, sustainable beauty to a room. However, each method of preservation has a unique effect on the flowers. Learning what the difference is between dried flowers vs. preserved flowers will help you make an informed decision about the kinds of floral arrangements you use to adorn your space.
Drying flowers is a natural preservation process. It involves harvesting the flowers at the perfect time and then hanging them upside down on a hook in a dry, dark and well-ventilated space to air dry. Each type of flower has a different harvesting time. Picking the flower at the precise time helps the plant dry successfully. You can dry flowers naturally, dye and dry them to better preserve their color, or change the color completely with dye or spray paint.
Unfortunately, not all flowers dry well naturally. That’s where other preservative methods come in.
A glycerin bath is one of the most common flower preservation methods today. In this process, the flowers absorb a special glycerin mixture through their stems. The glycerin replaces the moisture in the flower, effectively preserving it. However, glycerin turns the stems gray, so professionals add dye to the flowers to recreate their natural colors. The end result is a fresh, pliable appearance that mimics the look of fresh-cut flowers.
The glycerin treatment requires precise harvesting in order to succeed. Immature or overripe plants don’t absorb glycerin as well. Bright green shoots and other new growths will reject the glycerin entirely. When using this preservation method, pick your flowers midseason when they’re fully mature.
Silica sand and silica gel offer another flower preservation method. This practice involves covering the flowers with your silica substance and letting them set for a few days while the sand or gel absorbs the moisture from the plant. Silica gel is a more specialized substance, so it can dry flowers in 4 to 7 days. Meanwhile, silica sand can take anywhere from 7 to 14 days.
It’s important to remember that silica sand and silica gel dry out only the flower head rather than the entire plant. Silica sand and gel can also cause thinner, daintier blooms to shrivel. However, thicker flower heads such as peonies or roses work well with silica preservation methods.
Another preservation method is freeze-drying. This method involves freezing the flowers at extreme temperatures before using a vacuum pump to slowly pull out all the moisture. Freeze-drying perfectly maintains the natural shape and color of the flowers. However, this is a more industrial and expensive method that requires a specialized freeze-drying machine, making it less accessible to many business-owners and hobbyists.
Now that you know the difference between dried flowers vs. preserved flowers, it’s important to note that all of these methods result in flowers that require a bit of care to maintain. No matter how you dry or preserve your flowers, you need to keep the end products away from humidity. Moisture can cause dried flowers to wilt. Additionally, glycerin-preserved flowers can bleed the glycerin and dye, damaging any nearby walls, doors, or fabrics.
With a little care and attention, though, you can make your dried or preserved flowers last a long time in your home. If you’re looking for the perfect products to help you step into the world of flower preservation, look no further than the dried flowers for sale online at Roxanne’s Dried Flowers. Browse naturally dried and glycerin-preserved flowers and arrangements to find the perfect gift or décor piece for your needs.
]]>Drying flowers for medicine, fashion, and decoration is a simple yet elegant practice that dates back thousands of years. In fact, archaeologists have found preserved flowers in a Roman tomb that are over two thousand years old. Drying flowers is a practice that humans have always enjoyed. Learn more about the history of drying flowers with this brief overview.
The ancient Egyptians were all-around flower enthusiasts. Records show that ancient Egyptians practiced the art of precise, meaningful flower arranging. Drying flowers was also a common practice that made its way into burial rites, religious ceremonies, and other significant occasions. Ancient Egyptians used dried flowers in garlands and other arrangements that they placed within tombs. Beyond decoration, the ancient Egyptians dried flowers to use in perfumes, incense, oils, or even cosmetic pigments.
The ancient Greeks and Romans were also fond of dried flowers—especially in the form of wreaths and garlands. Both civilizations used wreaths to honor warriors, athletes, poets, and politicians. Meanwhile, garlands were decorations that people used to adorn doorways, civic buildings, and monuments. Garlands were also a part of important occasions, like funerals and weddings.
Dried flowers were also popular in Europe throughout the Middle Ages, where people believed that dried flowers and herbs had medicinal properties. While the science behind these theories wasn’t always sound, some herbs and flowers did influence medicine of the age. Churches were popular locations for herb gardens. Specialists harvested and dried herbs and flowers to use in teas, ointments, arrangements, and other concoctions to give to the rest of the community.
