August is nearly at a close and over the last few days I have noticed Autumn slowly start to unravel, if you look closely the oak leaves are starting to curl and pass their best, the mornings are chilly and I saw the tiny white beginnings of snow berries on a hedge at Blair Atholl.
It has been quite a month, a month full of flowers, friends and feet finding. My flowers have decorated the Edinburgh Military Tattoo which I was lucky enough to be invited to see as well on a warm clear night. It was magical and filled me with nostalgia as I remembered sitting in the stands as a child with my siblings wearing bin bags to keep dry whilst the pipes and drums kept us warm.
To Salisbury we went to do flowers for the loveliest bride in a beautiful place working with a wonderful team of caterers and organisers who fed us well and gave me tips and advice and made me laugh with stories of previous events. We covered the rafters and tables in the old barn with rich Wiltshire greenery and the leading lady of the weekend was a beautiful orange rose from Columbia.
The last week took me North of Edinburgh to Blair Atholl to do the flowers for the International Horse Trials there. It was with a certain amount of trepidation that I left my workshop with my tent and wellies, not knowing what to expect nor knowing what was expected of me. All my worries evaporated within seconds as I was introduced to the team I would be working with and the course I would be ' decorating'.
Blair Castle sits large, white and regal in the middle of it's beautiful estate, the land is wild yet well cared for and across this ground is where riders and steeds from across the world as well as the country test their skill, courage and fitness tackling the three elements of an international 3 day event- dressage, cross country and show jumping.
My small contribution to this incredible event was to decorate the fences for both the cross country and show jumping with silk and real flowers and Blair Atholl greenery.
The cross country course is a work of art ..huge looming fences, deep ditches, steep slopes and thick aintree style hedges.. The people who built it are heroes. Peter Wilson and his sons Ben and Chris, Tony Simmonds and Harry Williams. They are five of the kindest, most inspiring and hard working people I have ever been lucky enough to meet. Last week was one of the happiest weeks of my year and it was mainly down to them so for that I am truly grateful.
So now I head into my favourite season listening to this with a spring in my step, a head full of ideas, the belief that anything is possible and feeling that a big part of the puzzle has been found.
Till next time...
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Friday, 3 August 2012
A tardy post...
The blog of tales has moved location thus allowing photographs!
These are the works of the incredibly talented and equally gorgeous Julie Davenport who spent a few days with us in Wiltshire shooting us at work for an exhibition at the Royal Horticultural Society's annual photographic exhibition.
The end of July was spent in the most beautiful place I have ever been on the Knoydart Peninsula on the west coast of Scotland with a gaggle of quirky wonderful people- photos and stories will follow.
Since returning from paradise, Tattie Rose's flowers have been installed into the VIP box of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, rusty metal crowns overflowing with eryngium, roses and oak, and huge glass flutes filled with plump hydrangeas and stunning hybrid delphiniums jumbled in with hypericum berries huge branches of oak.. a feast for the senses- now very excited about seeing the show.
The Edinburgh festival has started, the city is alive and swarming and the sun is shining (sporadically). Tomorrow will be the first night of throwing myself into the festival fever as all my friends and I hit the town to celebrate my birthday and the cutting up of my young person's rail card.. sad that Network Rail decides when you are officially post youth.
Life has placed some hurdles on the yellow brick road so keep your fingers crossed and listen to this.
x
These are the works of the incredibly talented and equally gorgeous Julie Davenport who spent a few days with us in Wiltshire shooting us at work for an exhibition at the Royal Horticultural Society's annual photographic exhibition.
The end of July was spent in the most beautiful place I have ever been on the Knoydart Peninsula on the west coast of Scotland with a gaggle of quirky wonderful people- photos and stories will follow.
Since returning from paradise, Tattie Rose's flowers have been installed into the VIP box of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, rusty metal crowns overflowing with eryngium, roses and oak, and huge glass flutes filled with plump hydrangeas and stunning hybrid delphiniums jumbled in with hypericum berries huge branches of oak.. a feast for the senses- now very excited about seeing the show.
The Edinburgh festival has started, the city is alive and swarming and the sun is shining (sporadically). Tomorrow will be the first night of throwing myself into the festival fever as all my friends and I hit the town to celebrate my birthday and the cutting up of my young person's rail card.. sad that Network Rail decides when you are officially post youth.
Life has placed some hurdles on the yellow brick road so keep your fingers crossed and listen to this.
The Lion's month
It has been weeks...
