Episode 207- Thinking outside the Vase!
Host J Schwanke shows you how to think “outside the vase” when it comes to arranging & displaying your flowers. J visits an Antique Market, uses found containers, and upcycles existing ones—the possibilities are endless!
I visit Eastown Antiques in my search for Flower Arranging Containers- in this Episode of Life in Bloom!
Finding Vases
I’m always looking for vases or containers for my flower arrangements. Certainly there are lots of vases- and at the same time- I love things that are unexpected- and unusual- so when I head to Antique Fair- or am looking on line- I’m always on the lookout for something that will be eye-catching -filled with flowers. On this episode of “Life in Bloom” – I hope to inspire you to think outside of the traditional vase when it comes to discovering or uncovering something- that will be amazing- when it’s filled with Flowers!
You never know what you’ll find when you’re on the search for containers- and thinking outside the vase!
Antique Market- Searching for Containers at Eastown Antiques
I admit it- I have a thing about antiques- although I’m not the traditional antique guy- and I guess I’m admitting my age- when I say I’m more attracted to Mid-Century Modern “antiques”… so I have certain haunts- that I love exploring for Mid-Century Modern artifacts.
It’s not to say- that don’t look for other kinds of things either- You’ve seen my collection of Carnation Artifacts- and that collection continues to grow. It’s definitely not Mid-Century- it’s themed to the Red Carnations… It makes me think that I should do an update to that collection- hmmm… maybe in Season 4.
One of my Favorite Local Antique stores- is Eastown Antiques- it’s located in the Historic East Town of Grand Rapids- and lately they have had a great collection of Mid-Century Modern artifacts- heading their way. We make a trip to Eastown Antiques in this episode- and I think outside the vase- to find some great items for flower arrangements.
Included in these finds is a set of Vintage Seed Packets- that I découpage to a wooden box- to create a wonderful container for flowers from the garden. There’s also an Hors d´oeuvre dish- that is definitely Mid-Century- (and you’ll have to wait for another show to see me create in that dish)… and a few other fun things… including a Rhino planter- that matches my Rhino Flower Frog (from Season 1).
My Friend Jennifer Pascua stops by and we re-use and re-purpose Food Containers for flower arranging- and it’s a whole lot of fun!
Recycle- Up-Cycle- Re-purpose Containers for Flower Arrangements with Jenn Pascua – Link HERE
My Friend Jennifer Pascua stops by the studio- and we have a whole lot of fun- creating flower arrangements- in recycled food containers. Jen and I always have a good time- and we certainly did- while making these arrangements- Jenn creates her own arrangement- (and there’s behind the scenes footage- in our BEHIND THE BLOOM Series Here!)
Here’s a fun Recipe in Bloom- the Dirt Cake- it’s a great way to have Fun with Flowers!
Dirt Cake in Clay Pots – Recipe in Bloom – Link HERE
This is a fun recipe that looks like dirt- and then you can see which one of your friends will be the first to try the “Dirt Cake”
The Blackberry Smash is a fun farm to table Flower Cocktail Hour Drink!
Flower Cocktail Hour- Blackberry Sage Smash- Link Here
This is a great Summer Cocktail- and it’s every bit as pretty as it is tasty!
Using Design Master Color Tools- I create these fun stencil vases- that are perfect for Flowers!
Stencil Burlap Vases- Flower Craft
Using Stencils from the Craft store- and Design Master Color Tools- you can create fun patterns, letters, messages or monograms on flower containers for your next dinner party or event. This is such a fun idea- and in this project- I use burlap containers- that have water-proof liners- but since we filmed this segment- I’ve gotten photos from viewers- that used Take-out food containers (great Idea) – cardboard boxes (with liners) great Recycling- and even To-Go Cups- another great idea…
Design Master Color Tool- is such a great COLOR TOOL- (that’s why it’s in their name)… for crafts, projects and flower arranging- and the translucent dyes- they have in Just for Flowers and Tint-IT are perfect for stenciling- it gives a wonderful see through impression- (not to mention they are great for shifting the colors of glass containers- like we’ve done for repurposed vases – and even for shifting the colors of flowers… )
You can create any message you like- or create a monogram- or even us an emoji – to theme your project to just about anything… I think about all the possibilities- especially when it comes to the holidays! Check out this project- it’s super easy- and it would be a fun project for kids too!
The Featured Flower is Hydrangea- and who doesn’t love Hydrangeas???
Hydrangea- Featured Flower
Hydrangea are quite possibly- one of the most loved flowers on the planet- and for good reason… the Hydrangea is BIG- Bold and Beautiful- and it comes in a remarkable number of colors- White, Green, Pink, Blue and Lavender- the latter- Pink is caused by alkaline soil- Blue by acidic soil- (You add aluminum nitrate to the soil to get Pink- and aluminum sulfate for blue… and coffee grounds… (We’ll do that in Season 3 of Life in Bloom… so stay tuned)… Lavender happens when you have both- so if you have alkaline soil- and you add a bit of aluminum sulfate- you get Lavender… it’s pretty fun Chemistry.
Hydrangea- are so named – for the Greek Hydra- meaning water- and that is what these flowers LOVE- they want water- I have a soaker hose on my Hydrangea- most of the summer- they are in direct sun- so I’m working on some shade trees… but in the mean time- my Hydrangea need watering 3 times a day or they flag something terrible.
I love using Hydrangea in arrangements- and the biggest secret is cutting the stem early in the Morning- just before the sun comes up- and then putting the stem directly into water… that way they last a long time. I also prefer using an anti-transpirant on my cut hydrangea- this seals in the moisture so they don’t evaporate water too quickly and wilt… Look to your local florist- as a resource to buy an Anti-Transpirant… Your hydrangea will thank you!
Using recycled water-tight food containers… you can make a line for just about any container- and then you’re ready to add flowers!
Water-Tight Tip- how to waterproof a container for Flower Arranging!
Sometimes we want to put flowers in a container that just won’t hold water- like the wooden box I have in this segment. It’s a gorgeous container- and it’s wonderful and rustic- and I love to put flowers in it… but it won’t hold water- so that’s why I save all my plastic containers- I keep them in box in the garage… sour cream containers, mushroom crates, to-go containers… anything that will securely hold water… I wash them and place them in the box- so I have plenty to choose from – when I run across a container that needs a WATER-PROOF Liner- for flower arranging.
I hope you enjoyed this episode- and start thinking outside the vase- when it comes to creating flowers!