In Japan in the 16th century, drying flowers became a precise and honored art form. Oshibana, the art of drying and pressing plants, involves picking, pressing, and arranging dried flowers carefully on washi paper. The result is nature-inspired designs that reflect the reverence Japanese culture held for the flowers and plants of the natural world.
As trade increased between Asia and Europe, Oshibana made its way to English culture. This inspired a new appreciation for dried flowers in Victorian England. Drying flowers became a popular hobby; women used dried flowers to make garlands, design photos, or adorn accessories like fans, jewelry, and gloves. As dried flowers became a fashion staple, an entire culture of language and symbology grew around the art. In fact, using flowers to communicate various feelings and messages—such as love, apologies, or congratulations—is a practice we still use today.
Though the use of preserved florals has changed throughout the history of drying flowers, you can still see traces of ancient practices, art forms, and symbolism today. Keep these traditions alive in your home when you shop the dried and preserved florals at Roxanne’s Dried Flowers. Our online dried flower delivery makes it easy to bring the finest flowers, arrangements, and more right to your door.
]]>Spruce up any work environment with the addition of dried flowers. With everything from wreaths to arrangements to potpourri, you can transform your office in no time from a blank slate to a nature-inspired oasis. Bring your work environment to life with these five ways to incorporate natural elements into your office space.
Hang a wreath on your office door for a warm welcome. Office guests will be greeted by a natural, one-of-a-kind creation as they enter, lending a unique touch to the workplace. If your workspace is without a door, hang a wreath above your desk to brighten up your day.
Awaken the senses with a fragrant batch of dried flower potpourri. Steeped in long-lasting essential oils, our selection of natural medleys will elevate your office setting. Choose from floral-forward to woodsy scents, with plenty of in-betweens. Display in a low-lying vessel so that you can easily enjoy the beauty and fragrance of the florals.
For a more rustic touch, hang a woven basket filled with seasonal delights on an office wall. For spring and summertime, we suggest something bright and floral. Meanwhile, fall calls for deep and rich tones. And for winter, we like bare branches with a touch of berries. Swapping out your basket florals each season is a simple way to keep your office decor fresh throughout the year. No matter the season, a wall basket filled with natural wonders will be the office focal point.
Showcase a collection of unique pods on a bookcase or shelf in your workspace. Fill an oversized glass vessel with dried fruit or a handmade ceramic bowl with moss and star pods. Place a single pinecone in front of a row of books for just a touch of natural beauty. Alternatively, set an overflowing wooden bowl of pods on top of a stack of books. Adding dried fruits and pods around the area is an easy way to incorporate natural elements into your office space.
Find or make the right office arrangement for you. For a modern approach, we recommend minimal and monochromatic—say, a few stems in a sleek vase. Our dried grass arrangements provide gorgeous and elegant examples of this. For a more traditional arrangement, an array of deep-toned florals in an urn will do just the trick. Create something petite for your desk, while shelves and credenzas can handle something statement-sized.
With beautiful and lasting dried flowers, you can decorate your work environment to match any mood or style. Experiment with these ideas to create a gorgeous, welcoming, and productive atmosphere for your office space.
]]>Bring nature into the home with a hand-crafted dried wreath. You can hang it above the hearth, on a closet door, or in the bedroom as an ode to the outside world. The tradition of dried flower wreaths is rooted in ancient times. Today, it’s upheld with a wide variety of shapes, sizes, styles, and designs to choose from.
Feature dried seasonal flowers on the mantle. While a winter fire crackles below, adorn your mantle with pinecones, preserved evergreens, and bright red berries. In the heat of the summer, you can make a sunshine-y display with daisy-like ammonium, feathery pampas grass, and dyed palm leaves. The mantle is the perfect place for seasonal décor; it’s an ever-changing display of Mother Nature’s best.
Elevate dinner parties, luncheons, and teas with a dried flower centerpiece for the table. Guests will admire your flowery centerpiece, and it’ll be something to be remembered long after goodbyes. A woven basket, ceramic vase, or antiqued apothecary jar are all wonderful vessels to show off your dried flowers.
Use handmade dried flower swag to fill blank wall space in your home. Gather an herbaceous mix for the kitchen or a traditional mix for the living room and tie it into a hang-down bouquet. Add a bow for a formal touch or tie the flowers together with twine for something more rustic. Or, you can incorporate these florals with other hangings, add them to a gallery wall, or simply hang them by themselves.