And so much has happened.
So to start, a Midsummer Night's Dream party in Wiltshire. It was absolutely amazing in every way. The people who helped where fantastic and fun, the situation was beautiful nestled in the Wiltshire Deverills, the client was what every flower girl dreams of and the flowers... well though I say so myself and I probably shouldn't, were fabulous. Trees on the tables, made with our own fair hands, full of wild dog rose, pink hydrangeas, roses and foxgloves. The tent poles were wrapped in honey suckle and rambling roses and then scattered with foxgloves. A huge wall of beech divided the marquee and it felt like you were sitting in a forest.
We were photographed at work by the brilliant Julie Davenport. Her photographs are stunning and she put us all at ease as we were shot for a project of hers which will be appearing shortly.
Tink and I headed back up North and recieved a surprise phonecall inviting us to do flowers at the London 2012 Olympic Games. A huge honour to have been asked, a massive task to undetake and a big decision to make. Unfortunately due to all the commitments in August and a slight Geographical hurdle and the annoying inability to be in two places at the same time I have had to turn down the opportunity.. BUT, how many people get to turn down the Olympics?! (positive thinking)
This week our flowers adorned Archer's Hall in Edinburgh for the Royal Week Cocktail party, I think they were pleasantly surprised by the lack of soft ruscus and crysanthemums as I filled the arrangements with delicious blue hydrangeas, delphiniums and phlox. We passed the test and have been invited back next year.
And so the rain continues to poor, I continue to explore and find out more about this city they call 'Auld Reekie'.
And so much has happened.
So to start, a Midsummer Night's Dream party in Wiltshire. It was absolutely amazing in every way. The people who helped where fantastic and fun, the situation was beautiful nestled in the Wiltshire Deverills, the client was what every flower girl dreams of and the flowers... well though I say so myself and I probably shouldn't, were fabulous. Trees on the tables, made with our own fair hands, full of wild dog rose, pink hydrangeas, roses and foxgloves. The tent poles were wrapped in honey suckle and rambling roses and then scattered with foxgloves. A huge wall of beech divided the marquee and it felt like you were sitting in a forest.
We were photographed at work by the brilliant Julie Davenport. Her photographs are stunning and she put us all at ease as we were shot for a project of hers which will be appearing shortly.
Tink and I headed back up North and recieved a surprise phonecall inviting us to do flowers at the London 2012 Olympic Games. A huge honour to have been asked, a massive task to undetake and a big decision to make. Unfortunately due to all the commitments in August and a slight Geographical hurdle and the annoying inability to be in two places at the same time I have had to turn down the opportunity.. BUT, how many people get to turn down the Olympics?! (positive thinking)
This week our flowers adorned Archer's Hall in Edinburgh for the Royal Week Cocktail party, I think they were pleasantly surprised by the lack of soft ruscus and crysanthemums as I filled the arrangements with delicious blue hydrangeas, delphiniums and phlox. We passed the test and have been invited back next year.
And so the rain continues to poor, I continue to explore and find out more about this city they call 'Auld Reekie'.
A little wink goes a long way..
It was such a nice surprise today to walk out of the flat and be greeted by sunshine! I honestly contemplated building an ark on Saturday so it was with great pleasure that I stripped off my arctic coat and cable knit jumper and drove out to my workshop this morning with the window down, raybans on and THIS playing.
It's been an exciting last week, my little flower company featured in The Best Scottish Weddings magazine with a few photos of my work and a lovely write up about what we do. I've had the preliminary meeting to talk about flowers for possibly the most well known event in Scotland.. it's going to be brilliant and I'm so honoured to even have been thought of. Preparations are in full flow for this weekends event, on Wednesday Tink and I have a very long journey to Wiltshire with a van full of flowers and 'trees'.
My resolution to become more efficient with computers and admin based tasks is not going well, I wish the type writer would make a come back..ooh and flares whilst we're at it.
I've got a big idea that I want to put into action, it will involve a little help from my friends but it could be amazing if we can pull it off.
'Til next time y'all
x
It's been an exciting last week, my little flower company featured in The Best Scottish Weddings magazine with a few photos of my work and a lovely write up about what we do. I've had the preliminary meeting to talk about flowers for possibly the most well known event in Scotland.. it's going to be brilliant and I'm so honoured to even have been thought of. Preparations are in full flow for this weekends event, on Wednesday Tink and I have a very long journey to Wiltshire with a van full of flowers and 'trees'.