Create a long-lasting display in your favorite vessel with a mix of dried and preserved flowers. Fill a petite vase for a simple touch or make a bold statement with something oversized and overflowing on an entryway table. Fill a vase with dried flowers to accent the home for seasons to come. (Since they won’t be fresh, you won’t have to worry about them wilting.)
Showcase the bounty of nature with a garland. Elevate the everyday by laying a garland out on the dining room table to be enjoyed during meals. Or you could hang one above a doorway for guests to delight in. During the holidays, wrap a garland around a staircase banister. No matter the occasion, dried flower garlands are essential in nature-inspired homes.
]]>A bouquet of flowers is a great gift for any occasion. Flowers can be an expression of affection, gratitude, condolence, congratulations, and more. Choosing the perfect arrangement is the key to sending the perfect gift. You could go into any grocery store and find the freshest bouquet from a shelf of standard arrangements, but is that really the message you want to send? A bouquet of dried flowers is a gorgeous and creative gift that will make anyone feel special. Discover these reasons why you should send a dried floral bouquet the next time a special occasion comes around.
People adore flowers for their vibrant and diverse colors. When you choose a dried floral bouquet, you open the door for a new color scheme. Step outside the boundaries of standard roses and carnations. Instead, send a beautifully unique bouquet full of sun-bleached hues. The rich textures and cozy shades of dried flower arrangements create a warm, homey presence that will brighten any day. Dried flowers stand out from your average bouquet, sending a strong message of care and affection.
A standard bouquet of fresh flowers will wilt after a few short days. When you send dried flowers instead, your loved one can enjoy their beauty for months or even years. Plus, one of the best reasons why you should send a dried floral bouquet is because it takes little to no maintenance. To make a fresh bouquet last, you need to switch out the water, add plant nutrients, and spritz the petals to keep them vibrant and beautiful. Dried flowers make maintenance easy. All you need to do is keep them away from moisture or direct sunlight.
Fresh flowers require lots of resources, especially if you want to keep them in your home. Even with care, fresh flowers only last a week at max. You’ll have to consistently replace your blooms, which means constantly buying new flowers, switching out the water in the vase, and throwing away wilted blooms. On top of all that, the shipping and travel time of all those fresh flowers—and the wrapping, water, and other resources they need to stay intact—creates carbon emissions in our atmosphere.
When you choose dried flowers, you bypass much of that waste. The longevity of dried flowers means you won’t have to throw away and replace them nearly as often. This uses fewer resources, which is great for the environment. It also means fewer purchases, which is fantastic for your wallet.
Like fresh flowers, dried floral bouquets come in many different shapes, colors, and sizes. Plus, with the gorgeous collections of dried flowers online at Roxanne’s Dried Flowers, it’s easier than ever to find an arrangement for your next occasion. Browse our selection to find the perfect bouquet today.
]]>The perfect wedding needs the perfect flowers. From centerpieces at the reception to the bouquet you carry down the aisle with you, flowers are a fantastic way to incorporate color, texture, and style throughout your big day. Stay on top of what you should know about upcoming floral trends for weddings with this guide.
If you want a summer or fall wedding, natural earth tones are a great way to go. The warm hues incorporate everyone’s favorite parts of the season, while the neutral base goes with any additional décor, outfits, or color scheme. Lean into neutrals with brown or cream colors, warm it up with burnt orange or brick hues, or relish in the deep tones of olive green.
If contemporary or minimalist looks catch your eye, consider the monotone floral trend. Decorate with a variety of blooms in the same color and tone. This uniform look is a great way to keep your color scheme simple and sophisticated while still incorporating gorgeous natural elements.
Are you creating a color scheme that stands out? Bold color palettes make for a fresh and exciting take on the traditional wedding ceremony. Think bright colors such as reds, yellows, and hot pink. Incorporating flowers with these tones creates a vibrant and lively look you’ll always remember.
Sometimes, a quiet, small, or simple ceremony is the best option. Match your subtle yet beautiful style with a minimalist bouquet. Pretty and petite bouquets are a traditional trend in Asian countries and they’re growing in popularity across the world. Let simplicity and elegance collide with a stunning small bouquet.
Give your wedding a touch of the great outdoors with cascading floral pieces. Hanging arches, garlands that flow off the tables, or a bridal bouquet that reaches elegantly toward the ground are all great options. The rich texture, natural movement, and dignified flow of these pieces bring the best of flowers’ authentic beauty to your ceremony.
Let your style shine through by adding a touch of something uniquely you into your wedding florals. Every year, more unique and stylized elements are making their way into mainstream wedding trends. Arch pieces, meadow installations, hanging elements—if you can dream of it, you can have it in your beautiful ceremony. It’s your big day, after all! Push the boundaries and create the wedding décor you’ve always dreamed of.
Whether you’re sticking with these upcoming floral trends for weddings or branching out into something completely unique, we want to help you make your dream ceremony come true. Browse our beautiful and lasting collections of dried flowers. You can even buy dried floral arrangements online for the ultimate convenience in your wedding planning. Build your perfect day with the stunning centerpieces, bouquets, and more at Roxanne’s Dried Flowers.
]]>The world of flowers is full of gorgeous and delightful alternatives to fresh-cut blooms. If you want a gift that keeps its shape and color longer, why not take a peek into the world of sola flowers? These flower alternatives are perfect for beautiful bouquets, wedding arrangements, and any crafty décor you can imagine.
As sola flowers continue to grow in popularity, many people have questions about these clever and creative decorations. Learn everything you need to know with this introductory guide to sola flowers, what they are, and how to use them.
Sola flowers consist of dyed tuber from a tapioca plant root. The tuber is incredibly light and soft, which means it can easily take on the appearance of an authentic flower. By cutting and arranging special shavings of this tuber, specialists can create flower petals that look and even feel like the real thing. Plus, the vibrant color of the dye makes each petal as beautiful as that of a real flower.
Crafters and decorators seek out sola flowers because they last longer than fresh bouquets. With proper care, a sola flower can last for years. That means you can admire the work and care you put into a décor project for a long time. Sola flowers make perfect gifts for this same reason. If you give someone a bouquet of fresh flowers, they’ll sit beautifully in a vase for a few days until they wilt. If you give someone a bouquet of sola flowers, though, the recipient can proudly display it for years to come.
This long life also makes sola flowers more sustainable than fresh flowers. Instead of constantly replacing your bouquets, you can admire the lasting beauty of sola flowers. Plus, the natural material is more eco-friendly than fake flowers made of rubber, latex, or polyester.
Finally, sola flowers are pollen-free alternatives to fresh or dried flowers. This means you can keep beautiful blooms in your home without worrying about allergies.
Learning what sola flowers are and how to use them is simple. As with real flowers, you can use sola flowers with or without the stems. Keep the stems on to create a lovely bouquet, or use just the heads as decorations in wreaths, shadow boxes, and more. Finally, if you miss the smell of a fresh bouquet, add a touch of flowery essential oils to your sola flowers for a pleasing aroma.
Sola flowers are incredible alternatives to fragile, fast-fading fresh flowers. The next time you want to decorate or show your affection, check out our gorgeously crafted selections at Roxanne’s Dried Flowers. You can buy preserved flowers online to access our full variety of products and find the perfect bouquet for your needs. Learn more about the beauty of sola flowers and other wonderful arrangements by visiting Roxanne’s Dried Flowers today.
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Once you've found your fragrance match, the magic continues with hand pressed cards. Fit for elevated gifting to those held dearest, write words of love on embellished cards for keepsakes cherished.
A journey beyond our usual domain, the things we know, & the people we love. A moment in time to discover who we are.
An unexpected ensemble of light, texture, color, space, and sound. Where we find peace and inspiration, in any form it may take.
]]>It was once said, that no home should be without a small collection of Austin Press ephemera.
It was summer of ’91 when young twenty somethings Roxanne and husband Eric were eager to live off the land, purchasing two farming acres in countryside Washington, Pennsylvania. During harvest season, a piqued interest in sustainable farming lead Roxanne to an organic farm not far from her own. It was there that she found Holy Basil being grown, gathered, and dried for more than just culinary use, but for artfully hand crafted wreaths.