My resolution to become more efficient with computers and admin based tasks is not going well, I wish the type writer would make a come back..ooh and flares whilst we're at it.
I've got a big idea that I want to put into action, it will involve a little help from my friends but it could be amazing if we can pull it off.
'Til next time y'all
x
“Good, better, best Never let it rest, Till ur good is better and better is best.” Reasons to be a Flower Girl-2
It has been a workshop week, preparing for our big event next week in Wiltshire where we shall be transforming a marquee into a forest! I have nearly lost a finger and cemented Tinkerdog to the floor whilst trying to build the structures of the trees but they are coming along, it's very frustrating when the only obstacle stopping you from achieving something is not being strong enough.
This morning I left sunny Edinburgh.. yes SUNNY Edinburgh, at 5am and headed up to Blair Atholl for an early meeting with the organisers of Blair International Horse Trials where Tattie Rose's flowers will be all over the arenas, fences and jumps. It was so beautiful crossing the Firth when there is only a scattering of cars and that beautiful early calm light. We will be spending 10 days in Blair Atholl in August adorning the equine world with our blooms and I am so excited and honoured to have been asked.
This is a short story because it hurts to type after the uncomfortable grapple between my finger and a hammer but I leave you with a few more reasons to be a Flower Girl...
- You get to visit castles and get driven around like a princess whilst coming up with ideas on how to make the plain, beautiful.
- You get to cook your lunch on a little fire outside your workshop with Brian your neighbour (who has a scary dog that quite fancied Tink and I for its lunch)
- You still get excited about the fact that English stocks are about to come into season (my favourite flower)
- At the end of the day you get to listen to THIS whilst you write to your lovely brides and drink tea.
NEGATIVES
- You may lose a limb trying to cut branches for trees in terracots pots using a jigsawy machine.
This morning I left sunny Edinburgh.. yes SUNNY Edinburgh, at 5am and headed up to Blair Atholl for an early meeting with the organisers of Blair International Horse Trials where Tattie Rose's flowers will be all over the arenas, fences and jumps. It was so beautiful crossing the Firth when there is only a scattering of cars and that beautiful early calm light. We will be spending 10 days in Blair Atholl in August adorning the equine world with our blooms and I am so excited and honoured to have been asked.
This is a short story because it hurts to type after the uncomfortable grapple between my finger and a hammer but I leave you with a few more reasons to be a Flower Girl...
- You get to visit castles and get driven around like a princess whilst coming up with ideas on how to make the plain, beautiful.
- You get to cook your lunch on a little fire outside your workshop with Brian your neighbour (who has a scary dog that quite fancied Tink and I for its lunch)
- You still get excited about the fact that English stocks are about to come into season (my favourite flower)
- At the end of the day you get to listen to THIS whilst you write to your lovely brides and drink tea.
NEGATIVES
- You may lose a limb trying to cut branches for trees in terracots pots using a jigsawy machine.
Reasons to be a flower girl- Part 1
- You get to do your admin sitting on a rock by the sea. (Thank you inventor of 3G) whilst listening to this
- You get to laugh and swoon over peonies with Jed the flower seller at the market
- Your heart is always warmed when you see people's happiness when receiving flowers from someone they love.
- Your clients become friends and put pretty feathers in your hair when you deliver their flowers... (mCm hairdressers, Union Street- best in town)
- You get to pull over for 5 minutes and watch the waves crash on Portobello beach whilst having a natter with a friend who lives too far from you about how amazing the cow parsley is this year (and other much cooler topics too).
NEGATIVES
- Sometimes you get locked in the back of your van. Twice. On the same day. And have to bang on the side and be let out by a confused passer by.
Excited about tomorrow and starting on the structure of the trees for a party in a few weeks.
- You get to laugh and swoon over peonies with Jed the flower seller at the market
- Your heart is always warmed when you see people's happiness when receiving flowers from someone they love.
- Your clients become friends and put pretty feathers in your hair when you deliver their flowers... (mCm hairdressers, Union Street- best in town)
- You get to pull over for 5 minutes and watch the waves crash on Portobello beach whilst having a natter with a friend who lives too far from you about how amazing the cow parsley is this year (and other much cooler topics too).
NEGATIVES
- Sometimes you get locked in the back of your van. Twice. On the same day. And have to bang on the side and be let out by a confused passer by.
Excited about tomorrow and starting on the structure of the trees for a party in a few weeks.
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