As she watched on, stems of basil were twisted and bound into fragrant, shapely rings for long standing use in the home. Her love of the outside world turned into mementos for the indoors- she could bring the outside in. This chance encounter with the Holy Basil wreaths filled Roxanne with boundless inspiration. She was ready to venture forward into the artistry of the dried flower world.
Roxanne got busy on the farm; planting, growing, harvesting, and drying a thoughtfully curated selection of flowers, knowing not all are so easily dried after extensive research. With a bounty of flora and the innate artists touch, Roxanne started designing and crafting timeless arrangements grounded in old world charm.
Her inspired floral arts were a splendid success at the local country markets and fairs, making way for a brick and mortar to house her ever growing business. Once the Washington store was established in 1994, she was able to fill the shop with more than her beloved dried flowers. Complimentary pottery made by husband Eric and antiques found and picked along the way lent themselves to highlighting the naturalist lifestyle she so steadily pursued and wished to inspire.
In a few years time Roxanne’s Dried Flowers had outgrown the modest, initial shop in quiet Washington, PA. Knowing she had to move her blooming business to a new home, Roxanne sought out Pittsburgh’s bustling Strip District. She was drawn to the city neighborhood for its market-like qualities and abundance of small businesses. A new and bigger location meant even more of what Roxanne so loved, more dried flowers, more natural curiosities, more old world ephemera.
As Roxanne’s Dried Flowers flourished in the Strip District, there was something missing from the shop. Roxanne’s deep love of plants, the true roots of the business, needed room to grow. So after her first six years in the Strip District she moved just across the street to 2115 Penn Avenue, the address we hold to this day. This new storefront offered a whole new world of possibilities, with a parking lot Roxanne so eagerly turned into an urban garden oasis. Housing perennials, herbs, and tropicals during warmer months and fresh holiday trimmings during cold, the backyard garden is always brimming with something in season.
Roxanne then turned her focus to the indoors to expand her selection of dried flower offerings. Since no longer growing her own, she started sourcing flowers from across the country and beyond, cultivating a collection of magnificent florals for inspired handcrafted arrangements and individual bundles for customers to create their own. The selection of dried flowers grew with the business, now brimming with familiar favorites and unique exotics always selected by Roxanne herself.
As the business continued to grow, Roxanne remained in the Strip District but ventured into the world of online sales. A website was built and connections expanded. With a way to reach a broader audience and ship dried flowers, home goods, and more nation wide, our small community of dried flower enthusiasts grew to something much bigger than Roxanne could’ve ever hoped for.
The shop today sits filled with wonders, handpicked or designed by Roxanne herself. Her inspirations speak loudly, from extensive world travels to a deep love and knowledge of plants to her background and education in art. Through every avenue, be it dried flower arrangements, hard to find plants, or locally handmade pottery, the offerings of Roxanne’s Dried Flowers always circle back to the natural world and how best to bring it home.
]]>We invite you to join us for a Floral Design Workshop on Sunday, June 27th from 3:00 - 5:00 PM. Participants will enjoy an afternoon working in the backyard garden, where our in-house florist will guide you in creating your own dried flower arrangement. We will provide all materials needed and welcome guests to bring their own beverage of choice, be it boozy or bubbly. We can't wait to spend an afternoon with you and your friends, creating a piece to last for years to come.
D.I.Y.
If you can't join us at the shop, check out our D.I.Y. books and tools to get started on your own arrangement at home.
For the curious crafter or at-home florist our Apothecary Hang Down D.I.Y. Kit is just for you! Each kit comes with florals, materials, and a simple step-by-step guide to create the Apothecary Hang Down.
Fill a white washed wall basket with your favorite dried floral specimens for a long lasting display on a door or wall.
Check out our latest edition to our recommended reading list. A new favorite, this book covers the ins and outs of dried floristry.
For the curious crafter or at-home florist our Apothecary Hang Down D.I.Y. Kit is just for you! Each prepackaged kit comes with florals, materials, and a simple step-by-step guide to create the Apothecary Hang Down. Check out the steps below and be sure to order the kit paired with Dried Flowers: Techniques & Ideas for the Modern Home, a favorite book bursting with dried flower ideas and inspiration.
Florals included: french lavender, flax, greek oregano, safflower, wheat and sage.
Materials included: branch, linen ribbon and raffia.
Materials needed: Clippers and/or scissors, nail or screw, measuring tape and level.
Step 1: Separate bunches. Unwrap and remove rubber bands from your bunches of flowers. Begin to separate your bunches into smaller bunches.
For ours we separated them as follows: 2 flax, 2 lavender, 3 wheat, 2 safflower, 3 sage and 2 oregano. If you want a look that is more airy and sparse, make smaller bunches using less flowers than is in the package - you can use the extra for something else!
Step 2: Tie stems. Use the raffia to tie the ends of your stems. Be sure to leave one side long and trim the other. Tie the knot close to where the foliage begins.
Step 3: Edit bunches. Trim the ends of your stems about 2 inches under the tie. Clean your bunches of any broken stems, foliage or flowers. Separate or "fluff" the stems of your bunches, this will give them more volume and make for a more natural look.
Step 4: Hang your branch. Put a nail or screw into the wall. Tie one end of the linen ribbon about 4-5 inches from the end of the branch. Hold the branch up to the wall and hang the loose end of the ribbon over the nail. Decide on the desired length you want the branch to hang from the nail and tie the other end of the ribbon to the branch. Be sure to account for the length of the flowers. Our overall height was about 38" tall.
Step 5: Begin to hang. Start hanging your bunches beginning with the stems you want to hang the lowest, ours was the flax. Tie a single knot to the branch without trimming the excess raffia, this will allow you to lengthen and move the bunches around until you feel happy with your design. We recommend working in layers and thinking about what bunches you want to hang underneath and what you want on top. Our order was: 1.flax, 2.wheat, 3.lavender, 4.safflower, 5.oregano, 6.sage.
Step 6: Finalize. Once you are happy with the design, double or triple knot the raffia tied to the branch and trim the excess.
Enjoy! And be sure to check out our D.I.Y. page for more materials to elevate your at home dried flower floristry.
]]>Forever timeless lavender is a floral staple in both the fresh and dried world of flowers. Harvested for it's broad range of purple hues, deeply intoxicating scent, and calming powers, lavender offers more than just blooms.
Lavandula
purity, serenity, devotion
Common Uses
floristry, fragrance, flavor
calming, stress reducing, aids in sleep
Lavender Hill by The Kinks
Harvested at just the right moment to preserve the blooms, dried English Lavender will add a year round touch of country to your home. Display on a table or shelf frequently passed by to get unexpected calming whiffs of lavender throughout your day. If using for crafting arrangements, separate stems ever so gently as to avoid fallen blooms. One of our favorite ways to use dried lavender is for gift wrapping. Add a few sprigs to a bow to top off a present for a loved one. The extra floral detail will make gift giving all that more special.
Create a morning ritual of burning lavender incense for a grounded and intentional start to your day. Known for it's calming properties, the scent of lavender wafting through the home will inspire you to destress and enjoy your day. Nippon Kodo Japanese incense features pure floral essences and no bamboo core, making for a clean burn.
End your day in a soothing bath with all natural lavender soap for a calming effect. Handmade since 1982, SallyeAnder is our tried and true go-to soap. Only filled with the best, Lavender Moon boasts organic lavender essential oil for calming fragrance and organic oatmeal for a subtle exfoliant. We love this for sensitive skin!
Tuck under your pillow after a long day for a good nights sleep you've only dreamt of. The power of lavender is best harnessed at night for sleep, taking away the stress of the day, lulling you into a dream world. Aside from calming aromatherapy benefits, our loose lavender is food grade, making it ideal for flavoring cocktails, desserts, and even savory dishes. We love this recipe for lavender-infused lemonade!
]]>Transform your space from home to sanctuary with the sacred ritual of burning incense, sage, and palo santo. These age old practices urge us to slow down, to be mindful of the moment. The cleansing power of our burnables clears energy, purifying space and self.
Incense, palo santo, and sage each have a different effect when burned. Whether you’re seeking aromatherapy, an energy cleanse, or air purity, you can find what you’re looking for amongst these burnables.
Incense
The ritual of burning Japanese incense is an ancient practice rooted in the 10 virtues of koh. Create a moment of calm inspired by any one of the virtues of koh for better living.
1. It brings communication with the transcendent
2. It purifies the mind and body
3. It removes uncleanliness
4. It keeps one alert
5. It can be a companion in the midst of solitude
6. In the midst of busy affairs, it brings moments of peace
7. When it is plentiful, one never tires of it
8. When there is little, still one is satisfied
9. Age does not change its efficacy
10. Used everyday, it does no harm
Palo Santo
Palo Santo, which translates literally to “holy wood” in Spanish, is part of the citrus family with a relation to frankincense and myrrh, exuding a woody scent with hints of pine, lemon, and mint. The pieces are gathered from naturally fallen trees and branches, aging and drying for 4-10 years before being bundled.Palo Santo is used an aphrodesiac, diuretic, and as an anti-inflammatory. When burned for its metaphysical properties, one can expect good fortune and clearing of negative energy.
Sage
The act of smudging is suggestive of ceremonial rites performed in some Native American and First Nations groups. In some cases the ceremony is for spiritual cleansing or blessing, but the purposes and particulars of the ceremonies, and the substances used, can vary widely between tribes, bands and nations.
Smudge sticks are commonly burned to prevent illness, ward off negative energy, or cleanse a space, person or group. Use smudging as a way to enhance mindfulness, aid in meditation, cleansing or purely for aromatherapy.
Wildcrafted on the west coast, these dried white sage (Salvia apiana) smudge sticks are wrapped in organic hemp twine. Simply light the end of the stick with a lighter or a match, and allow to smolder and fill your space with the resinous, herbaceous, woodsy scent. Relight as desired.
]]>Time of Terrarium
The art of terraria was first popularized during the Victorian era. Glass enclosed gardening trended specifically in England, with home gardeners fascinated by the growing green worlds. Among terrarium types, there are two: closed and open. Closed is more suitable for humid and water loving plants, while open is recommended for more temperate plants. Gather a few essential materials and follow these simple steps to create your own terrarium world. Not so into DIY? Let us create one for you or check out our online selection of pre-made terrariums available for curbside pickup.
Choosing A Vessel
When selecting a container for your terrarium, keep in mind the plants you wish to grow. If a world of ferns piques your interest, a closed vessel works best. Though ferns can grow within open terrariums, the mystique of an enclosed fern garden is undeniable. For growing sun-loving succulents, an open terrarium works best. The open vessel allows for excess water to dry and heat to release from the full sun exposure.
Material
Once your vessel is chosen, it’s time to gather a few essential supplies:
Charcoal
Charcoal helps to stimulate air circulation within the root systems of the terrarium plants. This also works as a natural cleaner and purifier for the base of the vessel.
Stones
Stones create drainage within the terrarium. Drainage is important for the health of the plants, as root rot will occur without it. Make sure to give your stones a rinse before using, as they may carry extra debris and dust.
Soil
Regular potting soil is great for terrarium planting. Mix 1 part sand to 1 part soil for succulent terrariums.
Gardening Tools
Long, skinny tools are especially useful for vessels with narrow openings. An extendable shovel, tweezers, funnel, and even chopsticks will all be handy for planting.
Plants
The most important element! Make sure your plants align with the environment of your chosen vessel. Remember, closed vessels for water and humidity loving plants and open vessels for more temperate, full sun loving plants. Choose plants that vary in color and leaf size/shape for more visual interest.
Natural Elements
Decorate your terrarium with rocks, crystals, or branches. Avoid overcrowding by selecting just a few special pieces.
Assemblage
Start with a base of charcoal a few inches deep. Then a layer of stones, which can be straight across or used as a design element and vary in height. The layer of soil should be the deepest, allowing for optimal root growth. When working with a narrow opening, use a funnel for getting material into the vessel and long skinny tools for plant placement. Lastly, place ornamental elements atop the soil amongst the plants.
Care
Plants that thrive in a closed terrarium need bright diffused light and a moist environment. Water to the top of the stone layer and let be, the water will circulate within the terrarium. Once there is no water condensation on the vessel walls, it’ll be time for another water. Make sure to take the lid off a few hours once a week for airflow. For an open, succulent based terrarium, place in full sun and let the terrarium dry out in between waterings. The easiest way to kill succulents is by overwatering, so do wait til the soil is dry. When leaves look deflated or wrinkly you’re due for a water. If your vessel gets overcrowded with plant growth, prune plants back for the desired look. Remove expired plants and replace with new specimens.
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